Cubic Yards to Cubic Meters (yd³ to m³)
One cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters, so multiply yd³ by 0.764555. A 12-yard load of gravel is 9.17 m³. US suppliers sell gravel, soil and concrete by the yard, metric paperwork wants cubic meters, and a cubic meter is about 31% bigger.
1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³
cubic meters (m³)
Quick reference
How to convert cubic yards to cubic meters
To convert cubic yards to cubic meters, multiply by the conversion factor:
Multiply cubic yards by 0.764555 to get cubic meters. A yard is defined as exactly 0.9144 m, so 1 yd³ = 0.9144³ m³. Bulk materials such as gravel, soil and concrete are sold by the yard in the US and by the cubic meter elsewhere.
| Cubic yards | Cubic meters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.76 |
| 5 | 3.82 |
| 10 (10-yard dumpster) | 7.65 |
| 12 | 9.17 |
| 20 (20-yard dumpster) | 15.29 |
| 30 (30-yard dumpster) | 22.94 |
| 40 (40-yard dumpster) | 30.58 |
The US bulk unit, in metric
In the US, bulk materials such as gravel, topsoil, concrete and debris are sold by the cubic yard, and dumpster sizes are named in yards. Elsewhere the same materials trade in cubic meters. A yard is exactly 0.9144 m, so 1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³.
The two units are close enough to confuse and far enough apart to hurt: a cubic meter is about 31% bigger. Order 20 m³ of fill when you meant 20 yd³ and about 6 extra yards turn up.
Cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters
A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet, so it holds exactly 27 cubic feet. That gives a quick way to check a figure: 27 ft³ = 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³.
A 12-yard load of gravel is 9.17 m³, and a 9-yard load of concrete is 6.88 m³. When a US load quoted in yards has to go on metric paperwork, convert the total once with the full factor and label both figures.
Measuring an area in yards
To find cubic yards for a slab, a trench or a load of fill, multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27. An area 20 ft long, 10 ft wide and 6 in (0.5 ft) deep is 100 ft³, or 3.70 yd³.
Then convert to metric if you need it: 3.70 yd³ × 0.764555 = 2.83 m³. The cubic meter calculator does both steps at once and takes the depth in inches. Do the depth in feet too, since mixing inches and feet is the most common slip in these sums.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cubic yard bigger or smaller than a cubic meter?
Smaller. A cubic yard is 0.7646 m³, so a cubic meter is about 31% more material. Mixing the two on a bulk order leaves a real surplus or shortfall.
How many cubic meters is a 10-yard dumpster?
About 7.65 m³. A 20-yard is about 15.29 m³ and a 30-yard about 22.94 m³.
How do I convert 12 cubic yards to cubic meters?
12 × 0.764555 = 9.17 m³.