Cubic Meters to Cubic Yards (m³ to yd³)
One cubic meter is 1.308 cubic yards, so multiply m³ by 1.30795, or add about 31%. A 15 m³ quote is 19.6 yd³, and a 20ft container's 33.1 m³ is about 43.3 yd³. Use it when metric volumes meet a US hauler who prices by the yard.
1 m³ = 1.308 yd³
cubic yards (yd³)
Quick reference
How to convert cubic meters to cubic yards
To convert cubic meters to cubic yards, multiply by the conversion factor:
Multiply cubic meters by 1.30795 to get cubic yards. For a quick estimate, add 31%. The factor is the exact reciprocal of 0.764555, because a yard is defined as 0.9144 m.
| Cubic meters | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.31 |
| 5 | 6.54 |
| 10 | 13.08 |
| 15 | 19.62 |
| 20 | 26.16 |
| 33.1 (20ft container) | 43.29 |
| 67.6 (40ft container) | 88.42 |
Metric volumes in US working units
Import papers, equipment data sheets and overseas quotes give volume in cubic meters, while US contractors and haulers think in cubic yards. Multiply by 1.30795, or add about 31% for a quick estimate. A 15 m³ quote is 19.6 yd³ on the US side.
Containers convert the same way. The 33.1 m³ inside a 20ft container is about 43.3 yd³, and the 67.6 m³ inside a 40ft is about 88.4 yd³. That helps when bulk or bagged material arriving by container goes to a yards-based hauler for the last leg.
Round-trip without drift
1.30795 is the exact reciprocal of 0.764555, so m³ to yd³ and back gives your starting number as long as you keep enough decimals. The shortcut ×1.3 is about 0.6% low, which on 500 m³ of earthworks understates the total by about 4 cubic yards.
When a document shows both units, work one out from the other with the full factor, and note which figure was measured and which was converted. Mismatched rounding between the two is a common cause of quantity disputes.
Measuring in meters, ordering in yards
If you measure a job in meters but the supplier sells by the yard, work out cubic meters first and convert once at the end. An area 6 m long, 3 m wide and 0.15 m deep is 2.7 m³, which is 3.53 yd³.
Round up to the size the supplier sells, and allow for material settling or spillage as your supplier advises. The conversion itself is exact; the site conditions are not.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards are in 1 cubic meter?
1.30795. A quick estimate is to add 31% to the cubic-meter figure.
How many cubic yards fit in a shipping container?
By inside volume, a 20ft container is about 43.3 yd³ and a standard 40ft about 88.4 yd³. For dense bulk material, the container's weight limit usually comes first.
Is multiplying by 1.3 close enough?
For a rough check, yes; it is about 0.6% low. On 500 m³ it would understate the total by about 4 cubic yards, so use 1.30795 for anything that is billed.