Cubic metres vs cubic yards of concrete
Last reviewed 1 July 2026
Short answer
One cubic metre is 1.308 cubic yards, and one cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic metres. In weight terms, a cubic metre of concrete is about 2,400 kg and a cubic yard about 4,050 lb — roughly 2 US tons. The UK orders ready-mix in cubic metres and the US in cubic yards, and the increments differ too.
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The conversions
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic metres | Cubic yards | 1.30795 |
| Cubic yards | Cubic metres | 0.764555 |
| Cubic metres | Cubic feet | 35.3147 |
| Cubic feet | Cubic metres | 0.0283168 |
| Cubic yards | Cubic feet | 27 (exactly) |
| Litres | Cubic metres | 0.001 |
The yard is defined as exactly 0.9144 m, so these conversions are exact rather than approximations.
Side by side
| Cubic metres | Cubic yards | Approx. weight (metric) | Approx. weight (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 0.33 | 600 kg | 1,320 lb |
| 0.5 | 0.65 | 1.2 t | 2,650 lb |
| 1.0 | 1.31 | 2.4 t | 5,300 lb (2.6 tons) |
| 2.0 | 2.62 | 4.8 t | 10,600 lb (5.3 tons) |
| 5.0 | 6.54 | 12 t | 26,500 lb (13.2 tons) |
Ordering increments differ
UK ready-mix plants typically quote in cubic metres and will supply in 0.1 m³ steps, with a minimum load and a short-load surcharge below about 3 m³.
US plants quote in cubic yards, usually in 0.25 yd³ steps, with a short-load fee below about 4 yd³.
This matters when converting a design: a 1 m³ requirement is 1.31 yd³, which a US plant would supply as 1.5 yd³ — 15% more concrete than the metric order, purely because of the increment.
Important: Convert the volume, not the order
The mistakes this conversion causes
- Assuming a yard is a metre. A cubic yard is only 76% of a cubic metre. Treating them as equal under-orders by nearly a quarter.
- Confusing cubic yards with square yards. A common slip on paving and topsoil orders where both units are in play.
- Mixing feet and inches. 4 in is 0.333 ft. Entering 4 gives a slab twelve times too thick.
- Assuming a ton is a tonne. A US short ton is 907 kg, about 9% lighter than a metric tonne.
Safety notice: Material planning only