How this calculator works
The yard is exactly 0.9144 m, which is three times the international foot of 0.3048 m. Yards suit lengths of a few metres, such as fabric, carpet, turf and garden beds, and many North American products are still sold by the yard while plans are drawn in feet. Dividing feet by three gives yards; multiplying yards by three gives feet. A decimal answer is normal, because a whole number of feet rarely divides into whole yards.
Formula
yards = feet / 3. feet = yards x 3. 1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in = 0.9144 m exactly.
Worked example
12 ft is 12 / 3 = 4 yd. A 100 yd roll is 300 ft. A 10 ft room is 3.33333 yd, and 2.5 yd of fabric is 7.5 ft. Eighteen feet of fencing is 6 yd.
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Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in a yard?
Exactly three. The yard is defined as 0.9144 m and the foot as 0.3048 m, so a yard is three feet, or 36 inches.
Why is a yard used for fabric and turf?
Both products were historically sold from a yard stick. The habit survives: fabric, carpet and sod are quoted in yards in Canada and the United States even when the rest of a project is planned in feet or metres.
How do I convert a feet and inches measurement to yards?
Turn the inches into a fraction of a foot by dividing by 12, add the feet, then divide the total by three. For 7 ft 6 in, 7.5 / 3 = 2.5 yd.
Does this page handle square or cubic yards?
No. This page converts a straight length. Area and volume need a second and third dimension, which the square yard and cubic yard calculators cover.