What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard (cu yd) is a volume equal to a cube one yard on each side, which is 27 cubic feet. Concrete, gravel, fill and mulch are ordered by the cubic yard, and crews usually just say yards, as in six yards of concrete.
Formula
Cubic yards = square feet x (thickness in inches / 12) / 27
Worked example
A 20 x 24 ft slab poured 4 in thick.
- 1.Area: 20 x 24 = 480 sq ft
- 2.Volume: 480 x (4 / 12) = 160 cubic feet
- 3.160 / 27 = 5.93 cu yd
- 4.Add 10 percent over-order: 5.93 x 1.10 = 6.5 cu yd
Order 6.5 cu yd of concrete.
Measure it in MetreMate
Trace the slab with the Area tool to get square feet off the plan, then apply your slab thickness and over-order to get cubic yards.
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