Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator
Convert a coverage area to cubic yards for concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil, and more. Enter the square footage and depth to get cubic feet, cubic yards, material weight in tons, and cost — plus a depth reference table and a downloadable PDF.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter an area to see depths | |||
| Material | Density | Weight | Tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter a volume to compare materials | |||
Square Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion — Complete Guide for 2026
Converting square feet to cubic yards is the calculation behind almost every bulk material order for a home or property: gravel for a driveway or shed base, concrete for a patio slab, topsoil for a new lawn, mulch for garden beds, or sand and fill dirt for leveling. You measure the job in square feet, but suppliers sell and deliver bulk material by the cubic yard — and the only thing that connects the two is depth. Square feet measure a flat area; cubic yards measure volume. Without a depth, the conversion cannot be done.
Our free Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter takes your area (or length × width) and depth in inches and returns cubic feet, cubic yards, the amount to order with a waste allowance, material weight in tons, and an estimated cost. It also shows how the volume changes across common depths from 1 to 12 inches, compares the weight of six common materials for the same volume, plots cubic yards by depth on a chart, and exports everything to a downloadable PDF you can hand to a supplier or contractor.
How to Use the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter in 4 Steps
A complete estimate takes under a minute. Enter the area and depth, pick a material, add a waste allowance and price, and download a PDF you can send with your order or attach to a project quote.
Enter Area & Depth
Type the coverage area in square feet, or fill in length and width in feet and the area calculates automatically. Then enter the depth in inches: about 2–3 in for mulch, 3–4 in for gravel or topsoil, and 4 in for a typical concrete patio or walkway slab. Results update live on every keystroke.
Choose Your Material
Select gravel, concrete, sand, topsoil, fill dirt, or mulch. The material only changes the weight estimate — the cubic yards are identical for any material at the same area and depth. Weight matters when you are hauling it yourself, checking a truck’s payload, or buying from a supplier that prices by the ton.
Add Waste & Price
Enter a waste / overage percentage to cover spillage, compaction, and uneven ground — 10% is the default and a common starting point. Add your supplier’s delivered price per cubic yard to see an estimated cost; the estimate is based on the order quantity including waste. Leave the price at 0 to skip cost.
Review & Download the Report
The hero result shows cubic yards needed. Result cards add cubic feet, the order quantity with waste, and weight in tons. The by-depth table and chart show how volume changes from 1 to 12 inches, and the weight-by-material table compares all six materials. Click Download report for a branded PDF with every input, result, and table.
Why You Divide by 27 — and Where 324 Comes From
A cubic yard is a cube measuring 1 yard on every side. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, one cubic yard = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet exactly. That is why any volume in cubic feet is divided by 27 to get cubic yards. In metric terms, 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 cubic meters (derived from the exact definition 1 yd = 0.9144 m), which the PDF report also lists for reference.
Square feet are only two dimensions. To get volume, you multiply the area by a third dimension — depth. Because depth for landscaping and concrete is almost always given in inches, it has to be converted to feet first by dividing by 12. So the full chain is: square feet × (inches ÷ 12) = cubic feet, then cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Combining the two divisors (12 × 27) gives the single shortcut number 324.
The 324 rule: how much one cubic yard covers
Flip the formula around and 324 becomes a handy coverage rule: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to find coverage at any depth — 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in, 54 sq ft at 6 in, and 27 sq ft at 12 in. This is also why depth is the most sensitive input: doubling the depth doubles the cubic yards, and even a half-inch error on a 4-inch slab changes the volume by 12.5%.
What the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter Calculates
Every output is derived from the same two inputs — area and depth — so volume, order quantity, weight, and cost always stay consistent with each other and with the tables and chart below them.
Cubic Yards (Hero Result)
The volume of material needed, calculated as area × depth ÷ 324 and shown to two decimals. This is the number bulk suppliers, ready-mix concrete plants, and landscape yards price and deliver by. At the default inputs — 500 sq ft at 4 inches — the result is 6.17 yd³.
Cubic Feet
The same volume in cubic feet (area × depth ÷ 12). Cubic feet are the unit printed on bagged products — mulch and soil bags are commonly 2 or 3 cu ft — so this number tells you how many bags a job would take. 500 sq ft at 4 inches = 166.7 ft³.
Order Quantity with Waste
Cubic yards × (1 + waste %). This is the amount to actually order, covering spillage, settling, compaction, and uneven subgrade. With the default 10%, 6.17 yd³ becomes 6.79 yd³. Round up to whatever increment your supplier sells — often a quarter or half yard.
Weight in Tons
Cubic yards × material density ÷ 2,000, in US short tons. Default densities: gravel 2,800 lb/yd³ (1.4 t), concrete 4,050 lb/yd³ (~2.0 t), sand 2,700 lb/yd³ (1.35 t), fill dirt 2,400 lb/yd³ (1.2 t), topsoil 2,200 lb/yd³ (1.1 t), mulch 800 lb/yd³ (0.4 t). Use it for payload checks and suppliers who sell by the ton.
Depth & Material Tables + Chart
The by-depth table shows cubic feet, cubic yards, and weight for your area at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 inches, with your depth highlighted. The weight-by-material table shows what your volume weighs in each of the six materials. The bar chart plots cubic yards by depth so you can see the cost of going thicker at a glance.
Estimated Cost & PDF Report
Cost = order quantity × price per cubic yard, so waste is already priced in. The PDF report includes a branded header, the cubic-yard result, an inputs-and-results table (including cubic meters), the by-depth table, the weight-by-material table, and an estimate note — ready to share with a supplier, contractor, or client.
Square Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion Chart — Common Values
Volumes below are calculated with yd³ = sq ft × in ÷ 324, before any waste allowance. Highlighted rows mark the most common project sizes.
| Area | Depth | Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards | Common Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 3 in | 25.00 ft³ | 0.93 yd³ | 10 × 10 ft mulch or topsoil bed |
| 100 sq ft | 4 in | 33.33 ft³ | 1.23 yd³ | 10 × 10 ft concrete patio slab |
| 144 sq ft | 4 in | 48.00 ft³ | 1.78 yd³ | 12 × 12 ft shed gravel base |
| 200 sq ft | 2 in | 33.33 ft³ | 1.23 yd³ | Garden beds, 2-inch mulch refresh |
| 250 sq ft | 3 in | 62.50 ft³ | 2.31 yd³ | Gravel path or side-yard walkway |
| 324 sq ft | 1 in | 27.00 ft³ | 1.00 yd³ | Exactly one cubic yard — the coverage anchor |
| 400 sq ft | 4 in | 133.33 ft³ | 4.94 yd³ | 20 × 20 ft slab or parking pad |
| 500 sq ft | 4 in | 166.67 ft³ | 6.17 yd³ | Calculator default; small driveway section |
| 576 sq ft | 4 in | 192.00 ft³ | 7.11 yd³ | 24 × 24 ft two-car garage floor |
| 600 sq ft | 4 in | 200.00 ft³ | 7.41 yd³ | 12 × 50 ft gravel driveway |
| 1,000 sq ft | 3 in | 250.00 ft³ | 9.26 yd³ | Topsoil for a small new lawn |
| 1,000 sq ft | 4 in | 333.33 ft³ | 12.35 yd³ | Large patio, slab, or gravel lot |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6 in | 500.00 ft³ | 18.52 yd³ | Heavier-duty gravel base or fill |
| 43,560 sq ft | 1 in | 3,630.00 ft³ | 134.44 yd³ | 1 acre at 1 inch — lawn topdressing |
Volumes exclude waste. Add your overage percentage (commonly 5–10% for concrete and around 10% for loose materials) before ordering.
Square Feet to Cubic Yards — Reference by Depth and Project
Two numbers settle most material questions on site: how far one cubic yard goes at a given depth, and how many yards a typical project needs. The table on the left gives coverage per cubic yard; the table on the right gives volumes for common home and landscape projects, before waste.
| Depth | Typical use | Sq ft per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 in | Lawn topdressing | 648 sq ft |
| 1 in | Topdressing, sand leveling | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | Mulch refresh, paver sand | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | New mulch beds, pea gravel | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | Concrete slab, gravel, topsoil | 81 sq ft |
| 5 in | Thicker slab or driveway | 64.8 sq ft |
| 6 in | Gravel base, driveway slab | 54 sq ft |
| 8 in | Raised beds, deep fill | 40.5 sq ft |
| 12 in | Raised beds, sandbox, fill | 27 sq ft |
| Project | Area × depth | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio slab | 100 sq ft × 4 in | 1.23 yd³ |
| 4 × 50 ft sidewalk | 200 sq ft × 4 in | 2.47 yd³ |
| 12 × 12 ft shed base | 144 sq ft × 4 in | 1.78 yd³ |
| 4 × 8 ft raised bed | 32 sq ft × 12 in | 1.19 yd³ |
| 8 × 8 ft sandbox | 64 sq ft × 12 in | 2.37 yd³ |
| Mulch beds | 200 sq ft × 3 in | 1.85 yd³ |
| Lawn topdressing | 1,000 sq ft × 0.5 in | 1.54 yd³ |
| 24 × 24 ft garage floor | 576 sq ft × 4 in | 7.11 yd³ |
| 12 × 50 ft gravel drive | 600 sq ft × 4 in | 7.41 yd³ |
| New lawn topsoil | 1,000 sq ft × 4 in | 12.35 yd³ |
Square Feet to Cubic Yards — Key Numbers
The Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter Is Built For You If…
Whether you’re a homeowner ordering mulch for the front beds, a contractor pricing a concrete slab, or a property manager budgeting gravel for a parking area, this converter turns a measured area into an order-ready quantity, weight, and cost in seconds.
Homeowners & DIY Gardeners
Mulch, topsoil, gravel & small slabsYou’ve measured your beds, lawn, or patio in feet, but the landscape yard asks “how many yards?” A homeowner with 300 sq ft of beds needs to know that 2 inches of mulch is about 1.85 yd³ — and whether bags or bulk delivery makes more sense. Someone laying a gravel path wants to know if the load will fit safely in a pickup before driving to the supplier.
- Use length × width for each bed or area, then add the areas together
- Check the cubic feet result to compare bagged vs bulk pricing (1 yd³ = 13.5 two-cu-ft bags)
- Check the weight result before hauling — one yard of gravel is about 1.4 tons
- Download the PDF and bring it to the garden center or landscape yard
Contractors & Concrete Estimators
Slabs, footings, bases & quotesReady-mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard, and running short mid-pour is expensive. A contractor pricing a 24 × 24 ft garage at 4 inches needs to know it’s 7.11 yd³ before overage, compare it against 5 or 6 inches, and put a defensible number into the quote. The same applies to the compacted gravel base underneath.
- Measure slab thickness at several points — subgrade is rarely perfectly flat
- Use the by-depth table to price 4-inch vs 6-inch options for the client
- Set waste to 5–10% for formed concrete and more for loose, compacted base
- Attach the PDF to estimates, change orders, and supplier orders
Landscapers & Property Managers
Bulk orders, budgets & site workLandscapers and property managers order bulk material across many beds, lots, and common areas. Converting each area accurately — and knowing its weight for truck loads and its cost for budgets — keeps crews supplied without paying for leftovers or a second delivery fee. The weight-by-material table also helps when a job mixes soil, sand, and stone.
- Topdressing: 1,000 sq ft at ½ inch ≈ 1.54 yd³; 1 acre at 1 inch ≈ 134 yd³
- Compare materials by weight when planning delivery trips and truck capacity
- Enter your delivered price per yard to budget each property line item
- Keep PDFs in property records for recurring seasonal mulch and gravel orders
7 Tips for Accurate Square Feet to Cubic Yards Estimates
The formula is simple, but small measurement mistakes — especially depth — turn into short loads, leftover piles, and extra delivery fees. These tips help you order the right amount the first time.
Depth Is the Most Sensitive Input — Measure It Carefully
Volume scales directly with depth: going from 3 to 4 inches adds 33% more material, and a half-inch error on a 4-inch slab changes the volume by 12.5%. Measure depth at several points across the area and use the average. For concrete, check the actual form height and any low spots in the subgrade rather than assuming a nominal thickness.
Always Enter Depth in Inches, Area in Square Feet
The most common manual error is multiplying square feet by inches and then dividing by 27 — forgetting the ÷ 12 that converts inches to feet. That overstates the order twelvefold. The calculator handles the conversion for you: area in square feet, depth in inches, and it applies ÷ 324 automatically.
Break Irregular Shapes Into Simple Pieces
Split odd-shaped areas into rectangles, triangles, and circles. Rectangle = length × width; triangle = ½ × base × height; circle = 3.1416 × radius². Add the areas together and enter the total. For curved beds, a slightly generous estimate is better than coming up short.
Allow Extra for Compaction and Settling
Loose gravel, fill, and topsoil settle and compact after spreading and tamping, so the loose volume you order ends up thinner than the finished depth. Use the waste field to cover it — 10% is a common starting point, and more is reasonable for base material that will be compacted with a plate tamper or roller. Ask your supplier what they recommend for their product.
Round Up to Your Supplier’s Order Increment
Bulk yards and ready-mix plants usually sell in set increments (often a quarter, half, or whole yard) and may charge a short-load or delivery fee for small orders. After adding waste, round the order quantity up. Running out mid-pour on concrete is far more costly than a small leftover.
Check Weight Before You Haul It Yourself
A single cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) and sand about 2,700 lb — more than many light pickups can safely carry. Mulch is far lighter at roughly 800 lb per yard. Use the weight result and the weight-by-material table to compare against your vehicle’s rated payload before loading.
Convert Bagged Products Using Cubic Feet
Bagged mulch, soil, and sand are labeled in cubic feet. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet — 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft. Divide the calculator’s cubic-feet result by the bag size to get a bag count, then compare the total with the bulk price per yard plus delivery to see which is cheaper for your job.
Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about converting square feet to cubic yards, how much a cubic yard covers, how much common materials weigh, and how much extra to order.
Square feet measure area and cubic yards measure volume, so you need a depth to convert between them. Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. The formula is: cubic yards = square feet × depth (in) ÷ 324.
The 324 comes from 12 inches per foot × 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. For example, 500 sq ft at 4 inches deep = 500 × 4 ÷ 324 = 6.17 cubic yards.
100 square feet at 4 inches deep is about 1.23 cubic yards (100 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.2346), which is 33.33 cubic feet. This is the same volume as a 10 ft × 10 ft concrete slab or gravel pad 4 inches thick.
With a 10 percent waste allowance, order about 1.36 cubic yards, and round up to the increment your supplier sells.
One cubic yard (27 cubic feet) covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by the depth in inches for other depths: 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.
At a 2-inch depth, 500 square feet needs about 3.09 cubic yards of mulch (500 × 2 ÷ 324). At 3 inches it needs about 4.63 cubic yards.
If you are buying bagged mulch, one cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet.
This calculator uses a typical density of 2,800 lb per cubic yard for gravel, which is about 1.4 tons. Other defaults: concrete about 4,050 lb (roughly 2.0 tons), sand 2,700 lb (1.35 tons), fill dirt 2,400 lb (1.2 tons), topsoil 2,200 lb (1.1 tons), and mulch 800 lb (0.4 tons).
Actual weight varies with moisture, stone size, and compaction, so confirm tonnage with your supplier.
A 5 to 10 percent overage is common for concrete poured into forms, and around 10 percent is a common starting point for gravel, soil, and mulch. Increase it for uneven subgrade, loose material that will be compacted, or irregular shapes.
The calculator applies your waste percentage to show the amount to order and bases the cost estimate on that order quantity.
The volume math is exact: cubic feet = square feet × inches ÷ 12, and cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, calculated with double-precision arithmetic. The accuracy of your result depends on the accuracy of your measurements, especially depth, since a half-inch error on a 4-inch slab changes the volume by 12.5 percent.
Weights use typical densities and are estimates only; tons are US short tons of 2,000 lb.
Accuracy note: The HomeExpertly Square Feet to Cubic Yards Converter calculates volume with the exact relationships 1 ft = 12 in and 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ (so cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324), and reports cubic meters using 1 yd³ ≈ 0.764555 m³. Material weights use typical densities (gravel 2,800, concrete 4,050, sand 2,700, fill dirt 2,400, topsoil 2,200, and mulch 800 lb per cubic yard) and are reported in US short tons of 2,000 lb; actual weights vary with moisture content, particle size, and compaction. Cost estimates depend entirely on the price you enter and exclude delivery fees, taxes, short-load charges, and labor. Results are for informational and planning purposes only. Before ordering, always verify quantities, tonnage, and coverage with your supplier, and consult a licensed contractor or engineer for structural concrete, load-bearing bases, drainage, or other work where specifications are critical. HomeExpertly is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of these estimates.