Cubic Yard Calculator (Yards of Soil, Concrete, Mulch)
Calculate cubic yards for concrete pours, topsoil, mulch, and site excavation.
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How to Use the Cubic Yard Calculator
- 1Input the length and width of the site area in feet.
- 2Input the target depth or thickness in inches.
- 3Adjust the safety waste factor (typically 5%–10% for concrete pours).
- 4View required cubic yards and corresponding bag counts.
Formula & How It Works
Cubic Yard Formula
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27.
Worked Examples
Concrete Patio Slab
Input: 20 ft × 15 ft slab, 4 inches thick
Explanation: 20 × 15 × (4/12) = 100 cu ft. 100 / 27 = 3.70 cu yds.
Mulch for Flower Beds
Input: 40 ft × 5 ft bed, 3 inches deep
Explanation: 40 × 5 × (3/12) = 50 cu ft. 50 / 27 = 1.85 cu yds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a cubic yard?▼
It takes 45 bags of 80 lb concrete mix (or 60 bags of 60 lb concrete) to yield one cubic yard.
How many wheelbarrows in a cubic yard?▼
A standard contractor wheelbarrow holds approximately 3 cubic feet, meaning there are about 9 wheelbarrows per cubic yard.
Why should I add 10% to concrete orders?▼
Sub-base unevenness, ground settling, and spillage mean actual pours almost always consume 5% to 10% more volume than blueprint measurements.
Does it support metric units?▼
Yes, you can toggle between imperial (feet/inches) and metric (meters/cm).
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