Enter the length, width and height and choose the unit they are measured in, such as inches, feet or centimeters. The tool converts each dimension to feet, multiplies for the volume in cubic feet, and shows liters and US gallons. Measure the inside dimensions for capacity, such as a freezer or a storage container, and the outside for shipping space.
Use the same unit for all three.
Use inside dimensions for capacity and the relevant outside dimensions for a shipping envelope. The model is a rectangular prism; curved tanks, sloped beds and partly filled containers need different geometry. Bulk weight requires a separate product-specific density.
Do not add a generic settling percentage to every material or infer a vehicle’s payload limit from cubic volume alone.
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: worked example
| Length | 48 |
|---|---|
| Width | 24 |
| Height | 18 |
| Unit of measure | Inches |
| Cubic feet | 12 |
| Liters | 339.8 |
| US gallons | 89.8 |
| Cubic yards | 0.444 |
| Cubic meters | 0.34 |
Common error: Using the outside size of a container. Walls take space, so the usable volume of a tank or a bin is smaller than its outer dimensions suggest.
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: formula
NIST Handbook 44: Units and Systems of Measurement · Wolfram MathWorld: Cuboid
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: changing Length
| Length | Cubic feet | Liters | US gallons | Cubic yards | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 9.5 | 269 | 71.1 | 0.352 | 0.269 |
| 43 | 10.8 | 304.4 | 80.4 | 0.398 | 0.304 |
| 48 (example) | 12 | 339.8 | 89.8 | 0.444 | 0.34 |
| 53 | 13.2 | 375.2 | 99.1 | 0.491 | 0.375 |
| 58 | 14.5 | 410.6 | 108.5 | 0.537 | 0.411 |
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: compare input ranges
| Input | Tested from | To | Cubic feet: low input | Cubic feet: high input | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit of measure | Inches | Centimeters | 12 | 0.732 | 11.3 (6102368%) |
| Height | 16 | 20 | 10.7 | 13.3 | 2.7 (22%) |
| Length | 43 | 53 | 10.8 | 13.2 | 2.5 (21%) |
| Width | 22 | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 (17%) |
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: individual input comparisons
| Input | Value | Cubic feet | Liters | US gallons | Cubic yards | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 38 | 9.5 | 269 | 71.1 | 0.352 | 0.269 |
| 43 | 10.8 | 304.4 | 80.4 | 0.398 | 0.304 | |
| 48 | 12 | 339.8 | 89.8 | 0.444 | 0.34 | |
| 53 | 13.2 | 375.2 | 99.1 | 0.491 | 0.375 | |
| 58 | 14.5 | 410.6 | 108.5 | 0.537 | 0.411 | |
| Width | 19 | 9.5 | 269 | 71.1 | 0.352 | 0.269 |
| 22 | 11 | 311.5 | 82.3 | 0.407 | 0.311 | |
| 24 | 12 | 339.8 | 89.8 | 0.444 | 0.34 | |
| 26 | 13 | 368.1 | 97.2 | 0.481 | 0.368 | |
| 29 | 14.5 | 410.6 | 108.5 | 0.537 | 0.411 | |
| Height | 14 | 9.3 | 264.3 | 69.8 | 0.346 | 0.264 |
| 16 | 10.7 | 302 | 79.8 | 0.395 | 0.302 | |
| 18 | 12 | 339.8 | 89.8 | 0.444 | 0.34 | |
| 20 | 13.3 | 377.6 | 99.7 | 0.494 | 0.378 | |
| 22 | 14.7 | 415.3 | 109.7 | 0.543 | 0.415 | |
| Unit of measure | Inches | 12 | 339.8 | 89.8 | 0.444 | 0.34 |
| Feet | 20,736 | 587,178.1 | 155,116.1 | 768 | 587.2 | |
| Yards | 559,872 | 15,853,809.5 | 4,188,133.4 | 20,736 | 15,853.8 | |
| Meters | 732,284.9 | 20,736,000 | 5,477,871.7 | 27,121.7 | 20,736 | |
| Centimeters | 0.732 | 20.7 | 5.5 | 0.027 | 0.021 |
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: combined input changes
| Length / Width | 19 | 24 | 29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 11.5 |
| 43 | 8.5 | 10.8 | 13 |
| 48 | 9.5 | 12 | 14.5 |
| 53 | 10.5 | 13.2 | 16 |
| 58 | 11.5 | 14.5 | 17.5 |
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: which assumptions move the result?
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters: values and definitions
| Quantity and definition | Value used |
|---|---|
| Length | 48 |
| Width | 24 |
| Height | 18 |
| Unit of measure — The unit you measured in. | Inches |
| Cubic feet | 12 |
| Liters | 339.8 |
| US gallons | 89.8 |
| Cubic yards | 0.444 |
| Cubic meters | 0.34 |
Home & Construction calculators: Flooring Calculator, Material Volume and Bag Calculator, Tile Flooring Calculator, Roofing Calculator, Square Footage Calculator, Cut-List / Sheet Nesting Calculator.
Volume is length times width times height in the same unit. A 48 by 24 by 18 inch box is 20,736 cubic inches, which is 12 cubic feet. At 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, that box holds about 90 gallons, or 340 liters.
Pick the unit you measured in and the calculator converts each side to feet first. Do not mix units, because 4 feet by 30 inches is not 120.
Convert to yards on the cubic yard calculator, see the box formula on the rectangular prism page and liquid volumes on the aquarium, pool and volume converter pages. The unit conversion calculators handle other units, and the pallet loading page helps pack boxes.
Cubic Feet, Yards and Meters Calculator: application examples
Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters from a length, a width and a depth in feet. Convert a job's dimensions into the cubic yards that bulk materials are sold by.
Cubic Yard Calculator: full formula
| Length (ft) | 20 |
|---|---|
| Width (ft) | 12 |
| Height or depth (ft) | 0.5 |
| Unit of measure | Feet |
| Cubic yards | 4.4 |
| Cubic feet | 120 |
| Cubic meters | 3.4 |
Bulk materials such as soil, mulch, gravel, sand and concrete are sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 at 3 inches and 81 at 4 inches, which helps when estimating mulch. Delivery trucks carry several yards, and a minimum load may apply.
Enter the length and width of the area in feet and the depth or height in feet, converting inches by dividing by 12. Measure the space to be filled, such as a garden bed, a trench or a pile. The tool multiplies the dimensions and divides by 27, since a cubic yard is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, and also gives cubic feet and cubic meters.
Add 5% to 10% for settling.
A cubic yard is a block 3 feet on each side, or 27 cubic feet. A 20 by 12 foot area at 6 inches deep is 120 cubic feet, which is 4.4 cubic yards. Most bulk materials, including soil, mulch, gravel and concrete, are priced this way.
Convert every dimension to feet first. Six inches is 0.5 feet, and mixing inches with feet is the most common cause of a load that is 12 times too big or small.
Rounding the answer down. With assumed half-yard or whole-yard sale increments, a 4.4 cubic yard quantity rounds upward to 4.5 or 5 respectively. Actual delivery increments and minimum quantities belong to the supplier’s terms.
Estimate concrete, gravel and mulch on the material volume calculator, other volumes on the cubic feet and rectangular prism calculators, and area on the square footage page. The unit conversion pages convert to liters, and the pool and aquarium tools handle liquid volumes.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet, since a yard is 3 feet on each side.
How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
About 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 at 3 inches, and 81 at 4 inches.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 2,500 to 3,000 pounds depending on the type and moisture, so check your truck's capacity.
Cubic Yard: changing Length (ft)
| Length (ft) | Cubic yards | Cubic feet | Cubic meters | Liters | US gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 3.6 | 96 | 2.7 | 2,718.4 | 718.1 |
| 18 | 4 | 108 | 3.1 | 3,058.2 | 807.9 |
| 20 (example) | 4.4 | 120 | 3.4 | 3,398 | 897.7 |
| 22 | 4.9 | 132 | 3.7 | 3,737.8 | 987.4 |
| 24 | 5.3 | 144 | 4.1 | 4,077.6 | 1,077.2 |
Cubic Yard: compare input ranges
| Input | Tested from | To | Cubic yards: low input | Cubic yards: high input | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height or depth (ft) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17.8 | 17.8 (400%) |
| Unit of measure | Inches | Centimeters | 0.00257 | 0.00016 | 0.00242 (3531%) |
| Length (ft) | 18 | 22 | 4 | 4.9 | 0.889 (20%) |
| Width (ft) | 11 | 13 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 0.741 (17%) |
Cubic Yard: individual input comparisons
| Input | Value | Cubic yards | Cubic feet | Cubic meters | Liters | US gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (ft) | 16 | 3.6 | 96 | 2.7 | 2,718.4 | 718.1 |
| 18 | 4 | 108 | 3.1 | 3,058.2 | 807.9 | |
| 20 | 4.4 | 120 | 3.4 | 3,398 | 897.7 | |
| 22 | 4.9 | 132 | 3.7 | 3,737.8 | 987.4 | |
| 24 | 5.3 | 144 | 4.1 | 4,077.6 | 1,077.2 | |
| Width (ft) | 10 | 3.7 | 100 | 2.8 | 2,831.7 | 748.1 |
| 11 | 4.1 | 110 | 3.1 | 3,114.9 | 822.9 | |
| 12 | 4.4 | 120 | 3.4 | 3,398 | 897.7 | |
| 13 | 4.8 | 130 | 3.7 | 3,681.2 | 972.5 | |
| 14 | 5.2 | 140 | 4 | 3,964.4 | 1,047.3 | |
| Height or depth (ft) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 8.9 | 240 | 6.8 | 6,796 | 1,795.3 | |
| 2 | 17.8 | 480 | 13.6 | 13,592.1 | 3,590.6 | |
| 3 | 26.7 | 720 | 20.4 | 20,388.1 | 5,386 | |
| Unit of measure | Inches | 0.00257 | 0.069 | 0.00197 | 2 | 0.519 |
| Feet | 4.4 | 120 | 3.4 | 3,398 | 897.7 | |
| Yards | 120 | 3,240 | 91.7 | 91,746.6 | 24,236.9 | |
| Meters | 157 | 4,237.8 | 120 | 120,000 | 31,700.6 | |
| Centimeters | 0.00016 | 0.00424 | 0.00012 | 0.12 | 0.032 |
Cubic Yard: combined input changes
| Length (ft) / Width (ft) | 10 | 12 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 3 | 3.6 | 4.1 |
| 18 | 3.3 | 4 | 4.7 |
| 20 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 |
| 22 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.7 |
| 24 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.2 |
Cubic Yard: values and definitions
| Quantity and definition | Value used |
|---|---|
| Length (ft) | 20 |
| Width (ft) | 12 |
| Height or depth (ft) — Enter inches as a fraction of a foot: 6 inches is 0.5. | 0.5 |
| Unit of measure — The unit you measured in. | Feet |
| Cubic yards | 4.4 |
| Cubic feet | 120 |
| Cubic meters | 3.4 |
| Liters | 3,398 |
| US gallons | 897.7 |
Cubic Yard: half and double Height or depth (ft)
| Height or depth (ft) | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 0.25 | 2.2 |
| 0.5 | 4.4 |
| 1 | 8.9 |
The formula for this calculation: Cubic yards = length × width × height (all in feet) ÷ 27
Height or depth (ft) 0.5 Enter inches as a fraction of a foot: 6 inches is 0.5
Cubic Feet Calculator Calculate cubic feet, liters and gallons from a length, a width and a height in any common unit
Concrete, Gravel & Mulch Calculator Estimate the volume and bag count needed for concrete, gravel, mulch or topsoil
Additional comparison records for this application
How length (ft) changes the cubic yards
| Length (ft) | Cubic yards | Cubic feet | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 3.6 | 96 | 2.7 |
| 18 | 4 | 108 | 3.1 |
| 20 worked example | 4.4 | 120 | 3.4 |
| 22 | 4.9 | 132 | 3.7 |
| 24 | 5.3 | 144 | 4.1 |
Which input moves the cubic yards most
| Input | Tested from | To | Cubic yards at low input | Cubic yards at high input | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (ft) | 18 | 22 | 4 | 4.9 | 0.889 (20%) |
| Height or depth (ft) | 0.45 | 0.55 | 4 | 4.9 | 0.889 (20%) |
| Width (ft) | 11 | 13 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 0.741 (17%) |
Cubic yards by length (ft) and width (ft)
| Length (ft) \ Width (ft) | 10 | 12 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 3 | 3.6 | 4.1 |
| 18 | 3.3 | 4 | 4.7 |
| 20 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 |
| 22 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.7 |
| 24 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.2 |
The worked example, input by input
| Input | Value used | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Height or depth (ft) | 0.5 | Enter inches as a fraction of a foot: 6 inches is 0.5 |
Loose and installed volumes can differ with the material and placement. An assumed 10% to 20% allowance is a planning input, not a universal settling rate for soil or gravel. Weights vary widely: a cubic yard of gravel weighs over a ton, which matters for trailers and truck capacity.
Uneven ground and irregular beds require averaging depths. The tool assumes a rectangular shape.
Does a one-foot cube hold one gallon?
No. It contains 1,728 in³, and a US liquid gallon is 231 in³, so it holds about 7.480519 gallons.
Can volume establish how much gravel a truck can carry?
No. You also need supplier-specific bulk weight and the actual vehicle’s payload and load-distribution limits. A volume estimate measures space.
The permitted load also depends on material weight and the limits applicable to the particular vehicle.
How many gallons does one cubic foot hold?
About 7.48 US gallons, since a cubic foot is 1,728 cubic inches and a gallon is 231.
How do I calculate the cubic feet of a room?
Multiply length, width and height in feet. A 12 by 10 room with 8-foot ceilings has 960 cubic feet.
Why is a freezer's usable space smaller than its rating?
Shelves, baskets, thick insulation and the compressor housing all take up room inside the outer dimensions, so usable space is less.