How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
9loads
in a 3 cu ft wheelbarrow
A cubic yard is 9 full loads in a standard 3 cubic foot wheelbarrow, or 4.5 in a 6 cubic foot contractor barrow. Divide 27 cubic feet by your barrow size — and expect more trips in practice, because nobody fills a barrow to the brim.
loads = 27 ÷ barrow capacity in cubic feet
- 3 cu ft barrow: 9 loads per cubic yard
- 5 cu ft barrow: 5.4 loads per cubic yard
- 6 cu ft contractor barrow: 4.5 loads per cubic yard
- Filled safely rather than level, expect 12–14 trips per yard
- Three cubic feet of gravel weighs about 330 lb; of mulch only 65 lb
Loads per cubic yard, and the weight of each load
| Barrow size | Loads per cubic yard | Gravel per load |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | 220 lb |
| 3 cu ft | 9 | 330 lb |
| 4 cu ft | 6.75 | 440 lb |
| 5 cu ft | 5.4 | 550 lb |
| 6 cu ft | 4.5 | 660 lb |
Cubic yard calculator
Any area and depth — in cubic yards, feet, metres and tons.
Why the real count is higher
Barrow capacities are measured level to the rim. Loaded safely you get perhaps two thirds of that, so a cubic yard of gravel is realistically 12 to 14 trips with a 3 cubic foot barrow.
Weight per trip
Three cubic feet of gravel is about 330 lb — more than most people can push on a slope. Half loads are normal with stone and concrete, full loads only with mulch.
Frequently asked questions
How many wheelbarrows are in a yard?
9 loads at 3 cubic feet, 5.4 at 5 cubic feet, or 4.5 with a 6 cubic foot contractor barrow.
How much does a wheelbarrow of concrete weigh?
Three cubic feet of concrete is about 450 lb, which is why concrete is usually moved in half loads.
How many wheelbarrows of mulch in a yard?
The same 9 loads at 3 cubic feet, but each weighs only about 65 lb, so full loads are easy.