How to convert cubic meters to cubic yards
- 1
Enter the cubic meters
Type the volume in cubic meters into the calculator.
- 2
Multiply by the factor
The calculator multiplies by 1.30795061931439 to return cubic yards instantly.
- 3
Use the related units
The result also shows cubic feet and cubic inches for cross checking.
Formula
Cubic yards = cubic meters x 1.30795061931439
The factor comes from the exact definition that one yard is 0.9144 meters. A cubic yard is 0.9144 cubed, which is about 0.764555 cubic meters, and the reciprocal is about 1.30795.
Worked example
Convert 10 cubic meters to cubic yards.
- 1Start with the cubic meters: 10.
- 2Multiply by 1.30795: 10 x 1.30795 = 13.0795.
10 cubic meters is about 13.08 cubic yards.
Metric versus US customary volume
Most of the world measures volume in cubic meters, while the United States orders bulk materials in cubic yards. Because a yard is shorter than a meter, a cubic yard is smaller than a cubic meter, so any cubic meter figure becomes a larger number when expressed in cubic yards.
The conversion is fixed and exact in definition, since one yard is defined as 0.9144 meters.
Why cubic conversion differs from linear conversion
Converting a length from meters to yards uses one factor, about 1.0936. Converting a volume uses that factor cubed, which is about 1.30795. This is because volume spans three dimensions, so the length factor applies three times.
Keeping linear and cubic factors separate avoids a common error where the wrong factor is applied to a volume.
Reverse conversion
To convert cubic yards back to cubic meters, multiply by about 0.764555. You can also work in related US units with the cubic feet to cubic yards and cubic yards to cubic feet calculators.
Cubic Meters to Cubic Yards Conversion Table
Each cubic meter value multiplied by 1.30795, shown in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic inches. Values are generated from the conversion engine.
| Cubic meters | Cubic yards | Cubic feet | Cubic inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.131 | 3.53 | 6,102 |
| 0.25 | 0.327 | 8.83 | 15,256 |
| 0.5 | 0.654 | 17.66 | 30,512 |
| 0.75 | 0.981 | 26.49 | 45,768 |
| 1 | 1.31 | 35.31 | 61,024 |
| 2 | 2.62 | 70.63 | 122,047 |
| 3 | 3.92 | 105.9 | 183,071 |
| 5 | 6.54 | 176.6 | 305,119 |
| 10 | 13.08 | 353.1 | 610,237 |
| 20 | 26.16 | 706.3 | 1,220,475 |
| 50 | 65.4 | 1,765.7 | 3,051,187 |
Frequently asked questions
- How many cubic yards are in a cubic meter?
- About 1.30795 cubic yards. The exact factor is 1.30795061931439, based on the definition that a yard is 0.9144 meters.
- What is the formula for cubic meters to cubic yards?
- Cubic yards equals cubic meters multiplied by 1.30795061931439.
- Is the conversion exact?
- The underlying definition is exact, since a yard is exactly 0.9144 meters. The decimal factor is an exact value rounded only for display.
- How many cubic yards is 10 cubic meters?
- About 13.08 cubic yards, since 10 times 1.30795 is 13.0795.
- Why is the volume factor not the same as the length factor?
- Volume has three dimensions, so the length factor of about 1.0936 is cubed, giving about 1.30795 for volume.
- How do I convert cubic yards back to cubic meters?
- Multiply cubic yards by about 0.764555. For example, 2 cubic yards is about 1.53 cubic meters.
- What do m3 and yd3 mean?
- m3 is shorthand for cubic meters and yd3 is shorthand for cubic yards. Both measure volume.
This conversion uses the factor 1.30795061931439, derived from the exact definition of one yard as 0.9144 meters. Table values come from the conversion engine. See the YardCalc calculation methodology.
Results are planning estimates. Last reviewed 2026-06-16.