How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27cubic feet
in one cubic yard
A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. A yard is three feet, so a cubic yard is a cube three feet on every side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. To go from cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply by 27.
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.7646 cubic metres
- A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft
- Half a cubic yard is 13.5 cubic feet
- It takes 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags to fill a cubic yard
- One cubic yard covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep
Cubic feet to cubic yards
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 27 ft³ | 1 yd³ |
| 40 ft³ | 1.48 yd³ |
| 50 ft³ | 1.85 yd³ |
| 80 ft³ | 2.96 yd³ |
| 100 ft³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 135 ft³ | 5 yd³ |
| 200 ft³ | 7.41 yd³ |
| 270 ft³ | 10 yd³ |
Cubic yard calculator
Any area and depth — in cubic yards, feet, metres and tons.
Why suppliers use cubic yards
Ready-mix concrete, gravel, soil and mulch are all sold by the cubic yard because a truck-sized unit is easier to quote than 27 separate cubic feet. Bagged material is the opposite: bags are labelled in cubic feet, which is why converting between the two is the most common question on any material job.
Cubic feet is not square feet
Square feet measure a flat area. Cubic feet measure volume, so you need a third number — the depth or thickness. Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet. A cubic yard is a cube three feet on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide the cubic feet by 27. For example, 80 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 2.96 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet is half a yard?
13.5 cubic feet, which is what many small landscape deliveries and bulk bags hold.
How many 2 cubic foot bags make a yard?
13.5 bags. Bags of mulch and soil are usually 1.5, 2 or 3 cubic feet.