Convert between cubic yards, tons, square feet, and cubic feet. Choose a conversion tab below to get started with any material type.
Keep this table handy when working with bulk materials. These are the most common unit conversions used for gravel, stone, sand, and landscaping projects.
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards | ÷ 27 | 54 cu.ft. ÷ 27 = 2.00 cu.yd. |
| Cubic Yards | Cubic Feet | × 27 | 2 cu.yd. × 27 = 54 cu.ft. |
| Cubic Yards | Tons (gravel) | × 1.35 | 5 cu.yd. × 1.35 = 6.75 tons |
| Tons | Cubic Yards (gravel) | ÷ 1.35 | 10 tons ÷ 1.35 = 7.41 cu.yd. |
| Square Feet | Cubic Yards | × Depth(ft) ÷ 27 | 500 sq.ft. × 0.33 ft ÷ 27 = 6.11 cu.yd. |
A cubic yard is a unit of volume that measures 3 feet long × 3 feet wide × 3 feet tall. Multiplying those dimensions gives you 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. This is the standard unit that landscape suppliers, concrete companies, and bulk material yards use to sell and deliver products.
To put it in perspective, one cubic yard is roughly the size of a standard kitchen stove or washing machine. When dumped in a pile, a cubic yard of gravel forms a cone about 3 feet high and 4-5 feet across at the base.
The term "yard" in this context always means cubic yard. When a supplier says "I'll send you 5 yards of gravel," they mean 5 cubic yards — which is 135 cubic feet, approximately 6.75 tons, and enough material to cover about 810 square feet at 2 inches deep.
The number 27 appears frequently in volume calculations because it is the cube of 3. Since a yard equals 3 feet, a cubic yard contains 3³ = 27 cubic feet. This is why dividing cubic feet by 27 converts to cubic yards, and why the shortcut formula uses 324 (27 × 12) when depth is measured in inches.
Different materials have different densities, so a cubic yard of mulch weighs far less than a cubic yard of limestone. Use this table to convert between cubic yards and tons for the 10 most common bulk materials.
| Material | Density (t/yd³) | 1 yd³ = | 1 ton = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.35 | 1.35 tons | 0.74 yd³ |
| Crushed Stone | 1.35 | 1.35 tons | 0.74 yd³ |
| Pea Gravel | 1.35 | 1.35 tons | 0.74 yd³ |
| River Rock | 1.25 | 1.25 tons | 0.80 yd³ |
| Limestone | 1.50 | 1.50 tons | 0.67 yd³ |
| Sand (dry) | 1.35 | 1.35 tons | 0.74 yd³ |
| Sand (wet) | 1.70 | 1.70 tons | 0.59 yd³ |
| Topsoil | 1.10 | 1.10 tons | 0.91 yd³ |
| Mulch | 0.40 | 0.40 tons | 2.50 yd³ |
| Fill Dirt | 1.15 | 1.15 tons | 0.87 yd³ |
Densities are approximate averages. Moisture content, particle size, and compaction affect actual weights.
Converting square feet (an area measurement) to cubic yards (a volume measurement) requires adding a third dimension: depth. The formula is:
Cubic Yards = Square Feet × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
Or, if your depth is in inches, use the shortcut:
Cubic Yards = Square Feet × Depth (in) ÷ 324
You have a 500 square foot patio area and want to lay gravel 3 inches deep:
This equals 4.63 × 27 = 125 cubic feet, or 4.63 × 1.35 = 6.25 tons of gravel.
For a detailed reference with pre-calculated values for common areas and depths, visit our square feet to cubic yards conversion guide.
One ton of gravel equals approximately 0.74 cubic yards. This is calculated by dividing 1 ton by the standard gravel density of 1.35 tons per cubic yard: 1 ÷ 1.35 = 0.7407.
This conversion is important when your supplier quotes prices by the ton but you need to know the volume for planning coverage. Here is a quick conversion table:
| Tons | Cubic Yards (Gravel) | Cubic Feet | Coverage at 2" Deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.74 | 20.0 | 120 sq.ft. |
| 2 | 1.48 | 40.0 | 240 sq.ft. |
| 5 | 3.70 | 100.0 | 600 sq.ft. |
| 10 | 7.41 | 200.0 | 1,200 sq.ft. |
| 15 | 11.11 | 300.0 | 1,800 sq.ft. |
| 20 | 14.81 | 400.0 | 2,400 sq.ft. |
Keep in mind that different materials have different densities. A ton of mulch (at 0.40 t/yd³) fills 2.50 cubic yards, while a ton of limestone (at 1.50 t/yd³) only fills 0.67 cubic yards. Always use the correct density factor for your specific material.
Multiply the length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) and divide by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide depth by 12 first, or use the shortcut: L × W × D(inches) ÷ 324. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. A cubic yard measures 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet.
About 0.74 cubic yards. One ton divided by 1.35 tons per cubic yard equals approximately 0.74 cubic yards. This varies by material — lighter materials like mulch yield more yards per ton (2.50 yd³), while heavier materials like limestone yield fewer (0.67 yd³).
Multiply cubic yards by the material's density in tons per cubic yard. For gravel: cubic yards × 1.35 = tons. For sand: cubic yards × 1.35 (dry) or × 1.70 (wet). For topsoil: cubic yards × 1.10. For mulch: cubic yards × 0.40.
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For example: 500 sq.ft. × 0.33 ft (4 inches) ÷ 27 = 6.11 cubic yards. Alternatively, use the shortcut: sq.ft. × depth(inches) ÷ 324.
A cubic yard is a cube that measures 3 feet on each side — 3 ft long × 3 ft wide × 3 ft tall. It equals 27 cubic feet and holds about 2,700 pounds of gravel. Visualize it as roughly the size of a standard washing machine.
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