How to Find Cubic Yards
A cubic yard is a pretty large measurement, so you should only use it for measuring big things. For a typical room, for example, cubic feet is usually a much more useful measurement for most people. For gymansiums, auditoriums and other really big spaces, measuring in cubic yards yields a smaller and more manageable number, so you may want to use it instead of cubic feet.
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Instructions
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Learn how to measure in yards. A yard is 3 feet, or 36 inches. The easiest way to measure a distance in yards is to first measure it in inches and then divide by 36. For example, if a wall is 54 inches across, divide 54 by 36 to get 1.5 yards.
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Understand how to get cubic yards. First measure the length, width and height of a room in yards. Then multiply all three numbers together to get cubic yards.
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Understand the type of shape required. This method works to measure 3-dimensional rectangular shapes, such as boxes or rooms. It is assumed you are measuring a room, but the same method would work for a box or other rectangular solid.
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Measure the width of the room. Have a friend hold the end of the tape measure at the corner of the room where two walls meet the floor. Then, stretch the tape all the way along the bottom of the wall to the opposite corner. Convert the reading on your tape measure into yards.
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Measure the length of the room. Follow the same procedure, but use one of the walls at a right angle to the wall you just measured.
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Measure the height of the room. Get up on a ladder and hold the tape measure at one corner of the ceiling. Have a friend pull the end straight down to the bottom. Convert the number on your tape measure into yards.
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Multiply length x width x height to get the cubic yards. For example, if you have a room that is 2 yards high, 3 yards wide and 4.5 yards long, you get: 2 x 3 x 4.5 = 27 yards^3.
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Tips & Warnings
This method will not work for irregularly shaped objects. If you have an oddly shaped room, try to divide it into multiple "rooms," each shaped like a rectangle. Find the cubic yards for each room, then add them together to get the total.
To convert from cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 9. For example, 90 cubic feet = 90/9 cubic yards = 10 cubic yards. To convert from cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply by 9.
Don't forget to convert from inches to yards.
