cu yd

Units & Measurements abbreviation · US Customary and Imperial Unit

cu yd
Stands forCubic yard
CategoriesUnits & Measurements

cu yd stands for Cubic yard, a US customary and imperial unit abbreviation.

Twenty-seven cubic feet, about 0.765 cubic meter, the unit in which ready-mix concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil and dumpster capacity are sold in the United States. Contractors often simply say "yards".

Example: We need about 4 cu yd of concrete for the patio slab.

Usage notes

Also written yd³ or CY on estimates. A cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at a depth of 4 inches, a common slab thickness. Dumpster sizes such as 20-yard and 30-yard refer to cubic yards of capacity. A cubic yard of mulch weighs roughly 400 to 800 pounds depending on moisture.

More US customary and imperial unit abbreviations

  • bd ft – Board foot
  • bu – Bushel
  • CCF – Hundred cubic feet
  • ch – Chain
  • cu ft – Cubic foot
  • cu in – Cubic inch
  • cwt – Hundredweight
  • dr – Dram
  • dwt – Pennyweight
  • fl oz – Fluid ounce
  • ft – Foot
  • ftm – Fathom

See all 43 US customary and imperial unit abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.