Updated July 18, 2026
The numbers this calculator uses
| Constant | Value used here | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet per cubic yard | 27 (fixed geometry) | n/a |
| Tonnage density factor | 1.4 tons per cubic yard, typical aggregate | Omni gravel reference (see sources below) |
The 1.4 factor is a general-purpose stand-in for gravel, sand and crushed stone. Swap in the material-specific weight from the table further down if you know what you are filling the space with.
How to measure
Measure the footprint at its longest and widest points. For an irregular bed, break it into rectangles and add them. Depth is where people go wrong: settle on a finished depth and apply it consistently, because an inch of extra depth across a large area adds up to a full yard fast. Loose material also settles and compacts once it is in place, so the hole you are filling needs a touch more than the bare geometry suggests.
How the conversion works
We convert each inch measurement to feet, multiply for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Bulk materials are sold by the yard, so this is the number your supplier needs. Tonnage uses the 1.4 density factor from the table above.
The weight-per-yard figures further down draw on Omni Calculator's aggregate data and a published topsoil-density writeup, not one blanket number for every material. Our full sourcing approach is on the editorial standards page.
What you're really asking your supplier for
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which is also 46,656 cubic inches or about 0.7646 cubic meters. Bulk materials like gravel, sand, soil and mulch are sold by the yard, so this is the figure your supplier wants when you call. The weight of that yard depends entirely on what fills it.
Working an example
Say you are filling an area 10 feet long, 10 feet wide, to a depth of 4 inches. Convert the depth to feet first: 4 inches is 0.333 feet. Multiply 10 x 10 x 0.333 and you get 33.3 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and that is 1.23 cubic yards. The calculator above takes inches for all three dimensions and does the same conversion, so a 120 by 120 by 4 inch area lands at the same answer. If you already know the square footage, multiply it by the depth in feet and divide by 27.
What a cubic yard weighs
| Material | Weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Topsoil (dry) | about 2,000 lb |
| Sand (dry) | about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) |
| Clean gravel | about 2,830 lb (1.4 tons) |
| Crushed stone | up to about 3,400 lb (1.7 tons) |
The tonnage line in the calculator uses a 1.4 density factor, which suits most clean gravel and crushed stone. Wet material weighs more: saturated topsoil can push toward 3,000 pounds a yard. When the load matters for a trailer or a delivery limit, confirm the density with your supplier.
Common mistakes
Mixing units is the big one. Keep length, width and depth in the same system before you multiply, or convert each to feet as you go. The second trap is ordering exactly what the geometry says. Add 10 to 15 percent for aggregates, soil and mulch to cover compaction, spillage and ground that is not level. A second delivery almost always costs more than the material you skipped, between the trip fee and the minimum order.
Sources: Omni gravel data, topsoil weight reference.
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