Size of a pile
The last column is the side of a cube with that volume, so a 5 cubic yard pile is as much material as a cube 5.1 ft on each side. Real piles are cone-shaped, so they are wider and lower than that.
| Cubic yards | Cubic feet | Cube side |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | 3.0 ft |
| 2 | 54 | 3.8 ft |
| 3 | 81 | 4.3 ft |
| 5 | 135 | 5.1 ft |
| 10 | 270 | 6.5 ft |
| 15 | 405 | 7.4 ft |
| 20 | 540 | 8.1 ft |
Square feet covered by a pile
This is the area one load spreads over at each depth, before any extra for settling. The formula is cubic feet ÷ depth in feet.
| Cubic yards | 1 inch | 2 inches | 3 inches | 4 inches | 6 inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 324 | 162 | 108 | 81 | 54 |
| 2 | 648 | 324 | 216 | 162 | 108 |
| 3 | 972 | 486 | 324 | 243 | 162 |
| 5 | 1,620 | 810 | 540 | 405 | 270 |
| 10 | 3,240 | 1,620 | 1,080 | 810 | 540 |
So one yard of mulch or soil spread 3 inches deep covers 108 sq ft, a 9 × 12 ft bed, and ten yards at 4 inches covers 810 sq ft.
How much weight is that?
A cubic yard always takes up the same room, but it does not always weigh the same. Wood mulch is about 600 lb, topsoil about 2,000 lb, crushed stone about 2,800 lb and concrete about 4,000 lb. Weights for every material are in the material weight chart, and the tons to cubic yards calculator converts them.
Work out how many yards your own job needs with the cubic yard calculator.
A cubic yard in other units
| Unit | In one cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 |
| US gallons | 201.97 |
| Liters | 764.6 |
| Cubic meters | 0.7646 |
| Wheelbarrow loads (6 cu ft) | 4.5 |
| Wheelbarrow loads (3 cu ft) | 9 |
What a cubic yard weighs
Volume is the same for every material, but weight is not. These are typical figures, so ask your supplier for theirs.
| Material | Weight of 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Mulch | about 600 lb |
| Topsoil | about 2,000 lb |
| Sand | about 2,700 lb |
| Crushed stone | about 2,800 lb |
| Concrete | about 4,000 lb |
See the material weight chart for more. The weight matters when you pick a vehicle, because a few yards of stone can be far heavier than a pickup is built to carry. Check the payload on the door jamb sticker.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a cubic yard?
3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. It is roughly the volume of a large washing machine.
How much does a cubic yard cover?
108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, 54 sq ft at 6 inches and 324 sq ft at 1 inch.
How big is 5 cubic yards?
135 cubic feet, about the volume of a cube 5.1 ft on each side. Spread 3 inches deep it covers 540 sq ft.