Calculate the square footage a known volume of cubic yards covers at any depth, and convert square feet back into the cubic yards you need to order.
- All Unit Converters
- Cubic Feet To Cubic Inches Converter Calculator
- Cubic Feet To Cubic Yards Converter Calculator
- Cubic Feet To Feet Converter Calculator
- Cubic Feet To Gallons Converter Calculator
- Cubic Inches To Inches Converter Calculator
- Cubic Inches To Liters Converter Calculator
- Cubic Inches To Square Inches Converter Calculator
- Cubic Yards To Square Yards Converter Calculator
- Cubic Yards To Tons Converter Calculator
- Cubic Yards To Yards Converter Calculator
Cubic Yards to Square Feet Formula
Cubic yards measure volume and square feet measure area, so you cannot convert between them without a depth. Once you know how deep the material sits, use these formulas:
SF = CY * 27 / D
To go the other way, from an area to the volume needed:
CY = SF * D / 27
- SF = area in square feet
- CY = volume in cubic yards
- D = depth or thickness in feet
- 27 = number of cubic feet in one cubic yard
The converter works in three modes. Solving for square feet takes a known volume in cubic yards and the depth it is spread, then returns the area it covers. Solving for cubic yards takes the area you want to fill and the depth, then returns the volume to order. Solving for depth takes a known volume and a known area, then returns how thick the layer will be. Inputs in inches, centimeters, meters, cubic feet, or square yards are converted to feet before the formula runs.
Square Feet Covered by One Cubic Yard
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, so the area it covers depends entirely on depth. Thinner layers stretch further.
| Depth | Square feet per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft |
Common Material Depths
If you are not sure what depth to enter, these are typical spread depths for landscaping and construction materials.
| Material | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Mulch | 2 to 3 inches |
| Gravel | 2 to 4 inches |
| Topsoil | 3 to 6 inches |
| Sand base | 1 to 2 inches |
| Concrete slab | 4 inches |
Example Problems
Example 1: cubic yards to square feet. You have 5 cubic yards of mulch and plan to spread it 3 inches deep. Convert depth to feet: 3 / 12 = 0.25 feet. Then SF = 5 * 27 / 0.25 = 540 square feet.
Example 2: square feet to cubic yards. You want to cover 200 square feet with topsoil at a depth of 4 inches. Convert depth: 4 / 12 = 0.3333 feet. Then CY = 200 * 0.3333 / 27 = 2.47 cubic yards.
FAQ
Can you convert cubic yards to square feet directly? No. Cubic yards measure volume and square feet measure area. You need the depth or thickness of the material to connect the two. Once you supply a depth, the conversion is exact.
How many square feet does one cubic yard cover? It depends on depth. At 2 inches a cubic yard covers 162 square feet, at 3 inches it covers 108 square feet, and at 6 inches it covers 54 square feet.
Does the material type change the math? No. The conversion is purely geometric, so it is the same for mulch, gravel, soil, sand, or concrete. Material only matters when you add an overage allowance for settling or waste, which you would do separately.
