Yardage Calculator
Convert length, width, and depth into cubic yards — the standard order unit for concrete, gravel, sand, mulch, and topsoil.
Typical depth: 4" for patios/walkways (6" for driveways). Weight: ~4,050 lbs/yd³.
Round up to the nearest half-foot for irregular spaces.
Auto-filled from the selected material — edit if your project calls for a different depth.
Estimate
This is an estimate only. 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Waste percentage is added on top of the exact volume to account for spillage, uneven grading, and measurement variance — order the "Recommended order" amount, not the exact volume. Bulk suppliers often carry a 1–3 yard delivery minimum; for smaller amounts, bagged material (shown above in 1 ft³ bag equivalents) may be more practical. Confirm final quantities with your supplier before ordering.
A yardage calculator converts length, width, and depth into cubic yards (yd³), the standard order unit for concrete, gravel, sand, mulch, and topsoil. Enter measurements in the tool above, or follow the manual steps below to calculate cubic yards for any project.
What Is a Yardage Calculator
A yardage calculator determines the volume of material a project needs, expressed in cubic yards. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (ft³) or 0.765 cubic meters (m³). Landscaping companies, concrete suppliers, and construction crews price and deliver bulk materials by the yard, so this unit drives every order.
How to Calculate Yardage
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide the result by 27.
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Measure length and width
Measure the project area in feet. Round up to the nearest half-foot for irregular spaces to avoid running short mid-project.
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Convert depth to feet
Depth is usually measured in inches, so divide the inch value by 12 before using it in the formula. A 6-inch depth equals 0.5 feet; a 4-inch depth equals 0.33 feet.
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Multiply and divide by 27
A 20-foot by 10-foot area at 6 inches deep needs 3.7 cubic yards (20 × 10 × 0.5 ÷ 27 = 3.7).
Yardage Calculator by Material
Material type changes both the depth recommendation and the final order quantity, since density and compaction differ between products.
Concrete Yardage
Patios and walkways use a 4-inch depth; driveways rated for vehicle traffic use 6 inches. A 10 × 10 ft patio at 4 inches deep needs 1.23 cubic yards.
Gravel Yardage
Top-dress layers use 2 inches; driveway base layers use 4 inches. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1" deep, or 108 sq ft at 3" deep.
Sand Yardage
Paver base projects use a 1-inch layer; playground safety surfacing uses 12 inches. Weight increases significantly when wet.
Mulch Yardage
Flower and shrub beds need 2–4 inches; tree rings need 3–4 inches, kept clear of the trunk. One cubic yard covers 100 sq ft at 3" deep.
Topsoil Yardage
New lawns need 4–6 inches of topsoil; raised garden beds need 8–12 inches.
Cubic Yards to Tons Conversion
Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight-per-yard, then divide by 2,000, to convert yards to tons. Suppliers who price by the ton require this conversion before an order gets placed.
| Material | Weight per Cubic Yard | Cubic Yards per Ton |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 4,050 lbs (1,837 kg) | 0.49 |
| Gravel | 2,700 lbs (1,225 kg) | 0.74 |
| Sand | 2,700 lbs (1,225 kg) | 0.74 |
| Topsoil | 2,200 lbs (998 kg) | 0.91 |
| Mulch | 600 lbs (272 kg) | 3.33 |
How Many Cubic Yards Per Project Type
| Project | Material | Recommended Depth | Cubic Yards (per 100 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveway base | Gravel | 4 in | 1.23 |
| Patio slab | Concrete | 4 in | 1.23 |
| Flower bed | Mulch | 3 in | 0.93 |
| New lawn | Topsoil | 5 in | 1.54 |
| Paver base | Sand | 1 in | 0.31 |
| Raised garden bed | Topsoil | 10 in | 3.09 |
Bulk vs Bagged Material
Bagged material costs 2 to 3 times more per cubic yard than bulk delivery, but bulk orders often carry a minimum yardage requirement of 1 to 3 yards. Bagged material fits projects under 1 cubic yard; bulk delivery fits anything larger.
| Bag Size | Bags per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 |
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 14 |
How Much Extra Material to Order
Order 10% extra material for rectangular areas, and order 15% extra for irregular or curved shapes. Gravel and sand also compact after installation, so add 5% more for materials that get driven over or walked on.
| Project Shape | Waste Factor |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | 10% |
| Circle | 12% |
| Irregular / curved | 15% |
| Sloped terrain | 15–20% |
Common Yardage Calculation Mistakes
- Skipping the inch-to-feet conversion for depth
- Ordering exact yardage without a waste buffer
- Confusing cubic feet with cubic yards
- Ignoring compaction on gravel and sand projects
- Using average depth instead of maximum depth on sloped ground
FAQs
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet equal 1 cubic yard. Multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, or divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Does 1 yard of gravel weigh the same as 1 yard of mulch?
No. Gravel weighs 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg) per cubic yard; mulch weighs 600 pounds (272 kg) per cubic yard. Weight depends on material density, not volume.
How deep should mulch be for flower beds?
3 inches is the standard depth for flower beds. Depths beyond 4 inches can suffocate plant roots and trap excess moisture.
Can one calculator handle circular and irregular areas?
Yes. Circular areas use radius squared × π × depth ÷ 27; irregular areas get split into rectangles, calculated separately, then added together.
How many bags of soil equal 1 cubic yard?
27 bags of 1-cubic-foot soil equal 1 cubic yard. Bag count changes with bag size: 54 bags at 0.5 cubic feet, or 18 bags at 1.5 cubic feet.
