To turn square feet into cubic yards you need one more number: the depth. Multiply the square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. Square feet alone cannot be converted, because area has no thickness.
The formula
Cubic yards = square feet times depth in feet, divided by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide the inches by 12 first. So 300 square feet at 3 inches deep is 300 times 0.25, which is 75 cubic feet, and 75 divided by 27 is 2.78 cubic yards.
The shortcut: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to see how many square feet one yard covers.
Step by step
Step 1: measure the area in square feet. For a rectangle, multiply length by width. Step 2: choose the depth in inches. Step 3: divide the depth by 12 to get feet. Step 4: multiply area by depth in feet. Step 5: divide by 27. Step 6: add 5 to 10 percent for waste.
You can skip all of this by using the square feet to cubic yards converter, which does each step for you.
Choosing a depth
Mulch is usually 2 to 3 inches. Topsoil for a lawn is 4 to 6 inches. Gravel for a path is 2 to 3 inches, and for a driveway 4 to 6 inches. Concrete slabs are 4 to 6 inches. The right depth changes the answer more than the area does.
If you only have square yards
One square yard is 9 square feet. Multiply square yards by 9 first, then follow the steps above.
Cubic yards for common areas
| Area (sq ft) | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 200 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 400 | 2.47 | 3.70 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
| 600 | 3.70 | 5.56 | 7.41 | 11.11 |
| 1,000 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
| 2,000 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 24.69 | 37.04 |
| 5,000 | 30.86 | 46.30 | 61.73 | 92.59 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards in 1000 square feet?
It depends on depth. At 3 inches deep it is 9.26 cubic yards. At 4 inches it is 12.35.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches.
Can I convert square feet to cubic yards without depth?
No. You need a depth.
How do I convert square yards to cubic yards?
Multiply by 9 to get square feet, then use the formula above.