How Many Cubic Feet Per Cubic Yard?

If you’re buying mulch, soil, gravel, concrete, compost, sand, or other bulk materials, you may need to convert between cubic yards and cubic feet. One of the most common questions is: how many cubic feet per cubic yard?

The answer is simple:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.

This conversion is exact. A cubic yard is a volume measurement that represents a space measuring 3 feet long × 3 feet wide × 3 feet high.

Because:

3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet

Therefore, every cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet.

Understanding this conversion can help you calculate how much material you need for landscaping, construction, gardening, excavation, concrete projects, and other jobs where materials are sold by volume.

Quick Answer: How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Cubic Yard?

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard.

The basic conversion is:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

And the reverse conversion is:

1 cubic foot = 0.037037 cubic yards

For example:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
2 cubic yards = 54 cubic feet
3 cubic yards = 81 cubic feet
5 cubic yards = 135 cubic feet
10 cubic yards = 270 cubic feet
20 cubic yards = 540 cubic feet

The formula is straightforward:

Cubic feet = Cubic yards × 27

Why Is 1 Cubic Yard Equal to 27 Cubic Feet?

The number 27 comes from the fact that one yard equals three feet.

A cubic yard is a three-dimensional measurement. That means you must convert all three dimensions from yards to feet.

One cubic yard can be visualized as a cube measuring:

3 feet long
3 feet wide
3 feet high

Multiply the three dimensions:

3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet

So:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

This is different from converting ordinary linear yards to feet. One yard equals 3 feet, but one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet because the conversion applies in three dimensions.

How to Convert Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet

To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply the number of cubic yards by 27.

Formula

Cubic feet = Cubic yards × 27

Example: 2 Cubic Yards

Suppose you have 2 cubic yards of mulch.

2 × 27 = 54 cubic feet

Therefore:

2 cubic yards = 54 cubic feet

Example: 5 Cubic Yards

For 5 cubic yards:

5 × 27 = 135 cubic feet

So 5 cubic yards equals 135 cubic feet.

Example: 10 Cubic Yards

For 10 cubic yards:

10 × 27 = 270 cubic feet

Therefore, 10 cubic yards contains 270 cubic feet.

Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet Conversion Table

The following table makes common conversions easy to find.

Cubic Yards	Cubic Feet
0.25 yd³	6.75 ft³
0.5 yd³	13.5 ft³
0.75 yd³	20.25 ft³
1 yd³	27 ft³
2 yd³	54 ft³
3 yd³	81 ft³
4 yd³	108 ft³
5 yd³	135 ft³
6 yd³	162 ft³
7 yd³	189 ft³
8 yd³	216 ft³
9 yd³	243 ft³
10 yd³	270 ft³
15 yd³	405 ft³
20 yd³	540 ft³
25 yd³	675 ft³
30 yd³	810 ft³
40 yd³	1,080 ft³
50 yd³	1,350 ft³

This table is especially useful when estimating large quantities of landscaping or construction materials.

How to Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards

Sometimes you know the amount of material in cubic feet and need to determine how many cubic yards it represents.

In that case, divide the number of cubic feet by 27.

Formula

Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27

Example: 54 Cubic Feet

If you have 54 cubic feet:

54 ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards

Therefore:

54 cubic feet = 2 cubic yards

Example: 100 Cubic Feet

For 100 cubic feet:

100 ÷ 27 = 3.7037 cubic yards

So 100 cubic feet is approximately 3.70 cubic yards.

Example: 500 Cubic Feet

For 500 cubic feet:

500 ÷ 27 = 18.5185 cubic yards

Therefore, 500 cubic feet is approximately 18.52 cubic yards.

Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion Table

Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards
1 ft³	0.037 yd³
5 ft³	0.185 yd³
10 ft³	0.370 yd³
20 ft³	0.741 yd³
27 ft³	1 yd³
40 ft³	1.481 yd³
50 ft³	1.852 yd³
75 ft³	2.778 yd³
100 ft³	3.704 yd³
150 ft³	5.556 yd³
200 ft³	7.407 yd³
250 ft³	9.259 yd³
500 ft³	18.519 yd³
1,000 ft³	37.037 yd³

How Big Is One Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on every side.

Its dimensions are:

3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft

Its volume is:

27 cubic feet

You can think of one cubic yard as a three-dimensional box that holds 27 cubic feet of material.

However, the appearance of one cubic yard can vary depending on the material. A cubic yard of mulch, for example, takes up the same volume as a cubic yard of soil, but the two materials have different weights and densities.

Cubic Yard vs. Square Yard

It’s important not to confuse cubic yards with square yards.

A square yard measures area, while a cubic yard measures volume.

Square Yard

A square yard is:

3 feet × 3 feet = 9 square feet

Therefore:

1 square yard = 9 square feet

Cubic Yard

A cubic yard is:

3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet

Therefore:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

The extra dimension depth or height is what turns a square measurement into a cubic measurement.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in 2 Cubic Yards?

There are 54 cubic feet in 2 cubic yards.

Calculation:

2 × 27 = 54 cubic feet

So:

2 cubic yards = 54 ft³

This amount could be useful for larger landscaping beds, garden projects, or construction work.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in 3 Cubic Yards?

There are 81 cubic feet in 3 cubic yards.

Calculation:

3 × 27 = 81 cubic feet

Therefore:

3 cubic yards = 81 ft³

How Many Cubic Feet Are in 5 Cubic Yards?

There are 135 cubic feet in 5 cubic yards.

Calculation:

5 × 27 = 135 cubic feet

Therefore:

5 cubic yards = 135 ft³

How Many Cubic Feet Are in 10 Cubic Yards?

There are 270 cubic feet in 10 cubic yards.

Calculation:

10 × 27 = 270 cubic feet

Therefore:

10 cubic yards = 270 ft³

This conversion is useful for estimating large quantities of soil, mulch, gravel, sand, or other bulk materials.

Using Cubic Feet and Cubic Yards for Landscaping

Cubic yards are commonly used when ordering bulk landscaping materials.

For example, suppose you need 4 cubic yards of mulch.

Using the conversion:

4 × 27 = 108 cubic feet

So your 4 cubic yards of mulch represents 108 cubic feet.

The amount of material needed for a landscaping project depends on the area and desired depth.

Basic Volume Formula

For a rectangular area:

Length × Width × Depth = Volume

Make sure all measurements use the same unit.

For example, suppose a garden bed is:

20 feet long
10 feet wide
0.25 feet deep

Calculate:

20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet

To convert to cubic yards:

50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards

You would therefore need approximately 1.85 cubic yards of material before accounting for waste or settling.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Mulch?

If by “yard” you mean a cubic yard, then one yard of mulch contains:

27 cubic feet

This applies whether you’re talking about mulch, soil, compost, gravel, sand, or another material sold by cubic volume.

However, the coverage depends on how deeply you spread the material.

For example, one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet regardless of whether you spread it:

1 inch deep
2 inches deep
3 inches deep
4 inches deep

The deeper you spread the material, the smaller the surface area it will cover.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Dirt?

One cubic yard of dirt contains exactly:

27 cubic feet

The weight of that cubic yard can vary substantially depending on the type of dirt, moisture level, and compaction.

This is why volume and weight should not be treated as interchangeable measurements.

A seller may quote soil by cubic yard while another product may be sold by pounds or tons. Always check the specific material’s density when converting between volume and weight.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Gravel?

A cubic yard of gravel also contains:

27 cubic feet

The volume is fixed, but the weight depends on the type and density of gravel.

For ordering purposes, knowing the cubic-foot-to-cubic-yard conversion helps you compare a calculated project volume with the supplier’s pricing unit.

How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Yard of Concrete?

One cubic yard of concrete equals:

27 cubic feet

Concrete is frequently ordered in cubic yards for larger construction projects.

For example:

3 cubic yards × 27 = 81 cubic feet

So 3 cubic yards of concrete equals 81 cubic feet of concrete volume.

When calculating concrete requirements, contractors typically calculate the volume of the slab, footing, walkway, or other structure and then convert that volume into cubic yards.

Why Is the Conversion 27 Instead of 3?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion.

You might know:

1 yard = 3 feet

But that does not mean:

1 cubic yard = 3 cubic feet

A cubic measurement has three dimensions.

You must multiply the conversion three times:

3 × 3 × 3 = 27

Therefore:

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

This principle applies to other cubic-unit conversions as well.

Common Mistakes When Converting Cubic Yards

Mistake 1: Using 3 Instead of 27

A common mistake is multiplying cubic yards by 3 because one yard equals three feet.

For cubic measurements, the correct multiplier is 27.

Mistake 2: Confusing Square and Cubic Measurements

Square feet measure area.

Cubic feet measure volume.

If you’re calculating how much material you need, cubic feet or cubic yards are generally the relevant measurements.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Depth

For landscaping projects, you need three dimensions:

Length × Width × Depth

Using only length and width calculates area rather than volume.

Mistake 4: Confusing Volume With Weight

One cubic yard always contains 27 cubic feet, but one cubic yard of different materials can have very different weights.

Quick Conversion Formula

Keep these two formulas handy:

Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet

Cubic feet = cubic yards × 27

Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards

Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27

These formulas work for any material because they are based on units of volume rather than material type.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cubic feet are in 1 cubic yard?

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard.

How many cubic feet are in 2 cubic yards?

There are 54 cubic feet in 2 cubic yards.

Calculation:

2 × 27 = 54 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in 3 cubic yards?

There are 81 cubic feet in 3 cubic yards.

Calculation:

3 × 27 = 81 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in 5 cubic yards?

There are 135 cubic feet in 5 cubic yards.

Calculation:

5 × 27 = 135 cubic feet

How many cubic feet are in 10 cubic yards?

There are 270 cubic feet in 10 cubic yards.

Calculation:

10 × 27 = 270 cubic feet

How do you convert cubic feet to cubic yards?

Divide the number of cubic feet by 27.

Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27

For example, 81 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 3 cubic yards.

Is a cubic yard the same as a yard?

No. A yard is a unit of length equal to 3 feet. A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 27 cubic feet.