A little less guesswork.
Cubic Yards helps homeowners and contractors turn measurements into a material order they can check.
Our free calculators work out volume for mulch, topsoil, gravel, and other materials. You can combine areas, compare bulk and bag costs, and share the measurements behind your estimate.
How the calculations work
For rectangles, we multiply length by width by depth. For circles, we use π × radius² × depth. If you already know the surface area, we multiply that by depth. We convert every volume to cubic yards and add the unrounded results.
With length and width in feet and depth in inches, divide the product by 324. With all three measurements in feet, divide by 27. One cubic yard is exactly 0.764554857984 cubic meters. Our conversion reference is NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C.
Measured volume and ordered quantity
The main result is the measured geometric volume. The order plan separately applies your extra allowance, bulk supplier minimum, and chosen order increment. There is no hidden allowance. Bag counts use the adjusted volume and round up to a whole bag; bulk-only minimums do not increase the bag estimate.
Displayed volumes normally use two decimal places. Small positive values retain extra digits so they are not shown as zero. Calculations keep their precision until the order is rounded.
Costs and weights
Prices come from your inputs, not a live local pricing service. We multiply each order quantity by its entered rate and add the delivery or other fees you supply. Tax and unlisted charges are excluded.
Gravel weight requires a density from your supplier. We multiply the bulk order in cubic yards by pounds per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000 for US short tons. Weight estimates do not determine a safe vehicle payload.
Practical guidance
Guides and material notes are written to explain measurements and ordering decisions. Referenced mulch guidance comes from University of Minnesota Extension. Project depth, compaction, soil suitability, and structural design depend on the actual job and material.
Confirm the product and final order with your supplier. If you spot a calculation or content issue, please let us know.