Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator

Converting square feet into cubic yards requires accounting for a third dimension: depth or height. Because square feet measure a two-dimensional area, you must factor in how thick the material layer will be. First, convert your depth from inches into feet by dividing it by 12. Next, multiply your total square footage by this height in feet to yield cubic feet. Finally, because one standard cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, divide your total cubic feet by 27 to find your final volume in cubic yards. The core formula is Volume = (Area in square feet x Height in feet) / 27.

Imagine you are preparing to pour a concrete slab for a backyard shed. Your measured area is 300 square feet, and you need a thickness of 4 inches. Step 1: Convert the 4-inch depth into feet by dividing by 12, which gives you 0.333 feet. Step 2: Multiply the area by the height in feet: 300 square feet x 0.333 feet = 100 cubic feet. Step 3: Convert cubic feet into cubic yards by dividing by 27. 100 / 27 = 3.70 cubic yards. Therefore, you will need to order approximately 3.7 cubic yards of concrete for your shed foundation.

Always add a waste factor of 5 to 10 percent to your final cubic yard calculation to account for spillage, uneven sub-grades, and settling. When measuring irregular garden beds or yards, break the space down into smaller rectangular sections, calculate the square footage for each, and add them together before applying your depth. Double-check your depth measurements before ordering, as a tiny miscalculation in thickness can drastically alter the total volume of heavy materials like gravel or asphalt.