Cubic Yards Explained: Converting Feet, Yards, and Bags
Landscape suppliers sell by the cubic yard, stores sell bags in cubic feet, and your tape measure reads feet and inches. Master a few simple conversions and every single materials order becomes clear and predictable.
By the CalcAndPlan Editorial Team · Published · 3 min read
In this article
What a cubic yard is
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. Because 3 × 3 × 3 = 27, one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. That single number explains most landscape math.
It’s also why a “yard” of mulch looks smaller than people expect when it’s piled in a driveway, yet covers a surprising area once spread a few inches deep.
From measurements to cubic yards
Multiply length by width to get square feet. Multiply by depth in feet — inches divided by 12 — to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
A shortcut for depths in inches: square feet × inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. That works because 27 × 12 = 324.
Run your numbersSoil CalculatorBags and cubic feet
Bagged products are labeled in cubic feet or in quarts or liters. To count bags, multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, then divide by the bag size. One cubic yard is 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 bags of 1.5, or 13.5 bags of 2.
If a bag is labeled in quarts, there are about 30 quarts in a cubic foot. One liter is about 0.035 cubic feet.
Metric conversions
One cubic meter equals 1,000 liters and about 1.31 cubic yards. One cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic meters. In metric, area in square meters times depth in meters gives cubic meters directly.
When suppliers quote by weight instead of volume, you’ll also need the material’s density, which they can provide.
Volume versus weight
Some materials are sold by weight, especially stone. Converting volume to weight requires the material’s density, which varies by type and moisture.
Ask your supplier for density so your calculations match their pricing.
Common mistakes
Forgetting to convert inches to feet and confusing square feet with cubic feet are the most common errors.
Write units next to each number to avoid mistakes.
Quick reference
Keep these numbers handy: 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard; 324 square-foot-inches in a cubic yard; about 0.765 cubic meters in a cubic yard; about 1.31 cubic yards in a cubic meter; about 28.3 liters in a cubic foot; and about 7.48 US gallons in a cubic foot. With these, you can convert nearly any landscape quantity.
When to round up
Always round bag counts up to the next whole bag. For bulk orders, many suppliers sell in half-yard or whole-yard increments, so round up to the nearest increment they offer. Adding a small allowance for settling or compaction before rounding avoids coming up short.
Worked example: a mulch order three ways
- Beds: 250 sq ft at 3 in deep
- Cubic feet: 250 × 0.25 = 62.5 cu ft
- Cubic yards: 62.5 ÷ 27 = 2.31 (or 250 × 3 ÷ 324 = 2.31)
- 2 cu ft bags: 62.5 ÷ 2 = 31.25, so 32 bags
- Cubic meters: 2.31 × 0.765 = 1.77 m³
The same order is 2.31 cubic yards, 32 bags of 2 cubic feet, or 1.77 cubic meters.
Helpful tips
Pro tips
- Keep every number in feet until the last step to avoid mixing units.
- Round bag counts up, never down.
- Write the unit next to every number in your notes.
Frequently asked questions
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
At 1 inch deep, about 324 square feet; at 2 inches, 162; at 3 inches, 108; at 4 inches, 81.
Is a yard of soil the same as a yard of gravel?
In volume, yes. In weight, no — gravel is much heavier, so the same volume weighs more.
The bottom line
Remember 27 cubic feet per cubic yard and 324 for inch-deep shortcuts, convert to bags by dividing by bag size, and use density for weight. With those, any supplier’s units make sense.
General information for planning. Conditions vary by region, site, and product — check product labels and local guidance.