When planning a landscaping project, gardening job, or construction task, knowing exactly how much material you need is essential. Ordering too little soil, mulch, gravel, or concrete can delay your project, while ordering too much means wasted money and resources.
That’s where our Yard Calculator comes in. With just a few simple inputs—length, width, and depth—you can instantly find the cubic feet and cubic yards required for your project. This powerful tool saves you time, reduces guesswork, and ensures accurate material planning.
Yard Calculator
What is a Yard Calculator?
A Yard Calculator is a simple tool that helps you calculate the volume of an area in cubic feet (ft³) and cubic yards (yd³). This is especially useful for determining how much material you need when filling a space with soil, mulch, gravel, sand, concrete, or other bulk products.
Since most landscaping and construction materials are sold in cubic yards, this calculator bridges the gap between measurements in feet and final material orders.
How to Use the Yard Calculator
Using the tool is straightforward:
- Enter the length (ft) – The length of your project area in feet.
- Enter the width (ft) – The width of your project area in feet.
- Enter the depth (inches) – The depth or thickness of material needed in inches.
- Click “Calculate” – The tool will instantly display:
- Total Cubic Feet (ft³)
- Total Cubic Yards (yd³)
- Click “Reset” – If you want to start over and input new measurements.
Example Calculation
Let’s say you are planning to add mulch to your garden bed:
- Length: 20 ft
- Width: 10 ft
- Depth: 3 inches
Step 1: Convert depth to feet
3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
Step 2: Calculate cubic feet
20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 ft³
Step 3: Convert to cubic yards
50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³
👉 You’ll need approximately 2 cubic yards of mulch.
This example shows how the calculator helps avoid overbuying or underbuying.
Why Use a Yard Calculator?
✔ Saves money – Prevents over-ordering expensive materials.
✔ Saves time – No manual math needed, results in seconds.
✔ Increases accuracy – Reduces human error in volume conversions.
✔ Works for many materials – Soil, mulch, gravel, sand, compost, concrete, and more.
✔ User-friendly – Simple inputs and instant results.
Common Applications
- Landscaping: Estimate mulch, topsoil, or decorative rocks.
- Gardening: Calculate compost or soil mix needed for raised beds.
- Construction: Measure gravel, sand, or concrete requirements.
- DIY Projects: Plan backyard improvements, patios, or pathways.
Tips for Accurate Results
- Always measure length and width in feet.
- Input depth in inches (the calculator automatically converts it).
- Round up your cubic yard results when ordering, as materials settle during transport.
- Double-check measurements before calculating.
20 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does the Yard Calculator measure?
It calculates volume in cubic feet and cubic yards for materials like soil, mulch, gravel, and concrete.
2. Why do I need cubic yards instead of cubic feet?
Most landscaping and bulk materials are sold by the cubic yard, making it the industry standard.
3. How many cubic feet are in 1 cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
4. Can I use this calculator for concrete?
Yes, it works perfectly for estimating how much concrete mix you’ll need.
5. What if I measure in meters?
This tool is designed for feet and inches, but you can convert meters to feet before entering values.
6. Can I calculate for irregular areas?
Yes, but you should break the area into smaller rectangles and calculate each one separately, then add them.
7. Does the depth have to be in inches?
Yes, the tool accepts depth in inches for convenience and converts it to feet automatically.
8. How accurate is the calculator?
It provides precise calculations based on your input. However, always round up slightly when ordering materials.
9. What materials can I calculate with this tool?
Soil, mulch, compost, gravel, sand, concrete, stone, and other bulk landscape products.
10. Do I need to pay to use the calculator?
No, it is completely free to use.
11. Can I use decimals in measurements?
Yes, you can enter decimals for more accurate calculations (e.g., 12.5 ft).
12. How do I reset the calculator?
Simply click the Reset button to clear inputs and results.
13. What happens if I leave a field empty?
The calculator will not work and will ask you to enter valid numbers.
14. Can contractors use this tool?
Absolutely, it’s ideal for professionals, landscapers, and DIY homeowners.
15. Is the result displayed instantly?
Yes, once you click Calculate, results appear immediately.
16. Can I use it on mobile devices?
Yes, the tool is fully responsive and works on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
17. Do I need to install software?
No installation is needed—just use it directly on the website.
18. What if my project has different depths?
Calculate each section separately with its specific depth, then add the totals.
19. How do I order materials after calculating?
Take the cubic yard result and provide it to your supplier—they typically sell by cubic yard.
20. Why should I round up my results?
It’s better to have a little extra material than to run short in the middle of your project.
Final Thoughts
The Yard Calculator is a must-have tool for homeowners, landscapers, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts. It eliminates guesswork, ensures accurate material planning, and saves both time and money.
Whether you’re laying mulch, pouring concrete, or adding topsoil, this tool guarantees you know exactly how much you need—nothing wasted, nothing short.