Every number on this page comes straight from the same calculation library our calculators use — nothing rounded off by hand, nothing copied from a different table. Print the PDF, tape it to the truck dash, and order with confidence.
By the Cubic Yard Calculator team · Last updated October 2026
One page, everything you need: material weights, concrete & mulch bag counts, how far a yard spreads at each depth, unit conversions, and the core formula — free PDF below.
Fits on one US Letter page (8.5 × 11 in). Same numbers as the tables below.
Download cheat sheet (PDF)Print at 100% scale · footer: cubicyardcalculator.site
| Material | lbs / yd³ | tons / yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 4,050 | 2.02 |
| Gravel | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Fill dirt | 2,200 | 1.10 |
| Topsoil | 2,400 | 1.20 |
| Mulch | 800 | 0.40 |
| Sand | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Rock | 4,500 | 2.25 |
| Garden soil | 2,400 | 1.20 |
| Hot-mix asphalt | 3,915 | 1.96 |
Representative loose bulk densities for planning. Tons = lbs ÷ 2,000. See our methodology for where these figures come from.
| Bag size | Bags per yd³ |
|---|---|
| 80 lb bags | 45 |
| 60 lb bags | 60 |
| 50 lb bags | 72 |
| 40 lb bags | 90 |
| 90 lb bags | 40 |
| Mulch — 2 cu ft bags | 13.5 |
| Mulch — 3 cu ft bags | 9 |
Bag counts are estimates — real yield varies with mixing. Ready-mix is usually the better buy past about 1–2 cubic yards of concrete.
| Depth | 1 yd³ covers |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft |
Rule: square feet = 324 ÷ depth in inches. Double the depth, halve the coverage.
| Conversion | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) | 27 cubic feet (ft³) |
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) | 0.7646 cubic metres (m³) |
| 1 cubic foot (ft³) | 0.0283 cubic metres (m³) |
| 1 short ton | 0.9072 tonnes |
| 1 square yard (yd²) | 0.8361 square metres (m²) |
| 1 square metre (m²) | 1.1960 square yards (yd²) |
Cubic yards = (lengthft × widthft × depthft) ÷ 27
Order with a 10% overage: measure exactly, multiply by 1.1 — cheaper than a second delivery. Depth in inches ÷ 12 = depth in feet (4″ = 0.333 ft, 6″ = 0.5 ft).
These are the same figures behind every calculator on this site. For the full story on how we calculate and verify — volume math, density sources, bag-yield basis, and cost ballparks — read our methodology.
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
Yes. The page tables and the PDF are generated from the same shared calculation library (lib/calc.js) that every calculator on this site uses — identical densities, bag yields, and conversion factors.
Open the PDF (/cubic-yard-cheat-sheet.pdf) and print at 100% scale on US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 in). It is laid out to fit on exactly one page.
They are representative published loose bulk densities for planning — good for comparing materials and estimating truck loads. Actual density varies with moisture and compaction, so confirm weight-sensitive numbers (dump-truck limits, structural loads) with your supplier.