Convert lb/ft³ to lb/yd³ Instantly
Use this Pounds per Cubic Foot to Pounds per Cubic Yard converter to convert density from pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) into pounds per cubic yard (lb/yd³). Because one cubic yard contains exactly 27 cubic feet, multiply the lb/ft³ value by 27 to express the same density on a cubic-yard basis.
Convert lb/ft³ to lb/yd³, reverse the calculation, estimate total material weight from density and volume, or translate a density value across common U.S. and metric units.
Enter a density in pounds per cubic foot. The calculator multiplies by exactly 27 because one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet.
Decimals are supported. Example: 150 lb/ft³ converts to 4,050 lb/yd³.
Reverse the conversion by dividing pounds per cubic yard by 27.
Enter density in lb/ft³ and project volume in cubic yards. The calculator converts cubic yards to cubic feet and estimates total pounds and short tons.
Convert one density value across pounds per cubic foot, pounds per cubic yard, kilograms per cubic meter and short tons per cubic yard.
Pounds per cubic foot and pounds per cubic yard are both ways to express how much mass is associated with a unit of volume. The mass unit in the numerator stays in pounds, but the volume basis changes from one cubic foot to one cubic yard. A cubic yard is much larger than a cubic foot: it contains 27 cubic feet. That means the numerical density expressed as pounds per cubic yard is 27 times the same density expressed as pounds per cubic foot.
Example: 150 lb/ft³ × 27 = 4,050 lb/yd³.
The physical density of the material does not increase when you convert the units. You are simply describing the same density over a larger reference volume. If a material has a density of 100 lb/ft³, then 27 cubic feet of that material would contain 2,700 pounds at the same assumed condition. Because 27 ft³ equals 1 yd³, the equivalent density is 2,700 lb/yd³.
One cubic yard is a 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft cube, so its volume is 27 cubic feet.
The numerator stays in pounds; only the volume denominator changes from ft³ to yd³.
Multiply lb/ft³ by exactly 27 to obtain the equivalent value in lb/yd³.
Divide lb/yd³ by 27 to return to pounds per cubic foot.
This reference table shows common lb/ft³ values and their exact lb/yd³ equivalents. The metric column is included for quick cross-checking when specifications mix U.S. customary and SI units.
| Pounds per Cubic Foot | Pounds per Cubic Yard | Short Tons per Cubic Yard | kg/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb/ft³ | 270 lb/yd³ | 0.135 t/yd³ | 160.1846 kg/m³ |
| 20 lb/ft³ | 540 lb/yd³ | 0.270 t/yd³ | 320.3693 kg/m³ |
| 30 lb/ft³ | 810 lb/yd³ | 0.405 t/yd³ | 480.5539 kg/m³ |
| 40 lb/ft³ | 1,080 lb/yd³ | 0.540 t/yd³ | 640.7385 kg/m³ |
| 50 lb/ft³ | 1,350 lb/yd³ | 0.675 t/yd³ | 800.9232 kg/m³ |
| 60 lb/ft³ | 1,620 lb/yd³ | 0.810 t/yd³ | 961.1078 kg/m³ |
| 70 lb/ft³ | 1,890 lb/yd³ | 0.945 t/yd³ | 1,121.2924 kg/m³ |
| 75 lb/ft³ | 2,025 lb/yd³ | 1.0125 t/yd³ | 1,201.3848 kg/m³ |
| 80 lb/ft³ | 2,160 lb/yd³ | 1.080 t/yd³ | 1,281.4771 kg/m³ |
| 90 lb/ft³ | 2,430 lb/yd³ | 1.215 t/yd³ | 1,441.6617 kg/m³ |
| 100 lb/ft³ | 2,700 lb/yd³ | 1.350 t/yd³ | 1,601.8463 kg/m³ |
| 120 lb/ft³ | 3,240 lb/yd³ | 1.620 t/yd³ | 1,922.2156 kg/m³ |
| 125 lb/ft³ | 3,375 lb/yd³ | 1.6875 t/yd³ | 2,002.3079 kg/m³ |
| 140 lb/ft³ | 3,780 lb/yd³ | 1.890 t/yd³ | 2,242.5849 kg/m³ |
| 145 lb/ft³ | 3,915 lb/yd³ | 1.9575 t/yd³ | 2,322.6772 kg/m³ |
| 150 lb/ft³ | 4,050 lb/yd³ | 2.025 t/yd³ | 2,402.7695 kg/m³ |
| 160 lb/ft³ | 4,320 lb/yd³ | 2.160 t/yd³ | 2,562.9541 kg/m³ |
| 175 lb/ft³ | 4,725 lb/yd³ | 2.3625 t/yd³ | 2,803.2311 kg/m³ |
| 200 lb/ft³ | 5,400 lb/yd³ | 2.700 t/yd³ | 3,203.6927 kg/m³ |
25 × 27 = 675 lb/yd³.
50 × 27 = 1,350 lb/yd³.
75 × 27 = 2,025 lb/yd³.
100 × 27 = 2,700 lb/yd³.
150 × 27 = 4,050 lb/yd³.
Suppose a material specification gives 62.4 lb/ft³. Multiply 62.4 by 27 to get 1,684.8 lb/yd³. If the original density is measured rather than exact, report a sensible number of decimal places instead of implying more precision than the source value supports.
The factor comes directly from the geometry of a cubic yard. One linear yard equals three linear feet. A cube that measures one yard on each side therefore measures 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet. Multiplying the three dimensions gives 27 cubic feet. That is why a density stated per cubic foot must be multiplied by 27 when it is restated per cubic yard.
Therefore: 1 lb/ft³ = 27 lb/yd³.
This is a common point of confusion in construction and material estimating. Linear conversions use a factor of 3 between feet and yards, area conversions use 3² = 9, and volume conversions use 3³ = 27. Keeping the dimensional power in mind helps prevent large errors.
Pounds per cubic foot, abbreviated lb/ft³, describes the amount of pound-mass associated with one cubic foot of material. It is widely used for bulk density, material density and practical unit-weight discussions in construction, civil engineering, aggregate handling, soils, concrete, masonry, insulation, timber and other material contexts.
A value of 120 lb/ft³ means that, under the stated condition, one cubic foot of the material corresponds to about 120 pounds of mass. The condition matters. Loose, compacted, dry, saturated and aerated forms of the same nominal material can have different bulk densities.
Pounds per cubic yard, abbreviated lb/yd³, expresses the same type of mass-per-volume relationship using a larger reference volume. This unit is especially useful when material quantities are handled, ordered or estimated by the cubic yard. Aggregates, soil, mulch, concrete-related materials, debris and other bulk products are often discussed in cubic-yard quantities, even when technical density data is supplied in pounds per cubic foot.
Converting to lb/yd³ makes it easier to estimate the weight of one cubic yard directly. For example, a density of 110 lb/ft³ converts to 2,970 lb/yd³. Under the same assumed material condition, one cubic yard would therefore correspond to about 2,970 pounds.
The reverse conversion uses the reciprocal of 27. Divide the pounds-per-cubic-yard value by 27. For example, 3,240 lb/yd³ divided by 27 equals 120 lb/ft³.
Example: 4,050 lb/yd³ ÷ 27 = 150 lb/ft³.
The reverse calculator near the top of this page performs the division automatically and also shows an equivalent metric density in kg/m³.
Construction projects often combine measurements from different sources. A technical specification may provide density in lb/ft³ while a supplier, estimator or hauling plan is organized around cubic yards. The Pounds per Cubic Foot to Pounds per Cubic Yard conversion bridges those two ways of expressing the same density.
For concrete-related work, density can be used alongside volume when estimating the approximate mass of a batch or placement. For aggregates and soils, bulk density is sensitive to gradation, moisture, compaction and void ratio. A loose stockpile density should not automatically be treated as the compacted in-place density. The converter changes units only; it does not change the condition represented by the source number.
If you are also estimating material quantities, continue with related tools such as the Concrete Bags to Cubic Yards calculator or the Gravel Calculator for Concrete. Keeping density, volume and mass units consistent reduces avoidable estimating mistakes.
Once you know density in lb/ft³ and project volume in cubic yards, convert the project volume to cubic feet by multiplying cubic yards by 27. Then multiply that cubic-foot volume by the density.
Example: 150 lb/ft³ × 5 yd³ × 27 = 20,250 lb.
That total can be divided by 2,000 to express the result in U.S. short tons. In the example above, 20,250 lb ÷ 2,000 = 10.125 short tons. This is a mathematical estimate based on the entered density. Real-world load weights may differ when material conditions vary, so supplier tickets, scale weights and project specifications should take priority where available.
The pound unit stays the same. The cubic-yard reference volume contains 27 cubic feet, so the numerical density is multiplied by 27.
Useful when dimensions and engineering calculations are based on feet and cubic feet.
Useful when bulk materials are ordered, estimated or transported in cubic-yard quantities.
Sometimes the same density must also be compared with metric specifications. One lb/ft³ is approximately 16.01846337 kg/m³. Therefore, multiply lb/ft³ by 16.01846337 for a metric equivalent. For example, 150 lb/ft³ is approximately 2,402.77 kg/m³.
For a dedicated conversion, use our Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Foot converter in reverse. You can also compare cubic-yard-based density using the Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Yard tool.
Three is the linear foot-to-yard factor. Volume requires 3³ = 27.
Divide by 27 only when converting lb/yd³ back to lb/ft³.
The mass unit remains pounds, so no pound conversion is required.
A unit conversion cannot correct a density value measured under the wrong moisture or compaction condition.
Keep the exact factor 27 throughout the calculation and round only the displayed result as needed.
The word “density” can refer to different quantities depending on the material and discipline. Bulk density includes void spaces between particles and is commonly used for soil, aggregate, powders and other loose or compacted bulk materials. Particle density describes the solid particles themselves and generally excludes the larger inter-particle voids.
In construction practice, pounds per cubic foot may also be called unit weight. Strictly speaking, mass density and weight density are different physical quantities because weight is a force. In everyday estimating, however, pound-based mass-per-volume values are commonly handled as density figures. For structural, scientific or code-controlled calculations, follow the terminology and units required by the applicable specification or engineer.
A Pounds per Cubic Foot to Pounds per Cubic Yard conversion is useful whenever the density source and the project volume use different U.S. customary volume units. Common examples include estimating the approximate weight of a stockpile quoted in cubic yards, converting a technical density table to supplier units, checking hauling assumptions, comparing aggregate or soil data, and translating an engineering material property into a cubic-yard basis.
It can also help when reviewing concrete-related material data. A density listed per cubic foot may be easier to compare with an order quantity after it is converted to pounds per cubic yard. If you later need a pure mass conversion, use the Tons to Pounds converter. If your starting data is metric, the Kilograms per Cubic Foot to Kilograms per Cubic Meter page may be useful for another density workflow.
The 27 conversion factor comes from the U.S. customary cubic-volume relationship: one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. For official measurement references, see the NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C. For broader exact SI conversion factors and internationally defined units, the NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8 is also useful.
Continue with related calculators including Tons per Cubic Yard to Pounds per Cubic Yard, Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Foot, Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Yard, Kilograms per Cubic Foot to Kilograms per Cubic Meter, and Tons to Pounds. For quantity estimating, see Concrete Bags to Cubic Yards and Gravel Calculator for Concrete.
Quick answers about lb/ft³, lb/yd³, density factors, cubic-foot and cubic-yard relationships, and project weight calculations.