Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator
Enter the area in square feet and the depth or thickness of the material you are placing, and this calculator converts the result to cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters. Add a price per cubic yard to get the total material cost. You can also reverse the calculation: enter cubic yards and a depth to find the area in square feet that volume will cover.
How to convert square feet to cubic yards
Square feet measure a flat surface area, while cubic yards measure a three-dimensional volume. To bridge the two, you need a depth or thickness measurement. The formula is straightforward: multiply the area (sq ft) by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 (because one cubic yard contains exactly 27 cubic feet). As a formula: cubic yards = (square feet x depth in feet) / 27. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first to convert to feet before multiplying.
Reverse calculation: cubic yards back to square feet
If a supplier quotes you a specific volume and you need to know how much area it will cover at a given depth, reverse the formula: square feet = (cubic yards x 27) / depth in feet. For example, 3 cubic yards at a 3-inch (0.25-foot) depth covers 3 x 27 / 0.25 = 324 square feet. This is useful for mulch, gravel, topsoil, and concrete, where suppliers sell by the cubic yard and you want to confirm adequate coverage.
Why add a waste factor?
Real-world projects almost always need more material than the raw geometry suggests. Soil settles after delivery, mulch compresses underfoot, concrete can overpour at edges, and bags left over at the end of a job are money well spent compared with an emergency re-order at retail prices. Common guidance: add 5% for poured concrete (accurate forms), 10% for gravel or crushed stone, 10-15% for mulch, bark, or wood chips, and 15-20% for bulk topsoil or compost. Enter your chosen percentage in the waste field and the calculator adds it to your order quantity.
Common material applications and typical depths
Mulch for garden beds is typically spread 2 to 4 inches deep. Gravel driveways and paths need 4 to 6 inches. A residential concrete slab is usually 4 inches thick. Topsoil for lawns is commonly applied at 3 to 6 inches, while tree rings often get 3 to 4 inches. Playground safety surfaces need 9 to 12 inches of loose fill. Knowing the recommended depth for your project before you run the calculation saves a re-measure.
Cubic yards needed by area and depth
| Area (sq ft) | 1 inch deep | 2 inches deep | 3 inches deep | 4 inches deep | 6 inches deep | 12 inches deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.15 | 0.31 | 0.46 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.85 |
| 100 | 0.31 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 3.70 |
| 200 | 0.62 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 | 7.41 |
| 300 | 0.93 | 1.85 | 2.78 | 3.70 | 5.56 | 11.11 |
| 500 | 1.54 | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 18.52 |
| 750 | 2.31 | 4.63 | 6.94 | 9.26 | 13.89 | 27.78 |
| 1000 | 3.09 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 37.04 |
| 1500 | 4.63 | 9.26 | 13.89 | 18.52 | 27.78 | 55.56 |
| 2000 | 6.17 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 24.69 | 37.04 | 74.07 |
Common area sizes at standard material depths. Divide the square footage by the coverage per yard to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards are in a cubic foot?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. A cubic yard is a 3-foot cube: 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft = 27 ft³. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply cubic yards by 27.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards without the depth?
You cannot - square feet and cubic yards measure different things. Square feet (ft²) describe a flat area, while cubic yards (yd³) describe a volume. You always need a third dimension (the depth or thickness of the material) to make the conversion meaningful.
How many square feet does one cubic yard cover at common depths?
One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, 54 sq ft at 6 inches, and 27 sq ft at 12 inches. Divide 324 by your intended depth in inches to find coverage for any depth.
How much does a cubic yard of material weigh?
Weight varies greatly by material. Dry mulch weighs roughly 400-600 lb per cubic yard, topsoil around 1,000-1,200 lb, gravel or crushed stone 2,400-2,800 lb, sand about 2,700 lb, and wet concrete around 4,000 lb. Check with your supplier for the precise weight of what you are ordering, especially for delivery or equipment loading purposes.
What is the easiest way to find my square footage?
For a rectangle or square, multiply length by width. For an L-shaped area, split it into two rectangles, calculate each separately, and add them together. For a circle, use area = 3.14159 x radius x radius. Odd shapes can be approximated by dividing them into rectangles and triangles. Always measure in feet so you can feed the number directly into this calculator.
How do I convert square yards to cubic yards?
Multiply the square yards by the depth in yards. Because 1 square yard = 9 square feet and 1 yard = 3 feet, a 1 sq yd area that is 1 foot (0.333 yd) deep contains 0.333 cubic yards. To keep things simple, convert everything to feet first, calculate cubic feet, then divide by 27.