Understanding This Calculator
Cubic feet is the standard unit for measuring three-dimensional volume in construction, landscaping, and shipping in the US — a raised bed, a storage container, a pour of concrete, or a load of mulch are all typically quoted by volume rather than by weight. This calculator takes three linear measurements and returns volume in the three units you’re most likely to need next: cubic feet, cubic yards, and gallons.
Cubic yards matter because most bulk materials — soil, gravel, mulch, concrete — are sold by the yard, not the cubic foot. Gallons come into play whenever the volume relates to liquid capacity, such as sizing a tank, pond, or water feature. Converting once here saves you from doing the math three separate times.
- L, W, H length, width, height in feet
- 27 cubic feet per cubic yard
- 7.48052 US gallons per cubic foot
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards | Gallons |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1.00 | 202 |
| 100 | 3.70 | 748 |
| 500 | 18.52 | 3,740 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this for irregular shapes, not just rectangular boxes?
This calculator assumes a rectangular volume. For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangular sections, calculate each separately, and add the results together for a total volume estimate.
Why convert to gallons if I’m working with dry material like soil?
The gallon conversion is most useful for liquid-holding volumes — tanks, ponds, aquariums — but is shown for every calculation for convenience. Feel free to ignore it for dry-material projects and focus on the cubic feet and cubic yard figures.