Cubic Yard

Cubic Yard (yd³)

The cubic yard is the standard volume measurement for bulk materials in construction and landscaping. It’s the volume of a cube measuring one yard (3 feet or 36 inches) on each side.

Characteristics

• Imperial volume unit
• 1 yd³ = 27 cubic feet
• 1 yd³ = 46,656 cubic inches
• 1 yd³ = 764.555 liters
• Common in: concrete, soil, mulch, gravel, sand delivery

Applications

• Concrete ordering and delivery (e.g., “5 cubic yards of concrete”)
• Mulch, topsoil, and compost quantities
• Gravel, sand, and aggregate materials
• Excavation and fill volume calculations
• Demolition debris and waste removal
• Landscaping material estimates

Conversions

• 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
• 1 yd³ = 46,656 in³
• 1 yd³ = 764.555 L
• 1 yd³ = 201.974 gal (US)
• 1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³

Practical Tips

• Concrete is typically ordered by the cubic yard
• A full-size pickup truck bed holds approximately 2-3 cubic yards
• Standard concrete mixer trucks carry 10-12 cubic yards