Convert any area in square feet to cubic yards by entering a depth. Works for gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, and all bulk materials.
Enter square feet and depth to calculate cubic yards, or enter cubic yards and depth to find the area covered.
Square feet is a measure of area (two dimensions), while cubic yards is a measure of volume (three dimensions). To convert between them, you need a third dimension: depth.
Cu. Yd. = Sq. Ft. × Depth (in) ÷ 324
This formula works because 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, and there are 12 inches per foot. So 27 × 12 = 324, which converts square feet and depth in inches directly to cubic yards in one step.
Alternatively, if you have depth in feet: Cu. Yd. = Sq. Ft. × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
Sq. Ft. = Cu. Yd. × 324 ÷ Depth (in)
This reverse formula tells you how many square feet a given volume of material will cover at a specific depth.
Use this reference table to look up cubic yards for common areas and depths without calculating.
| Sq. Ft. | 2" Depth | 3" Depth | 4" Depth | 6" Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 200 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 500 | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 |
| 1,000 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
| 2,000 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 24.69 | 37.04 |
| 5,000 | 30.86 | 46.30 | 61.73 | 92.59 |
Values in cubic yards, calculated as Sq. Ft. × Depth (in) ÷ 324.
Let's walk through a full calculation for a patio measuring 12 feet by 15 feet with a gravel depth of 3 inches.
You would order approximately 2 cubic yards of gravel to cover this patio with room for waste and settling.
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to a cube that measures 3 feet on each side: 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. It is the standard measurement used by landscape suppliers, quarries, and construction companies to sell and deliver bulk materials.
To visualize it, imagine a box roughly the size of a washing machine — that is close to one cubic yard. Most pickup trucks with a full-size bed can carry about 2 to 3 cubic yards of gravel, depending on the truck's payload capacity and the material's weight.
Common equivalencies:
For a full-featured volume calculator that handles multiple shapes and material types, use our cubic yards calculator. For help determining how much gravel your specific project needs, see how much gravel do I need.
Our gravel calculator computes cubic yards, tons, coverage, and cost — all in one step.
Open Gravel Calculator →Multiply the square footage by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. The formula is: Cubic Yards = Square Feet × Depth (inches) ÷ 324. For example, 500 sq. ft. at 4 inches deep = 500 × 4 ÷ 324 = 6.17 cubic yards. You can also use the converter at the top of this page.
It depends on the depth. At 2 inches deep, 200 sq. ft. equals 1.23 cubic yards. At 3 inches deep, 1.85 cubic yards. At 4 inches deep, 2.47 cubic yards. At 6 inches deep, 3.70 cubic yards. The deeper the material, the more cubic yards you need for the same area.
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet. It is the standard unit used by landscaping and construction suppliers to measure and price bulk materials like gravel, sand, topsoil, and mulch. One cubic yard of gravel weighs approximately 2,700 pounds or 1.35 tons.