Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards: Conversion and Examples
Cubic feet to cubic yards is one of the most common conversions in landscaping and construction, because bulk materials like gravel, concrete, soil, and mulch are sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, since a yard is 3 feet and 3 x 3 x 3 = 27. To convert, divide cubic feet by 27. To go the other way, multiply cubic yards by 27.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The formula
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Cubic feet = cubic yards x 27
Quick conversion table
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.37 |
| 27 | 1.00 |
| 50 | 1.85 |
| 100 | 3.70 |
| 135 | 5.00 |
| 200 | 7.41 |
| 270 | 10.00 |
| 500 | 18.52 |
From area and depth to cubic yards
Most projects start with length, width, and depth:
- Multiply length x width in feet for square feet.
- Convert depth to feet by dividing inches by 12.
- Multiply square feet x depth for cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Example: a 12 x 16 foot patio base 4 inches deep: 192 sq ft x 0.333 ft = 64 cubic feet. 64 ÷ 27 = 2.37 cubic yards.
| Depth | Feet | Square feet covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 0.083 | 324 |
| 2 inches | 0.167 | 162 |
| 3 inches | 0.25 | 108 |
| 4 inches | 0.333 | 81 |
| 6 inches | 0.5 | 54 |
| 12 inches | 1 | 27 |
From cubic yards to tons
Gravel and stone are often sold by the ton. Multiply cubic yards by the material’s weight per yard:
- Gravel and crushed stone: roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per yard.
- Sand: roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per yard.
- Topsoil: roughly 1 to 1.3 tons per yard.
See gravel weight per yard for details.
Bags to cubic yards
Bagged materials list cubic feet on the bag. Divide 27 by the bag size:
- 0.5 cu ft bags: 54 per yard.
- 0.6 cu ft (80 lb concrete): 45 per yard.
- 2 cu ft mulch bags: 13.5 per yard.
A 5-gallon bucket holds about 0.67 cubic feet, so roughly 40 buckets make a yard. See how much a 5-gallon bucket of gravel weighs.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet before multiplying.
- Dividing by 9 instead of 27. Nine converts square feet to square yards, not cubic.
- Ignoring compaction: compacted base needs 10 to 20 percent more loose material.
Bottom line
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. For projects, multiply length, width, and depth in feet first, then divide by 27, and add extra for compaction and waste. The volume and tonnage calculator does the math for you.
Questions people ask
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover at 3 inches?
About 108 square feet.
Why divide by 27 and not 9?
Nine converts square feet to square yards. Cubic yards need 3 x 3 x 3, which is 27.
How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a cubic yard?
About 45, since each yields roughly 0.6 cubic feet.
Related guides
- How Much Does a 5-Gallon Bucket of Gravel Weigh?
- How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per Yard by Stone Type
- How Much Paver Base Do I Need? Depth and Tons
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
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