There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. The number comes from cubing the 3 feet in a yard.
Why the answer is 27
A yard is 3 feet. A cube that is 1 yard on each side is also 3 feet on each side, so its volume is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. People sometimes assume the answer is 3, but that is the length conversion, not the volume one.
How to convert in both directions
To change cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply by 27. To change cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. For example, 135 cubic feet is 135 ÷ 27 = 5 cubic yards, and 2.5 cubic yards is 67.5 cubic feet.
Common stops on the way
A 1 cubic foot bag fits 27 times into a cubic yard. A 2 cubic foot bag fits 13.5 times, a 3 cubic foot bag fits 9 times, and a 0.5 cubic foot bag fits 54 times.
Quick reference
5 cubic feet is 0.185 cubic yards. 10 cubic feet is 0.370 cubic yards. 50 cubic feet is 1.852 cubic yards. 100 cubic feet is 3.704 cubic yards.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic inches are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard holds 46,656 cubic inches, because 36 × 36 × 36 equals 46,656.
Is it 3 or 27?
It is 27 for volume. The number 3 is the length of a yard in feet.
How many 3 cubic foot bags fill a cubic yard?
Nine bags of 3 cubic feet each fill one cubic yard.