Cubic Yard Calculator

How to Calculate Cubic Yards

A cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. It's the standard unit for ordering bulk construction and landscaping materials — gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, fill dirt, and ready-mix concrete all price and ship by the cubic yard.

The math has three steps:

• Convert all dimensions to feet (divide inches by 12)
• Multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) to get cubic feet
• Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards

For example: a 10 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep equals 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet, or about 0.93 cubic yards. The calculator above handles unit conversions automatically, including inches, feet, yards, and meters.

For irregular shapes, break the area into simple rectangles or triangles, calculate each separately, and add the results. For circular areas like tree rings or round patios, measure the diameter, calculate the radius (diameter ÷ 2), then use: 3.14159 × radius² × depth in feet ÷ 27.

Worked Example: Calculating Gravel for a Driveway

A single-car driveway typically measures 10-12 ft wide by 18-20 ft long, according to Angi's driveway dimensions guide. A 2-car driveway generally runs 18-24 ft wide by 20-24 ft long. Here's how to work through the gravel base for a standard 2-car driveway:

• Dimensions: 20 ft wide × 24 ft long × 4 inches deep
• Convert depth: 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
• Cubic feet: 20 × 24 × 0.333 = 160 cubic feet
• Cubic yards: 160 ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards
• Add 15% overage: 5.93 × 1.15 = 6.8 cubic yards to order

At a typical gravel density of 1.5 tons per cubic yard, 6.8 cubic yards weighs approximately 10.2 tons. At $15-$100 per cubic yard depending on material type and region, budget $100-$680 for the gravel itself, plus delivery. See the gravel calculator for a dedicated tool with gravel-specific depth recommendations.

If the project requires excavation first, review our excavator rental guide to estimate equipment costs before you order material.

Material Weight Reference

Truck payload limits and load counts both depend on weight, not just volume. The table below shows verified density ranges for common bulk materials, based on industry standard references. Use the midpoint of the range for most estimates.

Material	Tons per Cubic Yard	Cost per CY (2025)
Gravel (3/4")	1.35 – 1.70	$15 – $100
Pea Gravel	1.30 – 1.60	$15 – $100
Crushed Limestone	1.40 – 1.89	$25 – $60
River Rock	1.40 – 1.75	$15 – $100
Decomposed Granite	1.50 – 1.70	$15 – $100
Sand (Dry)	1.10 – 1.70	$15 – $40
Fill Dirt	1.00 – 1.35	$5 – $30
Topsoil (Loose)	0.90 – 1.30	$10 – $55
Mulch (Bark)	0.20 – 0.40	$25 – $150
Concrete (Wet, Ready-Mix)	1.95 – 2.05	$110 – $165

Concrete costs reflect ready-mix truck delivery. For poured concrete projects, also review our concrete equipment rental guide for pump, mixer, and finishing tool options.

Common Project Dimensions

These are industry-standard reference dimensions. Measure your actual site — these are starting points, not substitutes for field measurements.

• Single-car driveway: 10-12 ft wide × 18-20 ft long. Gravel base: 4-6 inches deep. Concrete: 4-6 inches thick.
• 2-car driveway: 18-24 ft wide × 20-24 ft long. At 4 inches of gravel, expect 5-8 cubic yards depending on exact dimensions.
• Patio (small): 10 × 10 ft = 100 sq ft. At 4 inches of concrete, that's 1.23 cubic yards.
• Patio (medium): 12 × 20 ft = 240 sq ft. At 4 inches, approximately 2.96 cubic yards of concrete.
• Patio (large): 20 × 20 ft = 400 sq ft. At 4 inches, approximately 4.94 cubic yards.
• Garden beds: Generally 6-12 inches of topsoil or amended soil. Deep-root plantings may need up to 18 inches.
• Garage floor slab: Standard 4-5 inches thick. A 2-car garage (20 × 20 ft) at 4 inches requires approximately 4.94 cubic yards of concrete.
• Lawn top-dressing: 1-2 inches of topsoil or compost over an existing lawn. One cubic yard covers roughly 100-160 sq ft at that depth.

Dump Truck Capacities

Knowing truck capacity lets you estimate load counts and sanity-check supplier quotes. The figures below are typical industry ranges — actual limits vary by truck configuration and local weight regulations.

Truck Type	Cubic Yard Capacity	Typical Use
Single-Axle	6 – 8 CY	Residential deliveries, tight access sites
Tandem / Double-Axle	10 – 16 CY	Most common for landscaping and gravel
Tri-Axle	10 – 18 CY	Larger residential and light commercial
Transfer Truck	10 – 25 CY	High-volume fill and aggregate hauling
Semi End-Dump	25 – 32 CY	Commercial and infrastructure projects

To find your load count, divide total cubic yards by truck capacity. Eighteen cubic yards of gravel across tandem-axle trucks (14 CY each) works out to 2 loads. Always confirm capacity with your supplier before scheduling delivery.

Tips for Ordering Bulk Materials

Getting the math right is half the job. These ordering practices keep you from coming up short or paying to haul material back.

Add a Compaction Overage

Loose material compacts when spread and tamped. How much extra to order depends on what you're working with:

• Angular crushed stone: order 20-30% more than calculated
• Rounded gravel and pea gravel: 10-15% overage
• Sand: 10% overage
• Topsoil: 15% overage
• Fill dirt: 15-35% overage (higher for clay-heavy fill)
• Bark mulch: 5-10% overage

Delivery Minimums and Fees

Most bulk material suppliers require a minimum order of 2 cubic yards or 2 tons. Delivery fees typically run $50-$150 for local delivery within 15-30 miles, with additional charges of $5-$10 per mile beyond that radius. Orders below the minimum may incur a short-load fee, according to HomeAdvisor — approximately $20 for landscaping materials and $40-$60 per cubic yard for concrete.

Material Costs to Budget

The 2025 ranges in the table above are a solid planning baseline. Gravel and fill dirt are the cheapest options at $5-$100 per cubic yard. Ready-mix concrete sits at the top of the range — $110-$165 per cubic yard before pump rental or finishing labor. Mulch pricing swings widely based on wood species and supplier; bulk bark mulch from a landscape yard is typically far cheaper than bagged product at a home improvement store.

Confirm Truck Access

Large tandem and tri-axle trucks require 12-14 ft of clearance width and cannot navigate tight residential driveways. If access is limited, ask about a single-axle delivery or a conveyor belt truck that can place material from the street. Tight access may also increase delivery cost.