Free tool
Material Calculator
Bulk material is sold by the cubic yard, and almost nobody measures their yard in cubic yards. Enter the size of the area and how deep you want the material, and this works out the amount to order.
Getting the depth right
- Depth matters more than area. Doubling the depth doubles the material and the cost.
- Materials that get compacted, such as driveway gravel and bulk soil, need roughly 10 percent more than the measured volume. The gravel and soil calculators add that for you.
- Mulch and clean decorative rock do not compact, so the measured number is the number.
The maths behind it
Length times width gives square feet. Multiply that by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. The answer is cubic yards. One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, or 100 square feet at about 3¼ inches deep.
The 324 comes from a cubic yard being 27 cubic feet, and 27 times 12 inches is 324. Nothing else is going on, which is why you can check this calculator against a tape measure and a phone.
Common questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply the length by the width in feet to get square feet, multiply that by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. The result is cubic yards.
How much does one cubic yard cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, and about 80 square feet at 4 inches deep.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
About 1 cubic yard for a half-ton pickup carrying gravel or soil. Weight runs out before space does with heavy material. Our what-fits guide covers it by vehicle.
Do I need to order extra?
For driveway gravel and bulk soil, yes, because both lose volume when they compact or settle. Around 10 percent covers it, and the gravel and soil calculators add it automatically. For mulch and clean rock, order the measured amount.