Cubic yard calculator: yards, tons, truckloads.
Type length, width and depth. Pick the material for tons and trucks.
Fill compacts: the 10% default covers some of it. Clay and wet dirt weigh more and compact more.
The cubic yard formula
cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Worked example: 20 ft × 10 ft at 6 in is 3.70 cubic yards before waste.
Cubic yards by area and depth
| Area | 2 in | 4 in | 6 in | 12 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.6 yd³ | 1.2 yd³ | 1.9 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 500 sq ft | 3.1 yd³ | 6.2 yd³ | 9.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.2 yd³ | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ | 37.0 yd³ |
| 5,000 sq ft | 30.9 yd³ | 61.7 yd³ | 92.6 yd³ | 185.2 yd³ |
No waste added in the table. Dirt fluffs up 15 to 25% when dug; order extra for fill.
Save it to a job. Dozer checks it against what's laid.
Saved estimates go on the site. Dozer adds up the haul tickets and the paver's tons each night and tells you if you're running over.
- Estimate vs. tons laid, every night
- Haul tickets read from a photo
- Overrun flagged before the next order
- Every estimate kept with the job
LIVE 412 t laid · estimate 383 t Photo is an AI-generated stand-in, not a customer site.
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Questions crews ask
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width in feet × depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 20 × 10 ft area 6 in deep is 100 cubic feet, or 3.7 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 at 2 in, 108 at 3 in, 81 at 4 in and 54 at 6 in.
How do I turn cubic yards into tons?
Multiply by the material's weight per cubic yard. Asphalt is about 1.96 tons, Gravel is about 1.40 tons, Dirt / fill is about 1.10 tons, Crushed stone is about 1.35 tons, Sand is about 1.35 tons a cubic yard.
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