cubic meters to cubic yards calculator
A cubic meters to cubic yards calculator multiplies m³ by 1.30795 (and by 35.3147 for cubic feet). 10 m³ is 13.079 yd³; a 2.4 m³ slab is 3.139 yd³.
How do you convert cubic meters to cubic yards?
A cubic meters to cubic yards calculator multiplies the metric volume by 1.30795. It also multiplies by 35.3147 to give cubic feet. So 10 m³ is 13.079 cubic yards, or 353.1 cubic feet. One cubic meter is a little larger than one cubic yard, which is why the yard figure is always the bigger number.
You need this when a drawing, an imported product, or an engineer’s quantity schedule is in metric but the ready-mix plant, gravel yard, or topsoil supplier sells by the cubic yard.
The conversion in plain words
- A meter is 1.09361 yards.
- Cube it for volume: 1.09361 × 1.09361 × 1.09361 ≈ 1.30795.
- So cubic yards = cubic meters × 1.30795.
- A meter is 3.28084 feet, and 3.28084³ ≈ 35.3147, so cubic feet = cubic meters × 35.3147.
Cubic yards are shown to three decimals and cubic feet to one.
Worked examples
Garage slab from a metric plan: 6 m × 4 m × 100 mm thick
- Volume: 6 × 4 × 0.1 = 2.4 m³
- Cubic yards: 2.4 × 1.30795 = 3.139 yd³
- Cubic feet: 2.4 × 35.3147 = 84.8 ft³
- Order: round up to 3.25 or 3.5 yd³, depending on the plant’s increments, to cover waste and uneven ground.
Emptying a 20 ft shipping container: about 33 m³ of space
- Cubic yards: 33 × 1.30795 = 43.162 yd³
- Cubic feet: 33 × 35.3147 = 1,165.4 ft³
- That is more than a 40 yd³ roll-off dumpster holds, so plan for two.
Cubic meters to cubic yards table
| Cubic meters | Cubic yards | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 m³ | 0.654 yd³ | 17.7 ft³ |
| 1 m³ | 1.308 yd³ | 35.3 ft³ |
| 2 m³ | 2.616 yd³ | 70.6 ft³ |
| 3 m³ | 3.924 yd³ | 105.9 ft³ |
| 5 m³ | 6.540 yd³ | 176.6 ft³ |
| 7.65 m³ | 10.006 yd³ | 270.2 ft³ |
| 10 m³ | 13.079 yd³ | 353.1 ft³ |
| 15 m³ | 19.619 yd³ | 529.7 ft³ |
| 20 m³ | 26.159 yd³ | 706.3 ft³ |
| 25 m³ | 32.699 yd³ | 882.9 ft³ |
| 50 m³ | 65.397 yd³ | 1,765.7 ft³ |
The 7.65 m³ row is a handy check: it is almost exactly 10 cubic yards.
Where metric volumes turn up
- Engineer’s quantity schedules on projects drawn in SI units list concrete and fill in m³.
- Imported tanks and planters often give capacity in cubic meters or liters (1 m³ = 1,000 liters).
- Excavation reports and geotechnical studies may state cut and fill in m³.
- Shipping and moving quotes measure cargo space in cubic meters.
In each case, convert once, round up, and then order in the supplier’s unit.
Getting metric dimensions into cubic meters first
If you have dimensions instead of a volume, convert everything to meters before multiplying:
- 100 mm = 0.1 m, and 150 mm = 0.15 m
- 25 cm = 0.25 m
- Then length × width × depth in meters gives cubic meters
The cubic meter calculator does that step. Mixing millimeters with meters is the most common source of answers that are off by 1,000.
Common mistakes
- Using the length factor. Multiplying by 1.09361 converts meters to yards, not cubic meters to cubic yards. Volume needs the cubed factor, 1.30795.
- Using the area factor. 1.19599 converts square meters to square yards. It is the wrong number for volume.
- Confusing volume with weight. Suppliers selling by the ton need a density step. Use the cubic yards to tons calculator after converting.
- Rounding down. Delivery ticket increments are often a quarter or half yard. Always round up.
Once your volume is in cubic yards, size the full order with the cubic yard calculator. For small bagged jobs measured in feet, the cubic feet to cubic yards calculator works with smaller volumes.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards is a cubic meter?
One cubic meter is 1.308 cubic yards, so a cubic meter is about 31% bigger than a cubic yard. Multiply cubic meters by 1.30795 for cubic yards: 5 m³ is 6.540 yd³.
How do I convert cubic meters to cubic yards in my head?
Add about 30%. 10 m³ plus 30% is 13 yd³, close to the exact 13.079. For ordering, always use the exact factor and round up, since the shortcut runs slightly low.
Is the conversion exact or approximate?
A yard is exactly 0.9144 m, so a cubic yard is exactly 0.764554857984 m³. The factor 1.30795 is 1 ÷ 0.764555 rounded to five decimals, and the calculator shows three decimal places, which is far more precise than any delivery ticket.
What's the cubic feet figure for?
Bagged products in the US are labeled in cubic feet, and many site plans list volume in cubic feet. One cubic meter is 35.3 ft³, so 2.4 m³ of concrete is 84.8 ft³, or 142 bags of 80 lb concrete at 0.6 ft³ each, rounded up.
How do I convert cubic yards back to cubic meters?
Multiply cubic yards by 0.764555, or divide by 1.30795. A 10 cubic yard order is 7.65 m³, and a 3 yd³ load is 2.29 m³.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.