How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

Exactly 27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, so 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet per cubic yard.

How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?

Divide cubic feet by 27. Example: 135 ft³ ÷ 27 = 5 yd³. The conversion goes the other way by multiplying yd³ by 27.

How much is 100 cubic feet in cubic yards?

100 ft³ ÷ 27 ≈ 3.70 yd³. Most concrete and topsoil suppliers sell in 0.25 yd³ increments, so you would order 3.75 yd³ to have a small buffer.

Why do bulk suppliers sell by the cubic yard?

A cubic yard is a manageable truck-load unit. A standard concrete mixer holds 8 to 10 yd³ — that is roughly 270 ft³ of poured concrete, the right size for a typical small slab.

Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator — Free ft³ ÷ 27 Tool for Concrete

How to convert cubic feet to cubic yards

One cubic yard equals exactly 27 cubic feet, since a yard is 3 feet and 3³ = 27. To convert any volume in cubic feet into cubic yards, divide by 27. To go the other way, multiply cubic yards by 27.

yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27

Worked examples

Example 1: A 12 × 12 ft, 4 inch concrete slab

Volume in ft³: 12 × 12 × 0.333 ≈ 48 ft³. In yards: 48 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.78 yd³. Round up to 2 yd³ for ordering.

Example 2: 100 ft³ of topsoil

100 ÷ 27 ≈ 3.70 yd³. Most landscaping suppliers deliver in 0.25-yard increments.

Example 3: 54 ft³ of mulch

54 ÷ 27 = 2 yd³ exactly. That covers about 216 ft² at 3 inches deep.

Cubic feet → cubic yards	Conversion factor	Worked example
27 ft³	÷ 27	1 yd³
54 ft³	÷ 27	2 yd³
100 ft³	÷ 27	3.70 yd³
135 ft³	÷ 27	5 yd³
270 ft³	÷ 27	10 yd³
1,000 ft³	÷ 27	37.04 yd³

Common uses

Ordering concrete for slabs, footings, and walls
Ordering bulk soil, mulch, gravel, or aggregate
Comparing landscaping quotes that mix yd³ and ft³
Estimating dumpster volume (most are sized in cubic yards)
Calculating compost or fill dirt orders

Where this conversion comes up

Cubic yards is the unit landscape suppliers and ready-mix concrete trucks use. Whenever you have measured a project area in feet but need to order in yards, this conversion is the bridge.

Concrete slabs and footings — calculate cubic feet, divide by 27 for the truck order.
Mulch and soil — bulk delivery is priced per cubic yard, but bed dimensions come out in cubic feet.
Gravel and sand — same workflow as mulch and soil for driveways and walkways.
Excavation and fill dirt — quoted by the cubic yard for hauling, calculated in cubic feet from your dimensions.

Common mistakes to avoid

Dividing by 3 instead of 27. A cubic yard is 3³ = 27 cubic feet, not 3. This is the single most common conversion error in landscape and concrete ordering.
Confusing cubic yards with linear yards. A 3-yard length is just 9 feet of linear distance — not the same as 3 cubic yards of volume.
Forgetting to round up. Suppliers deliver in 1/4-yard increments. If your project needs 2.65 yd³, order 2.75.

Expert tips

Memorize 27. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. This single number covers concrete, mulch, soil, and gravel ordering — the four highest-volume bulk materials in residential projects.
Order in 1/4-yard increments. Most suppliers price by 0.25-yard steps. Round up to the next 0.25 — the small extra amount is far cheaper than a second delivery.
For concrete, add 5–10% for waste and spillage. A 4-foot wheelbarrow trip from the truck to the form leaves a thin film of concrete behind every time. Pad your order accordingly. See the concrete calculator.
For loose materials, add another 5–10% for settling. Mulch and soil compact 5–10% in the first weeks. Order extra. The mulch and soil calculators apply this automatically.