A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 9 loads in a 3 cubic foot wheelbarrow, about 7 loads in a 4 cubic foot barrow, or 4.5 loads in a 6 cubic foot contractor barrow.
The math
Divide 27 by the barrow size in cubic feet. 27 divided by 3 is 9. 27 divided by 4 is 6.75. 27 divided by 6 is 4.5. Round up when you plan.
The size is usually printed on the wheelbarrow or in the product listing as the capacity in cubic feet.
Weight per load
A full 3 cubic foot barrow of mulch weighs about 78 pounds. The same barrow of gravel weighs about 310 pounds, which is too heavy for many people. You may only fill it halfway with heavy material.
Plan the job
For a 5 cubic yard delivery of mulch with a 3 cubic foot barrow, you need about 45 loads. If each round trip takes 2 minutes, that is about 90 minutes of moving, not counting spreading.
Ask for the pile to be dumped as close to the beds as possible.
Wheelbarrow loads per cubic yard
| Cubic yards | 3 cu ft barrow | 4 cu ft barrow | 6 cu ft barrow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| 2 | 18 | 14 | 9 |
| 3 | 27 | 21 | 14 |
| 5 | 45 | 34 | 23 |
| 10 | 90 | 68 | 45 |
| 20 | 180 | 135 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
How many wheelbarrows are in a yard?
9 for a 3 cubic foot barrow.
How many wheelbarrows in 5 yards?
45 for a 3 cubic foot barrow.
How much does a wheelbarrow hold?
Common sizes are 3, 4, and 6 cubic feet.
Is a heaped load bigger?
Yes, slightly, but it is harder to push.