Cubic Feet To Cubic Yards Converter
Convert cubic feet to cubic yards for soil, mulch, concrete, gravel and skip volumes, with waste allowance, load count and cost estimates.
Volume And Order Details
Converted Volume
This is a volume conversion. It does not convert soil, aggregate or concrete volume into weight unless a material density is supplied elsewhere.
Why Cubic Yards Are Used
Cubic feet are handy when measuring small spaces because length, width and depth in feet multiply directly into cubic feet. Cubic yards are common for bulk materials because suppliers, skips, concrete trucks and material yards often price by the cubic yard. This converter bridges the two: enter cubic feet from your measurement, then see the cubic yard amount to order.
The tool also adds a practical allowance. Excavation, compaction, uneven levels, settling and spillage can make the exact mathematical volume too tight. For a small garden bed, ten percent may be enough. For rough excavation or loose material, a larger allowance can prevent a short order.
Formula
1 yard = 3 feet1 cubic yard = 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 cubic feetcubic yards = cubic feet / 27cubic feet = cubic yards x 27order cubic yards = converted cubic yards x (1 + allowance percentage)The factor 27 is exact because it comes from the length definition. The uncertainty is usually in the measurement, not in the conversion.
Quick Conversion Table
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0.33 | Small repair or bagged material. |
| 27 | 1.00 | One cubic yard. |
| 54 | 2.00 | Small delivery. |
| 81 | 3.00 | Common example for load planning. |
| 135 | 5.00 | Medium landscaping order. |
| 270 | 10.00 | Large material or excavation volume. |
Worked Examples
Raised Bed Fill
A bed needing 81 cubic feet converts to 3 cubic yards. With 10% allowance, the order becomes 3.3 cubic yards.
Concrete Volume
A slab measured in cubic feet can be converted to cubic yards before asking for a ready-mix quote. Concrete order rules may require rounding to the supplier’s minimum.
Skip Capacity
Three cubic yards is 81 cubic feet. If material is bulky or awkwardly shaped, usable skip space may be lower than the nominal volume.
Measuring Volume First
For a rectangular area, multiply length by width by depth. Keep all three measurements in feet if you want cubic feet. If depth is measured in inches, divide inches by 12 before multiplying. For irregular areas, split the shape into rectangles, calculate each volume and add them. For sloped ground, use an average depth and then add a larger allowance.
Do not use cubic yards as weight. A cubic yard of dry mulch weighs far less than a cubic yard of wet aggregate or concrete. If the delivery is sold by tonne, use a density-based material calculator instead.
Ordering And Delivery Notes
Suppliers may not sell the exact decimal quantity shown by the converter. Concrete might be ordered to the nearest tenth or quarter yard, while soil and mulch suppliers may set a minimum load. A skip or truck marked as three cubic yards may also have practical loading limits when the material is bulky, wet or awkward to level. Use the load line to estimate the number of trips, then check the supplier’s actual order rules.
Access can matter as much as quantity. A tipped load needs a safe place to unload, and bagged material needs space for pallets or lifting gear. If the material will be moved by hand, smaller deliveries can sometimes save labour even when the material price is higher.
Depth Conversion Reminder
Many errors start with depth. A 3 inch layer is not 3 feet; it is 0.25 feet. A 6 inch concrete slab is 0.5 feet. Write the converted depth beside the original measurement before multiplying. This simple note can prevent an order that is twelve times too large or too small.
Concrete, Soil And Mulch Differences
The same cubic yard volume can mean very different handling. Concrete has a short working window and may need careful delivery timing. Soil may arrive loose and settle after rain. Mulch can compress in transit and spread differently depending on bark size. Use the allowance field for these job-specific realities, then confirm whether the supplier sells by loose volume, compacted volume or nominal bag volume.
If the material must meet a finished level, order planning should include the prepared base, edging height and any compaction step. A neat conversion is only the first part of a good material order.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Dividing by 3 instead of 27.
- Forgetting to convert inches of depth into feet.
- Ordering the exact volume with no allowance.
- Comparing cubic yards with tonnes without density.
- Ignoring supplier minimum orders and delivery rounding.
FAQs
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27.
How do I convert cubic yards to cubic feet?
Multiply cubic yards by 27.
Should I add waste allowance?
Yes for most real orders. Settlement, spillage, uneven levels and supplier rounding can all affect the amount needed.
Can I convert cubic yards to tonnes here?
No. Tonnes require material density. Use a material-specific calculator for weight.
Sources
- National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2008). Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Special Publication 811. NIST. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811
- Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. (2019). The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition. BIPM. https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. (2024). Concrete in practice: ordering ready mixed concrete. NRMCA. https://www.nrmca.org/
- Royal Horticultural Society. (2026). Soil, composts and mulches guidance. RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches