Home | How To Calculate Cubic Yards
If you haven’t heard of a cubic yard, don’t worry. Most people are familiar with a square foot, which is measured by length × width. A cubic foot adds one more measurement — height (or depth). A cubic yard is calculated the same way.
To give you a visual, one cubic yard is roughly the size of a typical kitchen stove.
Why Volume Matters for Your Rental:
Understanding cubic yardage is the best way to ensure you don't choose the wrong size and end up overpaying for your needs. At Trash Daddy, we use these volume calculations to provide flat-rate pricing across our service areas.
Whether you are estimating debris for a home cleanout project in Kansas City, a large-scale demolition job in Dallas, or just a self-serv junk removal job in Denver, knowing your yardage helps you get you the right price for the right size.
Cubic yards are used to measure how much volume of debris each dumpster can hold. To calculate it, just follow two simple steps.
For the example below, let's say we have a pile of debris that measures roughly 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall by 6 feet long.
Want to know how much a cubic yard of different materials weighs? See our Dumpster Material Weights guide.
Once you know your debris volume in cubic yards, you can match it to a dumpster size. Here’s a quick reference chart of the most common roll off sizes:
A cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet. Length x width x height (depth). A cubic yard is roughly the size of a standard kitchen stove or washing machine.
First, calculate the volume in cubic feet (length × width × depth). Then divide that number by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
A typical pickup truck holds 2–3 cubic yards of material, depending on bed size and how it’s loaded.
Not always. Dumpster pricing isn’t strictly tied to cubic yards. A 10 or 12 yard dumpster won’t be half the price of a 20 yard. Since delivery, pickup, and disposal fees are similar, a 20 yard often gives you more value per cubic yard.
