To use: Enter the length, width, and depth of the area you are trying to calculate. Make sure you choose either feet or inches. You can choose to add a cost per unit if you’d like an estimate of the cost.
Results:
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume commonly used in the United States to measure large quantities of materials, such as soil, concrete, or other construction materials. One cubic yard is equal to the volume of a cube with sides that are each 1 yard (3 feet or 36 inches) in length.
Cubic Yards = (Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Height (ft)) ÷ 27
In terms of cubic feet, a cubic yard is equivalent to 27 cubic feet (3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet). This unit of measurement is often employed in construction, landscaping, and other industries where large volumes of materials need to be transported, calculated, or estimated.
What types of materials are typically measured in cubic yards?
The measurement of cubic yards is commonly used in various industries and activities where large volumes of materials need to be quantified, transported, or managed. Here are some specific areas where cubic yards are frequently employed:
- Construction: In construction projects, cubic yards are used to measure materials like concrete, gravel, sand, and asphalt. Contractors use this measurement to estimate the amount of materials required for tasks such as pouring concrete foundations, building roads, or creating structures.
- Landscaping: Landscapers utilize cubic yards to determine the amount of soil, mulch, rocks, and other materials needed for tasks such as filling garden beds, creating pathways, or designing outdoor spaces.
- Excavation and Earthwork: During excavation and grading projects, cubic yards are used to quantify the amount of earth moved or removed from a site. This is crucial for projects such as digging foundations, creating trenches, or leveling terrain.
- Waste Management: The disposal and management of waste, such as construction debris, yard waste, or household junk, often involve cubic yard measurements. Waste disposal companies use this unit to determine pricing and container sizes.
- Concrete Mixing: In the concrete industry, the measurement is used to calculate the quantities of cement, aggregates, and water required to create a specific amount of concrete mix.
- Swimming Pools: When installing or maintaining swimming pools, cubic yards might be used to calculate the amount of concrete required for the pool’s base or the volume of soil to be excavated for pool construction.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume that represents the amount of space occupied by a cube with sides that are each 1 yard (3 feet or 36 inches) in length. Visually, it’s helpful to imagine a cube that measures 1 yard on all sides. To provide a better sense of scale, here are a few comparisons:
- A standard washing machine is roughly the size of 1 cubic yard.
- A standard kitchen stove is also approximately the size of 1 cubic yard.
- If you were to imagine a box that measures 3 feet in length, 3 feet in width, and 3 feet in height, you would have a cubic yard.
It’s important to note that a cubic yard is a volumetric measurement, so while its dimensions are 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet (or 36 inches x 36 inches x 36 inches), it doesn’t necessarily equate to a weight measurement, as the weight of the contents would depend on the specific material being measured.
What are some weights of materials per cubic yard?
Here’s a table listing the approximate weights of common construction and landscaping materials per cubic yard.
Keep in mind that these values are approximate and can vary based on factors like moisture content and compaction. Always consult specific weight values from reliable sources when accuracy is crucial for your project.
| Material | Weight (lb/cubic yard) |
| Asphalt | 2,700 – 3,000 |
| Concrete (normal) | 3,800 – 4,000 |
| Concrete (lightweight) | 1,900 – 2,500 |
| Gravel (dry) | 2,800 – 3,400 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,600 – 3,100 |
| Soil (loose, dry) | 2,000 – 2,500 |
| Soil (saturated) | 2,800 – 3,500 |
| Mulch | 400 – 800 |
| Topsoil | 2,000 – 2,200 |
| Clay (dry) | 2,200 – 2,400 |
| Brick | 2,400 – 2,500 |
| Wood chips | 300 – 500 |
| Stone (various types) | 2,000 – 3,000 |
| Gravel, wet | 3,000 – 3,600 |
| Sand, wet | 3,200 – 3,800 |
