What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube 3 feet on each side, which equals 27 cubic feet. Bulk landscaping and construction materials are sold by the cubic yard because it is a convenient truckload-scale unit: one cubic yard fills a small pickup bed roughly level and covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
The math
A yard is 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. To convert any volume in cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27.
To find cubic yards for a project, multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For depth given in inches, divide the inches by 12 first.
How much does a cubic yard cover?
Coverage depends on depth. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, and 81 square feet at 4 inches.
So a single yard of mulch tops a fair-sized bed, while a driveway or large patio can run to several yards.
FAQ
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, and 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 cubic feet.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
About 162 square feet at 2 inches deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches, or 81 square feet at 4 inches.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 9 to 14, depending on barrow size. A standard 3 cubic foot barrow takes 9 loads; a 2 cubic foot barrow takes about 14.