When you’re tackling a landscaping project or home improvement task, you’re often dealing with volume. Cubic feet and cubic yards are common ways to measure materials like dirt, topsoil, and mulch. Knowing how much you need is key to avoiding overspending or running short.
So, how many cubic feet are in a yard of dirt? The answer is simple: there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
In this article, we’ll break down why this conversion matters and how understanding it can help you accurately calculate the amount of material you need for your next project.
What are cubic feet and cubic yards?
To understand how many cubic feet are in a cubic yard, it’s a good idea to start with the definitions.
What is a cubic foot?
A cubic foot is how much space is inside a cube that’s 1 foot wide, 1 foot long, and 1 foot tall.
We often measure smaller appliances, storage boxes, and other household items in cubic feet.
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube that measures 1 yard (3 feet) wide, 1 yard long, and 1 yard tall.
Cubic yards are most often used to measure large amounts of materials like dirt, gravel, or mulch.
Cubic feet to cubic yards: How to convert
Let’s start with the basics. One yard equals three feet. So, how do you convert that to cubic measurements?
Volume is length multiplied by width multiplied by height. That means a cubic yard is 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet.
Here’s the formula:
[Cubic feet] / 27 = [Cubic yards]
For example, if you have 54 cubic feet of dirt, you have 54 / 27 = 2 cubic yards of dirt.
Practical applications and calculations
Knowing how to convert cubic feet to cubic yards is essential for calculating the amount of material you need for home and garden projects.
Calculating material needs for projects
To calculate the volume of a space you want to fill, use this formula:
Volume = Length x Width x Depth
Make sure to use the same unit of measurement (feet) for each of the dimensions.
Real-world example
Let’s say you’re planning to build a raised garden bed, or maybe you want to add some topsoil to an existing garden. Knowing how to convert cubic feet to cubic yards will allow you to order just the right amount of soil.
For example, in our article about French drains, we talk about a drain that’s 95 feet long, 1 foot wide, and 2 inches deep. To figure out how many cubic yards of gravel you’d need to fill that drain, you’d first convert 2 inches to feet (2/12 = 0.167 feet). Then you’d multiply 95 x 1 x 0.167, which equals 15.865 cubic feet. To convert that to cubic yards, you’d divide 15.865 by 27, which equals 0.59 cubic yards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 1 cubic yard of dirt look like?
Imagine a cube that’s 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. That’s roughly what one cubic yard of dirt looks like! It’s a significant amount, often enough to fill a standard pickup truck bed (though it depends on the truck bed’s size and how high you load it). You’ll typically find it delivered in a large pile or loaded into your vehicle with a front-end loader.
How many cubic feet does a yard of dirt cover?
Since one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet, the area it covers depends on the depth you’re spreading it. For example, a yard of dirt spread one foot deep would cover 27 square feet. If you spread it only 6 inches (0.5 feet) deep, it would cover 54 square feet. The thinner the layer, the more area it will cover.
How much volume is 1 yard of soil?
This is where it gets a little tricky, as “yard” can be ambiguous. When we talk about buying soil, we’re almost always talking about a cubic yard. So, one yard of soil—meaning one cubic yard—equals 27 cubic feet. Just be sure to confirm with the seller that they’re using “yard” to mean cubic yard to avoid any misunderstandings about the amount you’re getting.
Summary
So, how many cubic feet are in a yard of dirt? The answer is 27.
Knowing this conversion is key to estimating the right amount of topsoil, mulch, gravel, or other materials for your projects. Ordering too much or too little can cost you time and money.
Use this information to plan your landscaping and construction projects with confidence!