What Is a Yard of Concrete? (Volume Explained)
A "yard" of concrete means **one cubic yard**—a cube measuring 3 feet on each side. That's **27 cubic feet** of concrete, and it covers roughly **81 square feet at 4 inches thick** or **54 square feet at 6 inches thick**.
What Is a Yard of Concrete? (Volume Explained)
A "yard" of concrete means one cubic yard—a cube measuring 3 feet on each side. That's 27 cubic feet of concrete, and it covers roughly 81 square feet at 4 inches thick or 54 square feet at 6 inches thick.
Visualizing this helps: one cubic yard is approximately the size of a washing machine and dryer stacked on top of each other. It weighs about 4,000 pounds and requires 45 bags of 80-lb concrete mix to produce.
The Math Behind a Cubic Yard
A cubic yard is a standard unit of volume:
3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet
When concrete suppliers quote prices "per yard," they mean per cubic yard. This is the universal measurement for ordering ready-mix concrete in the United States.
| Measurement | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cubic feet |
| 1 cubic yard | ~202 gallons |
| 1 cubic yard | 0.76 cubic meters |
| 1 cubic yard | ~4,000 lbs of concrete |
How Much Does One Yard Cover?
The area one cubic yard covers depends entirely on how thick you pour it. Here's a coverage chart:
| Thickness | Coverage per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 3 inches | 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | 81 square feet |
| 5 inches | 65 square feet |
| 6 inches | 54 square feet |
| 8 inches | 40 square feet |
Practical examples:
- 1 yard at 4" thick covers a 9×9 foot area
- 1 yard at 5" thick covers an 8×8 foot area
- 1 yard at 6" thick covers a 7×7.5 foot area
This is why thickness matters so much in cost calculations. A driveway at 5 inches uses 25% more concrete than the same size at 4 inches.
Use our concrete slab calculator to get precise coverage for your project dimensions.
Visualizing a Cubic Yard
Numbers are abstract. Here are some real-world comparisons to help you picture one cubic yard of concrete:
Size references:
- A standard bathtub holds about 1/3 of a cubic yard
- A pickup truck bed (8-foot bed) holds roughly 2-3 cubic yards heaped
- A wheelbarrow holds about 0.05-0.1 cubic yards (you'd need 10-20 wheelbarrow trips per yard)
Weight reality:
- One cubic yard of concrete weighs approximately 4,000 pounds
- That's about the weight of a small car
- It's roughly 50 times heavier than the same volume of water
For more on concrete weight, see our concrete weight guide.
Converting Between Units
When planning a project, you'll often need to convert between units:
Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
Divide cubic feet by 27
Example: Your project needs 54 cubic feet 54 ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards
Square Feet to Cubic Yards (with thickness)
Formula: (Length × Width × Thickness in feet) ÷ 27
Example: 12×10 foot patio, 4 inches thick
- Convert thickness: 4 inches = 0.33 feet
- Calculate volume: 12 × 10 × 0.33 = 39.6 cubic feet
- Convert to yards: 39.6 ÷ 27 = 1.47 cubic yards
For a detailed walkthrough of concrete calculations, see our how to calculate concrete guide.
Bags to Cubic Yards
Divide total bags by bags per yard:
| Bag Size | Bags per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 40 lb | 90 bags |
| 50 lb | 72 bags |
| 60 lb | 60 bags |
| 80 lb | 45 bags |
Example: You have 30 bags of 80-lb concrete 30 ÷ 45 = 0.67 cubic yards
For bag calculations, see how many bags of concrete you need.
Why Concrete Is Measured in Yards
Cubic yards became the standard for several practical reasons:
Truck capacity. Concrete trucks are rated in cubic yards. A standard truck holds 8-10 cubic yards.
Pricing simplicity. Quoting per yard makes comparing suppliers straightforward.
Traditional measurement. The U.S. construction industry has used cubic yards for generations.
Practical scale. A cubic yard is a useful size—large enough to be meaningful, small enough to be manageable.
Common Project Sizes in Yards
Here's a quick reference for typical residential projects:
| Project | Typical Size | Cubic Yards Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Fence post (one) | 10" diameter × 3' deep | 0.05-0.08 |
| Stepping stones (set of 10) | Various | 0.2-0.3 |
| Shed pad | 8×10 ft × 4" | 1.0 |
| Patio | 12×12 ft × 4" | 1.8 |
| Sidewalk (20 ft) | 3×20 ft × 4" | 0.75 |
| Driveway (single car) | 10×20 ft × 5" | 1.2 |
| Driveway (two car) | 20×24 ft × 5" | 3.0 |
| Garage floor | 20×24 ft × 4" | 6.0 |
These are estimates—use our concrete calculator for precise quantities.
Ordering Tips
When ordering ready-mix by the yard:
Round up. Running short during a pour is a disaster. Order 5-10% extra.
Know minimums. Most suppliers have minimum orders (often 1 yard) and may charge short-load fees for smaller orders.
Have your number ready. Know exactly how many yards you need before calling.
Confirm before delivery. Double-check your calculation the day before delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet does a yard of concrete cover?
Coverage depends on thickness: approximately 81 square feet at 4 inches thick, 65 square feet at 5 inches, or 54 square feet at 6 inches. Thicker pours cover less area with the same volume.
How many bags of concrete in a yard?
One cubic yard equals approximately 45 bags of 80-lb concrete, 60 bags of 60-lb concrete, or 90 bags of 40-lb concrete. Use 80-lb bags for efficiency—fewer bags to mix.
How heavy is a yard of concrete?
A cubic yard of freshly mixed concrete weighs approximately 4,000 pounds (about 150 pounds per cubic foot). Cured concrete weighs slightly less—around 3,900 pounds per yard—as some water evaporates during curing.
Key Takeaways
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (a 3×3×3 foot cube)
- One yard covers 81 sqft at 4" thick or 54 sqft at 6" thick
- One yard weighs approximately 4,000 lbs and equals 45 bags of 80-lb mix
- Visualize it as roughly the size of a washer/dryer stack
- Always round up when ordering—running short is costly
For calculations, use our concrete calculator. To understand pricing, see our guide on concrete cost per yard. For more foundational concepts, visit our concrete basics guide or browse all concrete guides.