Volume for Materials Ordering
Last reviewed: April 2026
Calculate cubic yards for concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil, and fill dirt. Enter dimensions in feet or inches and get the exact cubic yards to order. This calculator runs entirely in your browser — your data stays private, and no account is required.
Cubic yards are the standard unit for ordering bulk landscaping and construction materials. The formula is: cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth ft) ÷ 27, since one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet.[1] Always order 5-10% extra material to account for uneven surfaces, compaction, and waste — gravel compacts approximately 10-15% after spreading and tamping, and concrete should include a 10% waste factor for forms and spillage.[2] Weight per cubic yard varies dramatically by material: topsoil averages 1,100 lbs, gravel 1,400 lbs, and wet concrete 4,000 lbs per cubic yard, which matters for delivery truck capacity and load-bearing calculations.[3] Use the Concrete Calculator for slab, footing, and column estimates.
Measure your project area in feet (length × width), determine the required depth, and convert to cubic yards: (length × width × depth in feet) ÷ 27. Always add 5–10% for settling, compaction, uneven surfaces, and waste. For concrete, add 10% because forms are never perfectly smooth and spillage is inevitable. For mulch and topsoil, round up to the nearest half-yard since suppliers rarely deliver fractions. If your total is under 1 cubic yard, bagged material from a hardware store is often more practical than delivery (one 40-lb bag of topsoil ≈ 0.75 cubic feet — you would need 36 bags per cubic yard). Calculate related project materials with our Concrete Calculator, Gravel Calculator, and Mulch Calculator.
| Material | Area (sq ft) | Depth | Cubic Yards | Approx Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 500 | 3 in | 4.6 | ~3,700 lbs |
| Topsoil | 500 | 4 in | 6.2 | ~6,800 lbs |
| Gravel | 500 | 4 in | 6.2 | ~8,700 lbs |
| Concrete | 200 | 4 in | 2.5 | ~10,000 lbs |
The cubic yard — a volume measuring 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet (27 cubic feet) — is the standard unit for ordering bulk landscaping materials, concrete, fill dirt, and aggregates in the United States. Accurate cubic yard calculations prevent costly errors: ordering too little means project delays and additional delivery charges, while ordering too much wastes money and leaves you with excess material to dispose of.
One cubic yard of material fills approximately a standard pickup truck bed (struck level, not heaped). More precisely, a full-size truck bed (6.5 feet long × 5.5 feet wide × 1.5 feet deep) holds about 1.5–2 cubic yards depending on the model. One cubic yard of different materials weighs dramatically different amounts: topsoil ≈ 2,000–2,200 lbs. Sand ≈ 2,700 lbs. Gravel ≈ 2,800–3,000 lbs. Mulch ≈ 400–800 lbs. Compost ≈ 1,000–1,600 lbs. Concrete ≈ 3,800–4,000 lbs. These weight differences matter for delivery vehicle capacity, driveway load limits, and how much your truck can safely haul. Never exceed your vehicle's payload rating — a cubic yard of gravel at 3,000 lbs exceeds the payload capacity of most half-ton pickups.
One cubic yard covers different areas depending on the depth applied. At 1 inch deep: 324 sq ft. At 2 inches: 162 sq ft. At 3 inches: 108 sq ft. At 4 inches: 81 sq ft. At 6 inches: 54 sq ft. At 12 inches: 27 sq ft. The most common application depths: mulch at 2–3 inches, gravel paths and driveways at 3–4 inches, topsoil for lawn establishment at 4–6 inches, and base material for pavers at 4–6 inches plus 1 inch of leveling sand. For material estimation, use the formula: cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth inches) ÷ 324. A 20×30 foot area covered with 3 inches of mulch requires (20 × 30 × 3) ÷ 324 = 5.56 cubic yards — round up to 6 and add 5–10% for waste.
Concrete is ordered in cubic yards and delivered by mixer truck (minimum order typically 1–3 yards depending on the supplier, with short-load fees of $20–$50 per yard below minimum). A standard 4-inch slab requires: area in sq ft × 0.333 ft depth ÷ 27 = cubic yards. A 24×24 foot garage floor: 576 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 7.1 cubic yards. Always order 5–10% extra to account for uneven subgrade, slump variations, and spillage. Leftover concrete cannot be returned — better to have a small pour-off area planned (a stepping stone mold, a small pad) than to run short during a continuous pour. Running short during a slab pour creates a cold joint — a structural weakness that can crack and fail over time.
Bulk material delivery typically comes in dump trucks with capacities of 10–15 cubic yards per load. Delivery charges range from $50–$150 per load within a local service area, with per-mile surcharges beyond that radius. Specify your dump location precisely — truck drivers need a firm, level surface accessible from the street without overhanging obstacles (trees, power lines, garage structures). Wet conditions can prevent delivery if the truck risks getting stuck or damaging your driveway. For large orders, confirm the maximum load your driveway can handle — a fully loaded 10-yard dump truck weighs 25,000–35,000 lbs, enough to crack thin concrete driveways or damage septic field drain lines buried beneath access areas.
For smaller projects (under 2 cubic yards), hauling your own material in a pickup truck or rented trailer saves delivery fees. Most landscape supply yards sell bulk materials by the cubic yard with loader service included. A typical half-ton pickup can safely carry about 0.5–0.75 cubic yards of soil or gravel (1,000–1,500 lbs) without exceeding payload. For bagged products, one cubic yard equals approximately 13.5 bags of 2-cubic-foot material or 36 bags of 0.75-cubic-foot material. Bagged material costs 2–4 times more per cubic yard than bulk delivery but eliminates minimum orders, delivery scheduling, and heavy-equipment access requirements — making it practical for small garden projects and areas inaccessible to dump trucks.
Freshly delivered loose material settles significantly after initial placement and watering. Topsoil settles 10–15%, meaning you need 1.10–1.15 cubic yards to achieve one cubic yard of final settled volume. Mulch settles and decomposes 20–30% within the first year, which is why annual reapplication is standard. Gravel settles about 10% when compacted properly. Sand settles 5–10% with vibration and watering. For structural applications — under pavers, around drainage pipes, or as foundation backfill — compact material in 4-inch lifts using a plate compactor, adding water as needed to achieve maximum density. Accounting for these settling factors when calculating your order quantity avoids the frustrating scenario of finishing a project only to find the surface has dropped below grade within weeks.
See also: Concrete Calculator · Gravel Calculator · Soil Calculator
→ One cubic yard covers more than you think at shallow depth. At 2" deep, one cubic yard of mulch covers 162 sq ft. At 4" deep, it covers 81 sq ft. At 6" deep (gravel), only 54 sq ft. The depth-to-coverage relationship catches many first-time buyers off guard.
→ Order 5–10% extra for compaction and irregular edges. Gravel compacts by 10–15%. Topsoil settles by 5–10%. Mulch breaks down and thins over the season. Ordering tight to the calculation usually means a second (more expensive per-yard) trip.
→ Delivery fees often have a minimum load. Many suppliers charge the same delivery fee for 1 yard or 5 yards, making small orders expensive per unit. If you need less than 3–4 yards, picking up in bags may be cheaper despite the per-unit premium.
→ Wet materials weigh significantly more. A cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs ~2,000 lbs; wet, it can exceed 3,000 lbs. This affects delivery truck capacity, driveway load limits, and your ability to spread it. Schedule delivery for dry weather. See our Concrete Calculator for poured applications and our Mulch Calculator for landscaping.
See also: Concrete Calculator · Mulch Calculator · Gravel Calculator · Soil Calculator