A cubic yard (CY) is the standard unit for measuring bulk landscaping materials like soil, mulch, and gravel. It is a volume measurement equal to 27 cubic feet. Two cubic yards of soil represent a total volume of 54 cubic feet, which is a significant amount of material intended for larger home and garden projects.
Understanding the Physical Volume of Two Cubic Yards
The physical volume of two cubic yards is equivalent to 54 cubic feet, which can be visualized in several practical ways. This quantity of soil would perfectly fill a space that is six feet wide, three feet long, and three feet deep. You can also picture it as two standard washing machines placed side-by-side, as one machine is roughly the volume of one cubic yard. This volume is often compared to the heaped bed of a standard full-size pickup truck, which typically holds between 1.5 and 2 cubic yards. This bulk quantity dictates the amount of space required for the delivery and the scale of the project it can support.
Calculating Practical Coverage for Common Projects
The actual coverage you get from two cubic yards of soil depends entirely on the depth of the layer you are applying. Since two cubic yards equals 54 cubic feet, you can calculate the square footage coverage by dividing the total cubic feet by the depth of the application in feet.
For top-dressing a lawn or garden, two cubic yards will cover approximately 648 square feet at a one-inch depth. This is enough area to treat a small to medium-sized front yard.
If applying a three-inch layer, which is common for new garden beds or leveling uneven ground, the volume will cover about 216 square feet. For deeper applications, such as filling a raised garden bed that is four feet wide by eight feet long, two cubic yards of soil will fill the bed to a depth of just over two feet.
Weight Variability and Transportation Logistics
The sheer weight of two cubic yards of soil is the most important factor when considering transportation and handling. The weight is highly variable, depending on the soil’s composition and, most significantly, its moisture content.
Dry, screened topsoil weighs around 1,800 to 2,200 pounds per cubic yard, putting the total weight for two cubic yards between 3,600 and 4,400 pounds. If the soil is saturated with water or is a heavier clay blend, the weight can increase dramatically, potentially exceeding 6,000 pounds.
A standard half-ton residential pickup truck has a payload capacity ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, meaning it cannot safely haul two cubic yards of soil. Professional delivery is necessary for this volume to avoid overloading a personal vehicle, which can damage the suspension and create an unsafe driving condition.
Cost Influencers and Purchasing Decisions
The total price for two cubic yards of soil is influenced by three main factors:
- Soil type and quality
- Regional pricing
- Delivery fees
Basic screened topsoil is the most affordable, with bulk prices ranging from $20 to $50 per cubic yard, making the two-yard material cost between $40 and $100. Specialty blends, such as organic garden mix or custom-blended compost, are more expensive, often priced between $50 and $90 per cubic yard, raising the material cost for two yards to $100 to $180.
Buying in bulk is significantly more cost-effective than purchasing the equivalent volume in bags. Two cubic yards are equivalent to over 100 standard 40-pound bags of soil. While bulk soil requires a delivery fee, typically ranging from $50 to $150 depending on the distance, the material itself is cheaper per unit of volume than bagged soil. For a two-cubic-yard project, the overall savings from purchasing bulk usually outweigh the cost of the single delivery trip.