A cubic yard is a unit of volume equivalent to a cube that measures 1 yard in length, 1 yard in width, and 1 yard in height. Since 1 yard equals 3 feet, a cubic yard is the same as a cube measuring 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet
. In terms of volume:
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft)
- 1 cubic yard = 46,656 cubic inches (36 in × 36 in × 36 in)
- 1 cubic yard ≈ 764.555 liters
To calculate how many cubic yards are in a space, you multiply the length, width, and height (or depth) of the area in feet, then divide by 27. For example, a space 9 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot deep equals 1 cubic yard (9 × 3 × 1 = 27 cubic feet; 27 ÷ 27 = 1 cubic yard)
. Cubic yards are commonly used to measure volumes of materials like concrete, gravel, sand, mulch, topsoil, and compost for construction and landscaping projects
. In summary, a cubic yard is a volume measure equal to a cube 3 feet on each side, or 27 cubic feet, and about 764.555 liters.
