What this converter does
This converter turns cubic yards into cubic metres and back for earthwork, excavation and concrete quantities. It also handles cubic feet and litres. Each pair uses an exact factor, so the figure is precise. Type a volume and read the result instantly.
US plant and ready-mix are ordered in cubic yards, while drawings and BOQs are usually in cubic metres — so converting yd³ to m³ is a routine take-off step.
The units it covers
Earthwork volumes convert through the cubic metre with fixed geometric ratios.
View all units & their values
| Unit | Symbol | Value | Mainly used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubic metre | m³ | 1 | SI volume — most of the world |
| Cubic yard | yd³ | 0.7646 | US excavation & concrete |
| Cubic foot | ft³ | 0.02832 | Small volumes, US |
| Litre | L | 0.001 | Small quantities |
The formula
Each unit has a fixed value in cubic metres, so any pair converts through it once:
result = value × factor_from ÷ factor_toWhere:
- value = the number you typed, in the “from” unit
- factor_from = the “from” unit’s value in cubic metres
- factor_to = the “to” unit’s value in cubic metres
Worked example
Convert 40 cubic yards of concrete to cubic metres.
1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³40 × 0.764555 = 30.58 m³So 40 yd³ of concrete is about 30.6 cubic metres on the BOQ.
The units in this example
A US customary volume — a cube one yard on each side. Trucks, excavators and ready-mix concrete are commonly quoted in cubic yards.
- 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³
- 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
- 1 yd³ ≈ 764.6 litres
- 1 yd³ of concrete ≈ 2 tons
The SI unit of volume — a cube one metre per side. The default for excavation and concrete on metric drawings and bills of quantities.
- 1 m³ ≈ 1.308 yd³
- 1 m³ ≈ 35.31 ft³
- 1 m³ = 1,000 litres
- 1 m³ of water ≈ 1 tonne