How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet — a cube that measures 3 feet on every side.
Cubic yard volume
Concrete Yard Calculator
100% Free — No Sign Up Required
Calculate concrete in cubic yards. Enter your dimensions and get volume in yards, bags, or cubic meters — with support for a second area.
Cubic yards
4.07
Cubic feet
110.00
Cubic meters
3.11
Estimated bags
184
Includes a 10% waste factor. This estimate is for planning only; forms, subgrade and delivery conditions can change the final order.
Quick Cost Estimate
Estimated total cost
$631.48
Quick Cost Estimate multiplies estimated cubic yards by your unit price. It excludes labor, delivery, pumping, reinforcement, base prep and tax.
What is a Cubic Yard of Concrete?
A cubic yard is the standard unit for ordering ready mix concrete in the United States. One cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on each side, which means it contains 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet of concrete. That single conversion — 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet — is the heart of every concrete yardage calculation, and forgetting it is the most common estimating mistake. A cubic yard of standard concrete weighs roughly 4,000 pounds, or about two tons, and covers 81 square feet at 4 inches thick. When a supplier quotes a price "per yard," this is the unit they mean, so a concrete yard calculator that converts your measurements directly into cubic yards removes the guesswork between your tape measure and the order form.
The Concrete Yardage Formula
To calculate concrete yards by hand, use: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Because depth is almost always measured in inches, divide it by 12 first. Written out in one line, the yardage formula is L × W × (D ÷ 12) ÷ 27. For example, a 20 × 10 ft patio at 6 inches deep works out to 20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 cubic feet, and 100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards. Add a 5–10% waste factor and the practical order is about 4 yards. This concrete volume calculator does the unit handling for you, accepts feet, inches, yards, or meters on every field, and reports cubic feet and cubic meters alongside the yardage. If the pour is a standard rectangular slab and you want thickness guidance too, the concrete slab calculator covers the same math with slab-specific advice.
Adding Multiple Areas Together
Many projects are not one clean rectangle. A patio with an attached walkway, a slab with a landing, or a floor poured in two sections all need their volumes added before ordering. This calculator includes a second area for exactly that case: enter the dimensions of both rectangles and it totals the concrete yards in one result. If the two areas have different depths, calculate each one separately and add the final yardages — that is more accurate than averaging the depths. The same additive approach works for checking a contractor quote: if the quoted yardage is far from your calculated total, ask what the difference covers, such as footings, thickened edges, or a larger waste allowance, before the truck is scheduled.
From Yards to an Order
Ready mix plants typically sell in quarter-yard increments with a minimum load, and many charge short-load fees under three or four yards. For pours smaller than about one yard, bagged concrete is usually more practical — the concrete bag calculator converts the same volume into 40 lb, 60 lb, or 80 lb bag counts. Always round the yardage up after waste, and use the quick cost field for a material-only budget check: enter a local price per cubic yard and it estimates the concrete material cost before delivery, labor, pumping, reinforcement, base prep, or tax.
Concrete Calculators by Project Type
Concrete Slab Calculator
Use length, width and thickness for floors, patios and rectangular slabs.
Concrete Pad CalculatorEstimate square, rectangular or circular pads with a quick cost field.
Concrete Yard CalculatorConvert dimensions into cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters.
Concrete Bag CalculatorEstimate 40 lb, 60 lb and 80 lb bags after waste is added.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many yards of concrete do I need for a 24x24 slab?
At 4 inches thick, a 24 × 24 ft slab is 192 cubic feet, or about 7.1 cubic yards. With 10% waste, order about 8 yards.
How much does a yard of concrete cover?
One cubic yard covers 81 square feet at 4 inches thick, 54 square feet at 6 inches, or 108 square feet at 3 inches.
Should I round concrete yards up?
Yes. Round up after adding waste. A small amount of extra material costs far less than a second delivery to finish a short pour.