Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator: Free Online Conversion Tool
Use our free feet to cubic yards calculator to convert a rectangular length, width, and depth measured entirely in feet into a volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters. Enter your three dimensions and the calculator does the arithmetic for you. It's built for excavation, grading, and any project where the depth is easier to measure or estimate in feet rather than inches.
How to use this calculator.
- Enter the length and width. Input your project dimensions in feet for both length and width.
- Enter the depth in feet. If you only know the depth in inches, divide by 12 first (3 inches = 0.25 ft, 6 inches = 0.5 ft). For dimensions already in inches, use the inches-to-cubic-yards calculator instead.
- Click calculate. The result displays the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters instantly.
- Add a waste factor. Add 5–10% to the cubic yard figure before placing a material order to cover compaction and uneven ground.
How do you calculate cubic yard conversions from feet?
With length, width, and depth all expressed in feet, the calculation is a straightforward volume of a rectangular box, then a division to change units.
Cubic Feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
Cubic Meters = Cubic Feet ÷ 35.3147
Where:
- Length: The longest dimension of the area, in feet.
- Width: The shorter dimension of the area, in feet.
- Depth: The thickness or depth of the material layer, also in feet (not inches).
- 27: The number of cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
- 35.3147: The number of cubic feet in one cubic meter, for projects that need a metric result.
Note that this differs from a calculation where depth is given in inches: in that case you would first divide the depth by 12 to get feet, or divide the length × width × depth-in-inches product by 324 (12 × 27) in one step.
Example calculation.
Let us calculate the volume of soil to excavate for a small pond.
Scenario: You are excavating an area that is 30 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 1.5 feet (18 inches) deep.
- Calculate cubic feet: 30 ft × 15 ft × 1.5 ft = 675 cu ft
- Convert to cubic yards: 675 cu ft ÷ 27 = 25 cu yd
- Convert to cubic meters (optional): 675 cu ft ÷ 35.3147 = 19.11 m³
Result: You will excavate approximately25 cubic yards (about 19.11 m³) of soil.
Tips from the field.
- Keep every dimension in the same unit before multiplying.Mixing feet and inches in one calculation is the single most common source of a wrong cubic yard figure. Convert everything to feet first.
- Convert inches to decimal feet cleanly. Divide the inch measurement by 12: 3 in = 0.25 ft, 4 in = 0.33 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft, 12 in = 1.0 ft.
- Excavation volume and fill volume aren't the same.Excavated soil expands (bulks) by 15–25% once dug, while fill material compacts down. Account for this separately from the raw cubic yard conversion.
- Common cubic-yard references. A standard pickup truck bed holds about 2–3 cubic yards. A 10-yard dump truck is the most common delivery vehicle for bulk materials like soil and gravel.
- For thin layers, switch to the 324 shortcut. When depth is naturally given in inches (mulch, asphalt, gravel base), it's often faster to multiply square feet by inches and divide by 324 directly, skipping the feet conversion. Use the dedicated inches-to-cubic-yards calculator for that workflow.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Actual material requirements vary based on site conditions, compaction, and waste. PavementCalculator.com assumes no liability for material overages or shortages.
Cost, price, and density figures on this page reflect approximate U.S. averages as of August 2026 and vary by region, supplier, and material availability.
Frequently asked questions.
How do you convert feet to cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For example, a 10 ft × 10 ft area with 2 ft depth equals 200 cubic feet / 27 = 7.41 cubic yards. Our calculator above does this automatically.
Why divide by 27 to get cubic yards?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet because a cube measuring 1 yard (3 feet) on each side has a volume of 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. This is the standard conversion used throughout construction and landscaping.
How many cubic yards do I need for a 10x10 area?
It depends on the depth. For a 10 ft × 10 ft area: at 1 ft depth you need 3.70 cubic yards, at 2 ft depth you need 7.41 cubic yards, at 3 ft depth you need 11.11 cubic yards. Enter your exact measurements above for a precise calculation.
How do I convert feet to cubic yards?
First convert your linear/area measurement to cubic feet (length × width × depth in feet), then divide by 27 for cubic yards. You cannot directly convert linear feet to cubic yards: you need the full 3 dimensions. Our calculator helps with the conversion.
Why do I divide by 324 to get cubic yards from feet and inches?
The number 324 comes from two conversions: dividing depth in inches by 12 to get feet, and dividing cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Since 12 × 27 = 324, you can multiply the square feet by inches and divide by 324 in one step.
Can I use decimal feet instead of inches for depth?
Yes. If you know the depth in decimal feet (e.g., 0.25 ft for 3 inches), use the formula: Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards.
How much extra should I order?
Always add 5–10% extra for compaction, uneven ground, and spillage. For irregularly shaped areas, add an additional 5% to your calculated volume.