Cubic Feet Calculator
A cubic feet calculator multiplies length × width (ft) × depth in inches ÷ 12: a 12 × 10 ft area 6 in deep holds 60 cubic feet, which is 2.22 cubic yards.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
2.22 yd³ · 2.4 tons
30 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
4 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
How do I calculate cubic feet?
This cubic feet calculator multiplies length × width × depth to find volume, with depth entered in inches: cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × (depth in ÷ 12). A 12 ft × 10 ft area dug or filled 6 inches deep holds 60 cubic feet. That equals 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards, and at the default $1.50 per cubic foot it costs $90.
Enter length and width in feet, depth in inches, and an optional price per cubic foot. The result is raw volume, with no material weight assumed.
The formula in plain words
One cubic foot is a box 1 ft long, 1 ft wide, and 1 ft tall. To count how many of those boxes fit in your space:
- Turn depth into feet: inches ÷ 12. So 6 in = 0.5 ft and 3 in = 0.25 ft.
- Multiply: length × width × depth in feet.
- Price it: cubic feet × price per cubic foot.
Other handy conversions:
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Gallons = cubic feet × 7.48.
- Cubic inches to cubic feet = cubic inches ÷ 1,728, because 12 × 12 × 12 = 1,728.
Worked examples
- Default: 12 ft × 10 ft × 6 in, $1.50 per cu ft
- Depth: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
- Volume: 12 × 10 × 0.5 = 60.00 ft³
- Cost: 60 × $1.50 = $90.00
- In yards: 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 yd³
- Raised garden bed: 8 ft × 4 ft × 12 in, $1.50 per cu ft
- Depth: 12 ÷ 12 = 1 ft
- Volume: 8 × 4 × 1 = 32.00 ft³
- Cost: 32 × $1.50 = $48.00
- In 1.5 cu ft bags: 32 ÷ 1.5 = 21.3, so buy 22 bags
- A box measured in inches: 24 × 18 × 16 in
- Enter 2 ft × 1.5 ft × 16 in, giving 4.00 ft³
- Check: 24 × 18 × 16 = 6,912 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 4.00 ft³
Cubic feet at common depths
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in | 12 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 sq ft | 1.67 | 2.50 | 3.33 | 5.00 | 10.00 |
| 50 sq ft | 8.33 | 12.50 | 16.67 | 25.00 | 50.00 |
| 100 sq ft | 16.67 | 25.00 | 33.33 | 50.00 | 100.00 |
| 500 sq ft | 83.33 | 125.00 | 166.67 | 250.00 | 500.00 |
Bags per cubic foot result
| Bag size | Bags for 10 ft³ | Bags for 60 ft³ |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 14 | 80 |
| 1 cu ft | 10 | 60 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 7 | 40 |
| 2 cu ft | 5 | 30 |
| 3 cu ft | 4 | 20 |
How to measure
- Rectangles: measure length and width at the widest points in feet.
- Uneven depth: measure depth at several spots and use the average.
- Odd shapes: split them into rectangles, run each one, and add the cubic feet.
- Circles: use π × radius² for the area, then multiply by depth in feet. The cylinder volume calculator does this.
Common mistakes
- Depth in feet in the inches box. Typing 0.5 for a 6 in depth makes the answer 12 times too small.
- Mixing inches and feet for length and width. Convert both to feet first.
- Forgetting settling. Loose soil and mulch shrink after watering and tamping. Buying 5 to 10% extra avoids a second trip.
- Treating cubic feet as weight. A cubic foot of gravel weighs much more than a cubic foot of mulch.
Related calculators
To order bulk material, convert with the cubic feet to cubic yards calculator or use the cubic yard calculator. For water volume, see cubic feet to gallons. To plan trips, the wheelbarrow calculator counts loads.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic feet?
Multiply length × width × height, all in feet. If one measurement is in inches, divide it by 12 first. A 12 × 10 ft area 6 inches deep is 12 × 10 × 0.5 = 60 cubic feet. For a box measured entirely in inches, multiply the three numbers and divide by 1,728.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide by 27, because a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. The default 60 cubic feet is 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards. Bulk soil, mulch, and gravel are usually sold by the yard, so this is the step to take before calling a supplier.
How many bags of soil or mulch equal my cubic foot result?
Divide the cubic feet by the bag size printed on the bag and round up. Common sizes are 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 cubic feet. 60 cubic feet is 40 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 30 bags of 2 cu ft, or 20 bags of 3 cu ft.
Is the price per cubic foot optional?
Yes. Enter 0 for volume only. Otherwise enter your price per cubic foot; the default is $1.50, so 60 cubic feet shows $90. To compare with a price per cubic yard, divide the yard price by 27: $40 per yard is about $1.48 per cubic foot.
Does depth need to be in inches?
Yes. Length and width go in feet and depth goes in inches; the calculator divides depth by 12. If your depth is in feet, multiply by 12 first: 1.5 ft deep is 18 inches.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.