how do i calculate cubic yards needed to do a job?

Answer 1

Multiply Length X Width X Height. = Total number of Cubic Feet

Then divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
So a slab 4' x 40' by 4" would be:
4X40X.33=52.8 Cubic feet
52.8 / 27 = 1.95 Cubic yards

Answer 2

Actually you have to make sure all your measurements are in the "same" dimensions.

Lets take the example 10' X 10' X 4"

Now, the ten feet is simple, to multiply the other ten feet to get a 100 feet... But, what about the multipling of the 4 inches?

So, we take the 4 inches and devide them by 12, so that the answer will end up in feet. (yea, its hard to figure, but it works-->I had a hard time grasping this in grade school when they tried to teach it to me, until I went on to my career as a Waste Water Plant Operator and needed to do the math all the time).

So, 4" devided by 12" equals .333 feet.

Now multilply 10 X 10 X .333 equals 33.3 cubic feet.

Ok, we have the total cubic feet. (and thats because we took the total lengh X width X dept of the project.

Now, to get Cubic yards, you need to devide by 27. (Basically, you have layers of cubic feet... it takes nine cubic feet to make one layer, then you put nine more to make a second layer, then nine more to make the third layer of a cubic yard. A cubic yard has to be three feet long, three feet wide and three feet tall, with a total of 27 cubic feet.

So, we take the 33.3 devided by 27 and that gives you 1.23 cubic yards.

So, your answer is 2 cubic yards.

Why? Because the concrete people only sell it in cubic yards and if you only go 1, then you will be short, so you have to go 2. (I would make a mold or something, to use up the extra, because all the extra you send back, they resell it at the Entire price! So, they make double the money on something you already bought).

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 3

No real right or wrong answers here, but you don't give any detail, and you should be able to do your own math if you're going to undertake a project.

Obviously in you use a cubic yard, used as such would only have a surface area of 3 ft by 3 ft, by 3 ft deep.

As one answser states, at 4 inches deep a cubic yard would cover 9 times the area.

Define the depth to be filled and divide that, or multiply it up to 36".

Rev. Steven

Answer 4

1 yard = 3 ft. so, 1 cubic yard is 3' x 3' x 3' = 3 cubic feet or 27'.

Or, put your measurements in a question, and someone will calculate it for you.

Answer 5

Its easier to work with cubic inches sometimes.

a slab of concrete that is 10ft X 10ft X 4" thick
would be 120"X120"X4" would equal 57600 cubic INCHES

since there is 46600 cubic inches in a cubic yard yard, divde 57600/46600= 1.23 cubic yards

Answer 6

Do the math. Here are some conversions you'll need:
volume (of a cube)=length x width x thickness
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard