Concrete Volume Conversions: Cubic Yards, Cubic Feet, and Cubic Meters Explained
June 26, 2026
Written by Shakeel Alvi · Technically reviewed by Muhammad Qasim, PEC Reg. No. 63430 · Last reviewed: 2026-06-26
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Concrete Volume Conversions: Cubic Yards, Cubic Feet, and Cubic Meters
In the U.S., ready-mix concrete is ordered and priced by the cubic yard (yd³). In Canada, Australia, and most of the world, it's ordered by the cubic meter (m³). Structural calculations in the U.S. often work in cubic feet (ft³) — the natural output of length × width × depth in feet.
Understanding how to move between these units — and how they connect to concrete weight — prevents ordering errors and helps you communicate with suppliers, engineers, and contractors who may use different unit systems.
The Concrete Yards Calculator converts any set of dimensions to cubic yards instantly. The Concrete Cubic Meter Calculator works in SI units.
The Core Conversion Factors
Memorize these three values and you can convert anything:
| Conversion | Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) = | 27 cubic feet (ft³) |
| 1 cubic meter (m³) = | 35.315 cubic feet (ft³) |
| 1 cubic meter (m³) = | 1.308 cubic yards (yd³) |
Derived inverses:
- 1 ft³ = 0.03704 yd³ (= 1/27)
- 1 ft³ = 0.02832 m³ (= 1/35.315)
- 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³ (= 1/1.308)
Conversion Tables
Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
| ft³ | yd³ | ft³ | yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.037 | 27 | 1.000 |
| 5 | 0.185 | 40 | 1.481 |
| 10 | 0.370 | 54 | 2.000 |
| 13.5 | 0.500 | 81 | 3.000 |
| 20 | 0.741 | 135 | 5.000 |
| 25 | 0.926 | 270 | 10.000 |
Quick mental math: divide ft³ by 27 to get yd³. For rough estimates, 1 yd³ covers about:
- 81 ft² at 4-inch depth (standard slab)
- 54 ft² at 6-inch depth (heavy slab/driveway)
- 108 ft² at 3-inch depth (sidewalk/thin overlay)
Cubic Yards to Cubic Meters
| yd³ | m³ | yd³ | m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.765 | 8 | 6.116 |
| 2 | 1.529 | 9 | 6.881 |
| 3 | 2.294 | 10 | 7.646 |
| 4 | 3.058 | 15 | 11.469 |
| 5 | 3.823 | 20 | 15.291 |
| 6 | 4.587 | 25 | 19.114 |
Cubic Meters to Cubic Yards
| m³ | yd³ | m³ | yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.654 | 5 | 6.540 |
| 1 | 1.308 | 7.5 | 9.810 |
| 2 | 2.616 | 10 | 13.080 |
| 3 | 3.924 | 15 | 19.619 |
| 4 | 5.232 | 20 | 26.159 |
How to Calculate Concrete in Cubic Yards
Basic three-step process:
Step 1 — Calculate volume in cubic feet:
Volume (ft³) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Thickness (ft)
Convert thickness from inches to feet first: Thickness (ft) = Thickness (in) / 12
Step 2 — Convert to cubic yards:
Volume (yd³) = Volume (ft³) / 27
Step 3 — Add waste (5–10%):
Order quantity (yd³) = Volume (yd³) × 1.07
Worked Examples
Example 1: Patio (dimensions in feet)
Patio: 16 ft × 24 ft × 4 inches thick
- Thickness: 4/12 = 0.333 ft
- Volume: 16 × 24 × 0.333 = 128 ft³
- In yd³: 128 / 27 = 4.74 yd³
- With 7% waste: 4.74 × 1.07 = 5.07 yd³ → order 5.5 yd³
Example 2: Foundation Wall (SI units)
Wall: 15 m long × 0.2 m wide × 2.4 m high
- Volume: 15 × 0.2 × 2.4 = 7.2 m³
- In yd³: 7.2 × 1.308 = 9.42 yd³
- With 8% waste: 9.42 × 1.08 = 10.17 yd³ → order 10.5 yd³
Example 3: Circular Pier
Sonotube pier: 12 inches diameter, 4 ft deep
- Radius: 6 in = 0.5 ft
- Volume: π × (0.5)² × 4 = 3.14 ft³
- In yd³: 3.14 / 27 = 0.116 yd³
For 8 such piers: 8 × 0.116 = 0.93 yd³ → order 1 yd³
For any of these, the Concrete Yards Calculator returns the result in yd³, ft³, and m³ simultaneously.
How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Concrete Cover?
The coverage question ("how much area does a cubic yard of concrete cover?") depends entirely on the pour thickness:
| Thickness | Area Covered per yd³ |
|---|---|
| 3 inches (0.25 ft) | 108 ft² (10.0 m²) |
| 4 inches (0.333 ft) | 81 ft² (7.5 m²) |
| 4.5 inches (0.375 ft) | 72 ft² (6.7 m²) |
| 5 inches (0.417 ft) | 64.8 ft² (6.0 m²) |
| 6 inches (0.5 ft) | 54 ft² (5.0 m²) |
| 8 inches (0.667 ft) | 40.5 ft² (3.8 m²) |
| 10 inches (0.833 ft) | 32.4 ft² (3.0 m²) |
| 12 inches (1.0 ft) | 27 ft² (2.5 m²) |
The "81 ft² per yard at 4 inches" figure is the most commonly cited coverage number — it applies to standard residential slabs, patios, and driveways at 4-inch thickness.
Concrete Volume by Project Type — Quick Reference
| Project | Typical Size | Thickness | Volume (yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small patio | 10×10 ft | 4" | 1.23 |
| Garage floor | 20×20 ft | 4" | 4.94 |
| Driveway (1 car) | 10×20 ft | 4" | 2.47 |
| Driveway (2 car) | 18×40 ft | 5" | 11.11 |
| Sidewalk | 4×30 ft | 4" | 1.48 |
| Foundation wall | 40 LF × 8 ft × 8" | — | 7.90 |
| Strip footing | 40 LF × 18"×8" | — | 2.22 |
| 12" sonotube (4 ft) | 12" dia × 4 ft, ×8 piers | — | 0.93 |
Concrete Volume to Weight Conversion
Once you know the volume, you can calculate the weight for truck load planning, subgrade capacity assessment, and structural dead load calculations.
Normal concrete density: 150 lb/ft³ = 4,050 lb/yd³ = 2,400 kg/m³
| Volume | Weight (lb) | Weight (tons) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ft³ | 150 | 0.075 | 68 |
| 1 yd³ (27 ft³) | 4,050 | 2.025 | 1,837 |
| 5 yd³ | 20,250 | 10.1 | 9,185 |
| 10 yd³ | 40,500 | 20.3 | 18,370 |
| 1 m³ | 5,291 | 2.65 | 2,400 |
| 5 m³ | 26,455 | 13.2 | 12,000 |
For a full truck load of 9 yd³: 9 × 4,050 = 36,450 lb (18.2 tons) — a weight that requires verifying driveway and site access routes for load limits.
See the Concrete Weight Calculator for weight in any unit system.
Unit Systems Summary
| System | Unit | When Used |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. customary | Cubic yards (yd³) | Ordering ready-mix in the U.S. |
| U.S. customary | Cubic feet (ft³) | Engineering calculations, bag yields |
| SI (metric) | Cubic meters (m³) | International ordering, IS code countries |
| SI (metric) | Liters (L) | Small pours, admixture dosing |
Conversion fact: 1 yd³ = 764.5 liters. A 5-yd³ pour = 3,823 liters — useful for mixing water calculations in metric systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet. A cubic yard is 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 ft³. This is the single most important unit conversion in concrete ordering — always divide your ft³ result by 27 to get yd³ before calling the ready-mix plant.
How many cubic yards of concrete in a cubic meter?
1 cubic meter = 1.308 cubic yards. Inversely, 1 cubic yard = 0.765 cubic meters. For projects designed in metric units, multiply cubic meters by 1.308 to get the ordering quantity in cubic yards.
How many bags of concrete in a cubic yard?
At 0.60 ft³ per 80-lb bag and 27 ft³ per yd³: 27 / 0.60 = 45 bags of 80-lb concrete per cubic yard. For 60-lb bags (0.45 ft³): 60 bags per yd³. Bagged concrete is expensive at this scale — ready-mix is almost always more economical above 1 yd³.
What does 1 cubic yard of concrete look like?
Imagine a cube measuring 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet — roughly the volume of a typical top-load washing machine or a large office desk. At 4-inch thickness, that 1 yd³ spreads to cover a 9×9-foot area (81 ft²).
How do I order concrete from a ready-mix plant?
Tell the dispatcher: (1) volume in cubic yards, (2) strength specification (e.g., 3,000 psi), (3) slump target (e.g., 4–5 inches), (4) any admixtures (air entrainment, fiber, waterproofer), (5) delivery date and time window, and (6) pour location and site access. They'll confirm minimum load requirements and pricing.
What is the difference between a cubic yard and a yard of concrete?
In concrete industry usage, "a yard" or "a yard of concrete" always means a cubic yard — not a linear yard or a square yard. A concrete order for "10 yards" means 10 cubic yards (270 ft³ or 7.65 m³), weighing approximately 40,500 lb (20.3 tons).
Use the Concrete Volume Calculators
- Dimensions to cubic yards: Concrete Yards Calculator
- SI unit conversions (m³): Concrete Cubic Meter Calculator
- Volume to weight (lb, tons, kg): Concrete Weight Calculator
Related Guides
- How Much Does Concrete Weigh?
- How to Calculate Concrete for a 10×10 Slab
- How Much Does Concrete Cost?
Visit Concrete Calculator Max for the full suite of concrete volume, weight, and cost calculators.