The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator converts cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27, and converts cubic yards to cubic feet by multiplying by 27. Enter either volume and read the other with the factor, the working, and a nearby-value table for common material order sizes.
One cubic yard equals twenty-seven cubic feet exactly, because a yard is three feet and volume scales with the cube of length. Construction and landscaping orders often quote cubic yards while on-site measurements start in cubic feet; this page bridges those labels.
Convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Cubic feet become cubic yards when divided by 27. Fifty-four cubic feet equal 2 cubic yards. Thirteen and a half cubic feet equal 0.5 cubic yards. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator divides by 27 and prints ft³ ÷ 27 under the result.
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27Keep length units consistent before cubing. A box measured in feet yields cubic feet directly as length × width × height. If any edge is in inches, convert that edge to feet first, or convert the whole volume from cubic inches with a separate factor. This calculator assumes the volume is already in cubic feet or cubic yards.
Understand why 1 cubic yard is 27 cubic feet
A yard is defined as exactly 3 feet. A cube that is 1 yard on each edge is therefore 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet. Multiplying those edges gives 27 cubic feet inside one cubic yard.
1 yd × 1 yd × 1 yd = 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 ft³Linear scaling and volume scaling differ. Doubling every edge multiplies volume by eight, not by two. Tripling every edge (feet inside a yard) multiplies volume by 27. That is why the cubic conversion factor is 27 rather than 3.
The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator uses that exact geometric factor. There is no approximation in the ratio itself. Rounding appears only when a display setting shortens decimal yards for an order form.
Convert cubic yards to cubic feet
Cubic yards become cubic feet when multiplied by 27. Two cubic yards equal 54 cubic feet. 0.25 cubic yards equal 6.75 cubic feet. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator multiplies by 27 for the reverse direction.
cubic feet = cubic yards × 27Worked example: convert 3.5 cubic yards to cubic feet.
1. Multiply by 27. 3.5 × 27 = 94.5 cubic feet.
2. Reverse check. 94.5 ÷ 27 = 3.5 cubic yards.
Bag suppliers often sell in cubic yards while a DIY volume estimate from a tape measure lands in cubic feet. Convert to the unit the supplier quotes before comparing price per load.
Convert concrete and material volumes
Concrete, mulch, gravel, and soil are commonly ordered in cubic yards in the United States. A slab takeoff might produce 81 cubic feet of concrete volume, which is 81 ÷ 27 = 3 cubic yards. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator performs that divide so the ready-mix order matches the geometric volume.
Waste and compaction still matter after unit conversion. Mulch settles; gravel densifies when compacted; concrete orders often include a small overage. Convert units first, then apply the waste factor your trade practice uses. This page does not invent a waste percentage; it only changes ft³ ↔ yd³.
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 27 | 1 |
| 54 | 2 |
| 81 | 3 |
| 13.5 | 0.5 |
| 108 | 4 |
Bag sizes such as 2 cubic yards or 10 cubic yards convert to 54 ft³ and 270 ft³ respectively. Checking the truck ticket against a site measurement is easier when both sides share one unit; convert the measurement rather than guessing.
Construction material calculators may output volume with depth and area already applied. When that output is in cubic feet, use this converter before calling a supplier that sells by the yard. When the output is already in cubic yards, reverse-convert only if a plan set is dimensioned in feet throughout.
FAQ
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide cubic feet by 27. For example, 54 ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator divides by 27 and shows the working.
How do I convert cubic yards to cubic feet?
To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply cubic yards by 27. For example, 2 × 27 = 54 cubic feet. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator multiplies by that factor.
Why is the factor 27?
The factor is 27 because 1 yard = 3 feet, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 when volume is cubed. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator uses that exact geometric ratio.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator multiplies or divides by 27 for every conversion on the page.
How many cubic yards is 81 cubic feet?
Eighty-one cubic feet equal 3 cubic yards, because 81 ÷ 27 = 3. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator returns that figure for concrete-style takeoffs of that size.
Does this include compaction or waste?
No. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator only converts units. Apply a separate waste or compaction allowance after the volume is in the unit used for ordering.
Can I convert cubic inches here?
Convert cubic inches to cubic feet first (divide by 1728, since 12³ = 1728), then use the Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator. The page itself expects cubic feet or cubic yards as inputs.
Is this the same as a concrete calculator?
No. A concrete calculator estimates volume from slab dimensions. The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator only converts an existing volume between cubic feet and cubic yards after that volume is known.
Summary
The Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator converts cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27 and cubic yards to cubic feet by multiplying by 27. The factor follows from 3 feet per yard cubed. Concrete, mulch, and soil orders that quote cubic yards can be matched to cubic-foot field measurements with that exact ratio.
Waste and compaction stay outside the conversion step, and every result shows the factor and working for hand checks.