Updated · Built and checked by the PlinzoTools team, formulas tested against published sources
Convert cubic feet to cubic yards, tons of fill dirt, cubic meters, and more.
Bulk fill dirt, topsoil, and similar loose materials are commonly quoted by suppliers in cubic yards or by weight in tons, while a volume you've calculated yourself from length × width × depth typically comes out in cubic feet. This tool bridges that gap, converting cubic feet into cubic yards and an approximate tons figure at once, alongside cubic inches, cubic meters, liters, and US gallons.
Enter your volume and choose its current unit from the "From Unit" dropdown (Cubic Feet, Cubic Yards, Tons, Cubic Inches, Cubic Meters, Liters, or US Gallons). All seven results update together instantly as you type.
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
Tons (fill dirt, approx.) = Cubic Yards × 1.35
A cubic yard is exactly 3ft × 3ft × 3ft = 27 cubic feet, so dividing by 27 is an exact conversion. The tons figure is different: it's an approximation, since fill dirt's actual weight per cubic yard varies by moisture content and compaction -- 1.35 tons per cubic yard is a commonly used estimating factor for dry-ish fill dirt, not a fixed physical constant like the volume conversion.
The tons conversion is an estimate, not an exact figure -- real fill dirt weight per cubic yard varies noticeably with moisture content (wet dirt is meaningfully heavier than dry) and how loosely or tightly it's packed. If your supplier bills strictly by weight, confirm their specific material's density rather than relying on this estimate for a final invoice.
Use this after calculating a fill or excavation volume in cubic feet (from length × width × depth) to get the cubic yard figure most bulk material suppliers quote by, or the estimated tonnage if you're comparing a by-weight quote. For the reverse direction, or to size a fill-dirt project directly from your project's dimensions, see the Fill Dirt Calculator.
This converter starts from a volume you already have, so it helps to know how to get that volume correctly. Measure the length and width of the area in feet, then measure the depth and convert inches to feet by dividing by 12. Multiply the three numbers to get cubic feet, then enter that figure here.
For example, take a hypothetical raised bed that is 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 6 inches deep. Six inches is 0.5 feet, so the volume is 12 times 8 times 0.5, or 48 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and you get about 1.78 cubic yards, and at the calculator's 1.35 factor that is roughly 2.4 tons. A supplier may sell by the whole or half yard, so you would probably ask about 2 yards.
The yards figure is precise for the volume you enter. The tons figure is a rough estimate based on a single assumed density, so use it only for comparing quotes or planning truck capacity, not for legal weight limits. If you are hauling material yourself, check the payload rating of your vehicle with the manufacturer or a local authority, because dirt can be much heavier than people expect, particularly when wet.
Exactly 27 -- a cubic yard is 3ft on each side (3×3×3 = 27 cubic feet), so this is a fixed, exact conversion.
No -- 1.35 tons per cubic yard is a general estimating figure for typical fill dirt; wet or saturated soil can weigh meaningfully more per cubic yard, so treat the tons figure as an approximation.
Both practices exist depending on the supplier and material -- always confirm which unit your specific quote uses before ordering.
Divide by 12. For instance, 4 inches is one third of a foot, or about 0.333 feet, and 6 inches is 0.5 feet.
Many people add some margin for settling and uneven ground. How much depends on the material and the site, so ask your supplier for guidance.
The cubic yard conversion is the same for any material, but the tons estimate is tuned for fill dirt. Different materials have different densities, so confirm with the supplier.
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, multiply by 0.03703704. To go the other way, divide by 0.03703704 (or multiply cubic yards by 27). For example, 12.5 cubic feet × 0.03703704 = 0.462963 cubic yards, and 150 cubic feet × 0.03703704 = 5.555556 cubic yards.
One cubic foot equals exactly 1,728 cubic inches, or about 28.3168 liters. One cubic yard equals exactly 27 cubic feet.
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.03703704 |
| 2 | 0.07407407 |
| 3 | 0.1111111 |
| 5 | 0.1851852 |
| 10 | 0.3703704 |
| 15 | 0.5555556 |
| 20 | 0.7407407 |
| 25 | 0.9259259 |
| 50 | 1.851852 |
| 75 | 2.777778 |
| 100 | 3.703704 |
| 250 | 9.259259 |
| 500 | 18.51852 |
| 1,000 | 37.03704 |
How many cubic yards are in 1 cubic feet?
1 cubic feet equals 0.03703704 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in 1 cubic yards?
1 cubic yards equals 27 cubic feet.
What is 3.5 cubic feet in cubic yards?
3.5 cubic feet equals 0.1296296 cubic yards, using the same 0.03703704 factor as the rest of this chart.
Is this conversion exact or approximate?
The 0.03703704 factor comes from a fixed, exact definitional constant, so the underlying math is exact; the numbers on this page are rounded to seven significant digits for readability, and the calculator above keeps the full-precision value.
Values are rounded to seven significant digits for display; the converter above uses the full-precision factor.
Reference: NIST Weights and Measures