Order bulk material for a yard project and you will quickly run into the cubic yard. It is the standard unit for mulch, topsoil, compost, sand and gravel across the United States. Here is what it means and how to convert it into the units you actually see in stores.
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a cube that measures 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. Because 3 × 3 × 3 = 27, one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. In metric terms, that is about 0.76 cubic meters.
To picture it: a cubic yard fills the bed of a compact pickup truck about a foot deep, or takes roughly 8 to 12 wheelbarrow loads, depending on the size of the wheelbarrow and how full you load it.
Cubic feet and cubic yards
- Cubic feet → cubic yards: divide by 27
- Cubic yards → cubic feet: multiply by 27
Example: a project that needs 81 cubic feet of soil needs 81 ÷ 27 = 3 cubic yards.
How many bags are in a cubic yard?
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 | Pea gravel, decorative stone |
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 | Topsoil, sand (often sold as 40 lb bags) |
| 1 cu ft | 27 | Potting mix, garden soil |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 | Garden soil, raised bed mix |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | Mulch |
| 3 cu ft | 9 | Mulch, compressed bales |
Seeing 54 bags of gravel next to a single cubic yard makes it obvious why bulk delivery becomes attractive for larger jobs.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
Coverage depends entirely on depth. Use this formula: square feet covered = 324 ÷ depth in inches. The 324 comes from 27 cubic feet × 12 inches per foot.
| Depth | Coverage of 1 cubic yard | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | Topping up mulch, top dressing |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Mulch, gravel paths |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | Mulch, pea gravel patios |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | Topsoil for new lawns, driveway gravel |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | New garden beds, driveway base |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | Filling raised beds |
Cubic yards to tons
Quarries and some landscape yards sell by weight. Weight depends on the material and how wet it is, so the figures below are typical ranges, not exact values. Ask your supplier what they use for their product.
| Material | Approx. weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Wood mulch (dry to wet) | 400–800 lb (0.2–0.4 tons) |
| Compost | about 1,000–1,600 lb |
| Topsoil | 2,000–2,700 lb (1–1.35 tons) |
| Sand | 2,600–3,000 lb (1.3–1.5 tons) |
| Gravel and crushed stone | 2,600–3,000 lb (1.3–1.5 tons) |
To convert, multiply cubic yards by the weight per cubic yard. Three cubic yards of crushed stone at about 1.4 tons each weigh roughly 4.2 tons.
Can my truck carry it?
This is where weight really matters. A pickup bed easily holds a cubic yard by volume, but the truck may not be rated to carry that much weight. A cubic yard of topsoil or gravel can weigh more than a ton, which is over the payload of many light-duty pickups.
Before you haul it yourself, check the payload rating on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb, and remember that passengers and tools count toward it too. Many landscape yards will tell you how much material your truck can safely take. Mulch is light enough that volume is usually the limit; for soil, sand and gravel, weight is.
Order a little extra
Most materials settle or compact after spreading. Soil settles after watering, gravel compacts under a plate compactor or car tires, and uneven ground hides more volume than you think. Adding 5 to 10 percent to your calculated amount is a sensible buffer, especially when the delivery fee for a second load would cost more than the extra material.
Quick reference
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet ≈ 0.76 cubic meters
- 1 cubic yard = 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft = 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft = 27 bags of 1 cu ft
- 1 cubic yard covers 324 ÷ depth (in inches) square feet
- Soil and gravel: roughly 1 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard
- Mulch: roughly 400 to 800 lb per cubic yard
With these numbers you can compare a pallet of bags at the garden center with a bulk delivery from a landscape yard, and choose the option that is cheaper for your project. Planning a mulch job? Our guide on how much mulch you need walks through real examples.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet, because it measures 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.
How many bags of soil are in a cubic yard?
About 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet or 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet (the common 40 lb bag).
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Most gravel and crushed stone weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons (2,600 to 3,000 pounds) per cubic yard, depending on the stone and moisture.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the square footage by the depth in inches and divide by 324. For example, 200 square feet at 3 inches deep is 200 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards.