A yard in three directions
One cubic yard, written yd³, is the volume of a 1 yard × 1 yard × 1 yard cube. Each edge is 3 feet, so 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
Multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Turn an area and depth into a volume
For a rectangular garden bed, multiply length × width × depth using feet for all three dimensions. A 12 × 9 foot bed with a 3 inch layer uses 12 × 9 × 0.25 = 27 cubic feet, or 1 cubic yard. This is a volume example; choose a suitable depth for your own material and project.
Bulk suppliers may shorten “cubic yard” to “yard.” Confirm the unit. Square yards measure area, while cubic yards measure volume. Weight and bag counts depend on the material and the bag’s stated volume.