A yard measures length, and a cubic yard measures volume. Mixing the two up is one of the most common ordering mistakes.
Three kinds of yard
A linear yard is 3 feet long. A square yard is an area of 3 feet by 3 feet, or 9 square feet. A cubic yard is a volume of 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet.
What people mean when they say yards
At a landscape supply, 5 yards means 5 cubic yards. In a fabric shop, 5 yards means 5 linear yards. In a flooring store, a square yard is a unit of area. Context tells you which, but when you are ordering bulk material, confirm cubic yards out loud.
How they relate
A cubic yard covers one square yard to a depth of 1 yard, which is 36 inches. So a cubic yard covers 9 square feet at 36 inches deep, 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, and 81 square feet at 4 inches deep.
Avoiding a costly mix up
If you measure an area in square yards, you still need a depth to get cubic yards. Multiply the square yards by the depth in yards, which is the depth in inches divided by 36.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet is a square yard?
A square yard is 9 square feet.
Does 1 yard of mulch mean 1 cubic yard?
Yes. Bulk suppliers use yard as shorthand for cubic yard.
How do I convert square yards to cubic yards?
Multiply square yards by the depth in yards, which is inches divided by 36.