Cubic Yard Calculator
Quickly calculate cubic yards for any landscaping or construction project with just a few measurements.
How Cubic Yard Calculator Works
A cubic yard calculator helps you determine the volume of materials you need for landscaping, construction, or home improvement projects. Whether you're ordering concrete, mulch, gravel, or topsoil, this tool converts your measurements into the standard cubic yard unit that suppliers use.
The calculator works with two common shapes: rectangular areas (like driveways, patios, or garden beds) and cylindrical areas (like circular planters or round pools). You simply enter the dimensions in feet, and it automatically converts everything to cubic yards using the formula that 1 cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
This is especially useful because most landscaping materials are sold by the cubic yard, but we typically measure our spaces in feet. Instead of doing complex math, the calculator handles the conversion instantly, helping you order the right amount of material without waste or shortage.
Cubic Yard Calculator Formula Breakdown
Formula
For rectangular areas: Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27
For cylindrical areas: Cubic yards = (3.14159 × Radius² × Depth) ÷ 27Variables Explained
- ShapeChoose between cuboid/cube for rectangular areas (driveways, patios, garden beds) or cylinder for round areas (circular planters, pools). This determines which formula the calculator uses.
- LengthThe longest side of your rectangular area, measured in feet. Use a measuring tape and measure from one end to the other along the longest dimension.
- WidthThe shorter side of your rectangular area, measured in feet. Measure perpendicular to the length to get the full width of the space.
- DepthHow deep or thick you want the material to be, measured in feet. For mulch, this is typically 2-4 inches (0.17-0.33 feet). For concrete, it's often 4-6 inches (0.33-0.5 feet).
- RadiusFor circular areas, this is the distance from the center to the edge, measured in feet. If you know the diameter (distance across), divide by 2 to get the radius.
Example Calculation
Given:
- Shape: Cuboid/Cube
- Length: 20.00 ft
- Width: 10.00 ft
- Depth: 0.25 ft
Calculation:
Volume in cubic feet: 20.00 × 10.00 × 0.25 = 50.00 cubic feet
Convert to cubic yards: 50.00 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yardsResult:
1.85 cubic yardsExplanation
This example shows calculating mulch needed for a garden bed that's 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and you want 3 inches (0.25 feet) of mulch depth. You'd need to order about 1.85 cubic yards of mulch.
Tips for Using Cubic Yard Calculator
- 💡Always add 10-15% extra material to account for settling, waste, and irregular surfaces - it's cheaper than making a second delivery.
- 💡Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12 (e.g., 3 inches depth = 0.25 feet) for accurate calculations.
- 💡For circular areas, measure the diameter and divide by 2 to get the radius, or measure from center to edge directly.
Create engaging calculators in 3 simple steps
Add calculator elements
Build the custom calculator in less than 5 minutes. It's very easy with drag and drop interface
Copy embed script
When you are happy with your calculator. See the final preview and copy the embed script.
Install the calculator
Paste the script into the HTML of your website. Oh, and it works on any platform.
Eugen
Creator of Creative Widgets“After 10+ years in digital marketing, I’ve built calculators that drove thousands of new leads for clients. I realized one thing: calculators convert. They're killer for CRO and great for SEO. That's why I built Creative Widgets—an easy, no-code calculator builder. ”
It's free. Try it out. You'll like it.