The yard is the contractor's unit
Concrete, gravel, mulch, compost and topsoil are all ordered by the cubic yard — 27 cubic feet, a 3×3×3 box. Enter your project dimensions and the calculator shows the volume in yards alongside cubic feet, so the number you give the dispatch desk is the number you measured.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- NIST Office of Weights and Measures — the US customary and SI conversion factors used throughout this tool.
- International Code Council — the International Residential Code and International Building Code.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.