What this converter does
This converter turns cubic metres into cubic yards and back for excavation, earthwork and concrete take-offs. It also covers cubic feet and litres. Every pair uses an exact geometric factor, so results are precise. Type a volume and read the answer as you type.
Site volumes are quoted in cubic metres almost everywhere, but US plant, haulage and concrete are ordered in cubic yards, so this swap comes up on every mixed-standard job.
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 50 cubic metres of spoil to cubic yards.
1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³50 ÷ 0.764555 = 65.40 yd³So 50 m³ of excavation is about 65.4 cubic yards for haulage.
The units in this example
The SI unit of volume — a cube one metre on each side. The default for excavation and concrete on metric drawings.
- 1 m³ ≈ 1.308 yd³
- 1 m³ ≈ 35.31 ft³
- 1 m³ = 1,000 litres
- 1 m³ of water ≈ 1 tonne
A US customary volume — a cube one yard on each side. Excavators, trucks and ready-mix are commonly sized in cubic yards.
- 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³
- 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
- 1 yd³ ≈ 764.6 litres
- 1 yd³ of concrete ≈ 2 tons