How Many Cubic Feet Are There in a Cubic Yard?

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard.

A cubic yard is a measurement of volume. Since 1 yard equals 3 feet, a cube that measures 1 yard on every side measures 3 feet on every side.

The calculation is:

3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet

Therefore:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

This conversion is commonly used when measuring bulk materials such as mulch, soil, gravel, sand, concrete, and other landscaping or construction materials.

Quick Answer

Cubic Yards	Cubic Feet
0.25 yd³	6.75 ft³
0.5 yd³	13.5 ft³
0.75 yd³	20.25 ft³
1 yd³	27 ft³
1.5 yd³	40.5 ft³
2 yd³	54 ft³
3 yd³	81 ft³
4 yd³	108 ft³
5 yd³	135 ft³
10 yd³	270 ft³

Why Is 1 Cubic Yard Equal to 27 Cubic Feet?

The key is understanding the difference between a yard and a cubic yard.

One yard is equal to 3 feet.

A cubic yard has three dimensions:

Length
Width
Height

If each dimension is 3 feet, the volume is:

3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet

So the conversion is not simply 3 cubic feet.

Instead, the factor of 3 applies to all three dimensions:

3³ = 27

That is why one cubic yard contains exactly 27 cubic feet.

How Do You Convert Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet?

To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply the number of cubic yards by 27.

Cubic Feet = Cubic Yards × 27

For example, if you have 4 cubic yards:

4 × 27 = 108 cubic feet

Therefore:

4 cubic yards = 108 cubic feet

For 7 cubic yards:

7 × 27 = 189 cubic feet

So:

7 cubic yards = 189 cubic feet

How Do You Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards?

To convert cubic feet into cubic yards, divide the number of cubic feet by 27.

Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27

For example, if you have 81 cubic feet:

81 ÷ 27 = 3 cubic yards

Therefore:

81 cubic feet = 3 cubic yards

If you have 100 cubic feet:

100 ÷ 27 ≈ 3.70 cubic yards

So 100 cubic feet is approximately 3.7 cubic yards.

Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Chart

Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards
6.75 ft³	0.25 yd³
13.5 ft³	0.5 yd³
20.25 ft³	0.75 yd³
27 ft³	1 yd³
54 ft³	2 yd³
81 ft³	3 yd³
108 ft³	4 yd³
135 ft³	5 yd³
162 ft³	6 yd³
216 ft³	8 yd³
270 ft³	10 yd³

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Mulch?

A cubic yard of mulch contains exactly 27 cubic feet.

For example, if you purchase 3 cubic yards of mulch:

3 × 27 = 81 cubic feet

So 3 cubic yards provides 81 cubic feet of mulch by volume.

The weight of the mulch can vary depending on its type and moisture content, but the volume conversion remains 27 cubic feet per cubic yard.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Soil?

One cubic yard of soil equals 27 cubic feet.

For example:

2 cubic yards × 27 = 54 cubic feet

Therefore, 2 cubic yards of soil contains 54 cubic feet by volume.

Different types of soil can have different weights because density and moisture vary, but a cubic yard always represents 27 cubic feet of volume.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Gravel?

One cubic yard of gravel contains 27 cubic feet.

If you have 5 cubic yards:

5 × 27 = 135 cubic feet

Therefore, 5 cubic yards of gravel equals 135 cubic feet.

The type and density of gravel affect its weight, not the volume conversion.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Concrete?

One cubic yard of concrete equals 27 cubic feet.

Concrete is commonly sold by the cubic yard, especially for slabs, driveways, foundations, patios, and other large projects.

For example:

10 cubic yards × 27 = 270 cubic feet

So 10 cubic yards of concrete equals 270 cubic feet.

The amount of surface area that this concrete covers depends on the thickness of the pour.

How Many Square Feet Does One Cubic Yard Cover?

A cubic yard measures volume, so it does not have one fixed square-foot coverage.

The coverage depends on the depth at which the material is spread.

For example, 1 cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet.

At a depth of 3 inches:

3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet

Then:

27 ÷ 0.25 = 108 square feet

So 1 cubic yard can cover approximately 108 square feet at 3 inches deep.

One Cubic Yard Coverage by Depth

Depth	Approximate Coverage
1 inch	324 sq ft
2 inches	162 sq ft
3 inches	108 sq ft
4 inches	81 sq ft
6 inches	54 sq ft
8 inches	40.5 sq ft
12 inches	27 sq ft

These are theoretical coverage figures assuming an even layer.

How Do You Calculate Cubic Feet?

For a rectangular space, multiply its length, width, and height.

Cubic Feet = Length × Width × Height

All three measurements should be in feet.

For example, consider a space that is:

10 feet long
8 feet wide
2 feet deep

The volume is:

10 × 8 × 2 = 160 cubic feet

To convert this to cubic yards:

160 ÷ 27 ≈ 5.93 cubic yards

So the space holds approximately 5.93 cubic yards.

How Do You Calculate Cubic Yards for Landscaping?

For a rectangular landscaping area, first measure:

Length in feet
Width in feet
Depth in feet

Then calculate cubic feet:

Length × Width × Depth = Cubic Feet

Finally, divide by 27:

Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards

For example, suppose a garden bed is 30 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 3 inches deep.

Convert 3 inches to feet:

3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet

Then:

30 × 10 × 0.25 = 75 cubic feet

Convert to cubic yards:

75 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.78 cubic yards

So you would need approximately 2.78 cubic yards of material before considering settling or waste.

Cubic Yard vs. Cubic Foot

Both measurements describe volume, but a cubic yard is much larger.

Measurement	Equivalent Volume
1 cubic foot	1 ft³
5 cubic feet	5 ft³
10 cubic feet	10 ft³
20 cubic feet	20 ft³
1 cubic yard	27 ft³
2 cubic yards	54 ft³
3 cubic yards	81 ft³
5 cubic yards	135 ft³
10 cubic yards	270 ft³

The easiest number to remember is:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

Common Mistakes When Converting Cubic Yards

Using 3 Instead of 27

Because 1 yard equals 3 feet, it is easy to assume that 1 cubic yard equals 3 cubic feet.

That is incorrect.

For volume, the conversion applies in three dimensions:

3 × 3 × 3 = 27

Confusing Cubic Feet With Square Feet

Square feet measure area, while cubic feet measure volume.

For example:

100 square feet describes an area.
100 cubic feet describes a volume.

To convert a volume into the area it covers, you also need the material’s depth.

Forgetting to Convert Inches to Feet

If a project is 4 inches deep, you cannot use 4 as the depth in a cubic-foot calculation.

Convert it first:

4 ÷ 12 = 0.3333 feet

This helps prevent large calculation errors.

Why Is This Conversion Useful?

The cubic-yard-to-cubic-foot conversion is useful when comparing material quantities.

A supplier may sell mulch by the cubic yard, while a garden bed may be measured in cubic feet.

Likewise, a construction project may specify concrete in cubic yards while a smaller calculation is performed in cubic feet.

Knowing that 27 cubic feet equals 1 cubic yard allows you to move between these measurements quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard.

How many cubic feet are in 2 cubic yards?

Two cubic yards equal:

2 × 27 = 54 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in 3 cubic yards?

Three cubic yards equal:

3 × 27 = 81 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in half a cubic yard?

Half a cubic yard equals:

0.5 × 27 = 13.5 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in a quarter cubic yard?

A quarter cubic yard equals:

0.25 × 27 = 6.75 cubic feet

How many cubic yards are 100 cubic feet?

Divide 100 by 27:

100 ÷ 27 ≈ 3.70 cubic yards

So 100 cubic feet is approximately 3.7 cubic yards.

Is a cubic yard the same as a yard?

No. A yard is a unit of length, while a cubic yard is a unit of volume.

A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet long × 3 feet wide × 3 feet high.

How many cubic feet are in a yard of mulch?

There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard of mulch.

How many cubic feet are in a yard of dirt?

There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard of dirt.

How many cubic feet are in a yard of gravel?

There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard of gravel.