When you need volume
Volume tells you how much fits inside a space, or how much material you need to fill it. Typical uses: ordering topsoil, mulch, sand or gravel for a garden; estimating the size of a skip or dumpster; working out how much water a tank holds; and calculating the cubic metres (CBM) of a shipment or a moving truck.
Landscape suppliers in the US usually sell bulk materials by the cubic yard, European suppliers by the cubic metre, and bagged products by the cubic foot or litre. That is why the calculator shows all of them at once.
The formula
For any rectangular box (a cuboid):
volume = length × width × height
All three measurements must be in the same unit. The calculator converts them for you; just pick the unit you measured in.
Example 1 – a raised garden bed: 8 ft × 4 ft × 1 ft = 32 ft³. One cubic yard is 27 ft³, so you need about 1.19 yd³ of soil, or 0.91 m³.
Example 2 – a gravel path: 10 m long, 1.2 m wide and 5 cm deep. Convert the depth to metres: 0.05 m. Volume = 10 × 1.2 × 0.05 = 0.6 m³ (about 0.78 yd³).
Example 3 – a shipping carton: 60 cm × 40 cm × 40 cm = 0.096 m³ (96 litres). Ten cartons are 0.96 CBM.
Useful conversions
| 1 unit | m³ | ft³ | yd³ | Litres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m³ | 1 | 35.31 | 1.308 | 1,000 |
| 1 yd³ | 0.7646 | 27 | 1 | 764.6 |
| 1 ft³ | 0.02832 | 1 | 0.0370 | 28.32 |
| 1 US gallon | 0.003785 | 0.1337 | 0.00495 | 3.785 |
For lengths in other units, convert them first with the cm to inches converter, which also handles feet, yards and metres.
Bulk materials: think about weight and compaction
- Compaction. Loose materials settle. Gravel and soil compact by roughly 10–20% when tamped or watered, so order a little extra.
- Weight. One cubic metre of dry sand weighs about 1,600 kg and gravel about 1,500–1,700 kg; one cubic yard of topsoil weighs roughly 1 to 1.2 US tons. Check whether your trailer or the supplier’s delivery truck can handle it.
- Depth matters most. A thin layer is easy to underestimate. 5 cm (2 in) more depth over a large area adds a lot of volume.
- Concrete has its own extras, such as bag yields and waste. Use the concrete calculator for slabs and footings.
Round shapes
For round tanks, pipes, columns or ponds, use the cylinder volume calculator. For a surface area, such as the floor of the same space, see the square meter calculator.
Moving and storage
Cubic meters are also used for moving and storage. Removal companies estimate the volume of your belongings to pick the right van: a one-bedroom apartment is often 15 to 25 m³, a family home 40 to 60 m³ or more. Storage units are sold by floor area, but what matters is how much fits, so multiply the floor area by the usable height. Shipping containers have a known capacity: a standard 20-foot container holds about 33 m³ and a 40-foot container about 67 m³. When you measure boxes or furniture, use the outer dimensions and add some space for padding and awkward shapes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic metres?
Multiply length × width × height, all in metres. A space of 3 m × 2 m × 0.5 m is 3 m³. If you measured in centimetres, divide the result by 1,000,000.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27, because a yard is 3 feet and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic metres?
Multiply by 0.0283. For example, 100 ft³ × 0.0283 = 2.83 m³.
How many litres are in a cubic metre?
1,000 litres. One litre is the volume of a cube of 10 × 10 × 10 cm.
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Multiply length × width × depth. A 6 ft × 3 ft bed filled 10 inches deep holds 6 × 3 × 0.83 = 15 ft³, about 0.56 yd³. Add around 10% for settling.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Results are estimates for information only.