Construction Calculator - Construction Converters

Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator

Convert area and depth into cubic yards for bulk materials.

Reviewed: August 26, 2026

Calculate Square Feet to Cubic Yards

For the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator, enter length, width, depth, waste allowance, material density, and material price. It multiplies length, width, and installed depth, converts to cubic yards, applies allowance once, and converts volume to tons through the entered bulk density.

Construction measuring tools arranged beside a residential building project

Formula used

Cubic yards = [length × width × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27] × (1 + waste ÷ 100); tons = cubic yards × density

Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator measurement plan showing Length feet, Width feet, Depth inches

Worked square feet to cubic yards example

Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator example: 31.3 ft × 10.6 ft × (4 in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 4.1 yd³ before allowance. After 10% allowance, the order basis is 4.51 yd³, or 6.31 short tons at 1.4 tons/yd³.

What the converted result represents

Use the raw yardage for volume conversion, then apply waste and density only for the specific material being ordered.

Limits of the geometric model

Variable depth, compaction, settlement, moisture, and supplier density affect material weight even when the geometric volume is correct.

Questions specific to this calculation

Which bulk density belongs in the square feet to cubic yards tons estimate?

A square-foot area becomes cubic yards only after a depth is supplied. Enter rectangular length and width plus installed depth in inches.