What Is a Cubic Yard?
Quick answer
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube measuring 3 feet on each side — that's 27 cubic feet, or about the load of a standard wheelbarrow filled 9–14 times.
Bulk materials like concrete, topsoil, mulch and gravel are sold by the cubic yard. It's a measure of volume, not weight, so a cubic yard of mulch is light while a cubic yard of gravel weighs over a ton.
How big is it, really?
- 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
- About 9–14 contractor wheelbarrow loads.
- Covers 100 ft² at roughly 3 inches deep.
- Roughly the bed volume of a small pickup truck.