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Contractors & trades / Cubic Yard Calculator

Cubic Yard Calculator

Convert length, width and depth in feet or inches into cubic yards, tons and truckloads, then price the job with hauling and markup.

También en español: Calculadora de concreto →

Enter a number of at least 0

Enter a number of at least 0

Enter a number from 0 to 1200

%

Enter a number from 0 to 200%

Fill compacts and dug soil swells. Add 10–25% depending on the material.

Enter a number from 0.05 to 3

Typical figures, not exact: gravel and stone about 1.4, sand 1.35, topsoil and fill dirt 1.1, mulch 0.2–0.4.

Enter a number from 0.5 to 100

About 10–14 yd³ for a tandem dump truck, 2–3 yd³ for a pickup or small trailer. Check the weight limit too.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

Typical fill dirt price, not a quote. Use 0 if the customer supplies the material.

Turn on to price the job, not just the material.

h

Enter a number from 0 to 10000

Truck, driver and crew hours for the job.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

What one hour costs you: wages, payroll taxes, fuel and equipment.

%

Enter a number from 0 to 500%

Added on top of materials + labor. A 20% markup is a 16.7% margin.

Job price
$742.00
11.11cubic yards
15.56tons (approx.)
2loads at 10 yd³
$0job price $742.00
  • Materials
  • Labor & hauling
  • Profit
Volume · 8.5 m³300 cu ft
Cubic yards · ≈ 15.56 tons11.11 yd³
Materials · 11.11 yd³ × $30.00$333.33
Labor & hauling · 3 h × $95.00$285.00
Markup · 20% on cost$123.67
Job price$742.00

Profit is 16.7% of the price. Check tons against the truck's weight limit: heavy material can max out weight before volume.

Turn this into a quote

A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.

Quote total
Job done? Make an invoice from this →
See breakdown

How the cubic yard calculation works

  1. Put every measurement in feet

    Divide inches by 12. A depth of 6 in is 0.5 ft.

  2. Multiply for cubic feet, divide by 27 for yards

    30 × 20 × 0.5 = 300 cu ft, and 300 ÷ 27 = 11.11 yd³, because a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 ft.

  3. Multiply by weight per yard for tons

    At a typical 1.4 tons per yard for gravel, 11.11 yd³ is about 15.56 tons. Soil, sand and mulch weigh different amounts, so set your own figure.

  4. Divide by truck capacity for loads

    11.11 yd³ in a 10 yd³ truck is 2 loads. Then add hauling hours and your markup to price the job.

Worked example. A 30 × 20 ft area 6 in deep is 300 cu ft, or 11.11 yd³ (about 15.56 tons at 1.4 tons per yard), which is 2 loads in a 10 yd³ truck. At $30 per yard the material costs $333.33. With 3 hours of hauling at $95 ($285) and a 20% markup ($123.67), the job price is $742.

Cubic Yard FAQ

How do I calculate cubic yards?

Multiply length × width × depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 10 × 10 ft area 3 in deep is 25 cu ft, or 0.93 yd³.

How many tons are in a cubic yard?

It depends on the material. Typical figures are about 1.4 tons for gravel, 1.35 for sand, 1.1 for topsoil and well under half a ton for mulch.

How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?

324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 at 2 in, 108 at 3 in, 81 at 4 in and 54 at 6 in.

How many cubic yards fit in a dump truck?

A tandem dump truck usually carries about 10–14 yd³ and a pickup about 2–3 yd³. With heavy material such as gravel, the weight limit is often reached first.

How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?

Divide cubic feet by 27. 300 cu ft ÷ 27 = 11.11 yd³.

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