Choosing the right size dump truck body can feel tricky—especially if you’re not sure how to figure out how much it can hold. But don’t worry! Once you understand how to measure “yardage,” it gets a lot easier. This quick guide will help you learn how to calculate yardage and find the best fit for your hauling needs. Be sure to check out our quick-guide charts at the bottom of the page!
What’s Yardage?
“Yardage” is the amount of space, or volume, inside the truck body—how much stuff it can carry. It’s measured in cubic yards.
One cubic yard is a box that’s 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet tall. Knowing how many cubic yards your truck can hold helps you match the right body size to the material you need to move.
What Affects Yardage Size?
Here are a few things to think about when choosing your truck body:
- Type of Material
Heavier materials like dirt, sand, or gravel might need a smaller body, so you don’t overload the truck. Lighter materials like mulch or wood chips can go in larger bodies. - Truck Size and Strength
Make sure your truck can handle the load. If you carry too much, it can damage the truck or be unsafe. Always check the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). - What You’re Using It For
Are you working in construction, landscaping, farming, or something else? Different jobs require different kinds of dump bodies.
How to Measure Yardage
Here’s how you can figure out the cubic yard capacity:
- Measure the inside of the truck body (in feet):
• Length
• Width
• Height (from floor to top of the sides) - Multiply those numbers:
Length × Width × Height = Cubic Feet - Convert to Cubic Yards:
Since there are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard, divide your total cubic feet by 27.
Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards
Example:
If the inside of your truck body is:
• 10 feet long
• 6 feet wide
• 4 feet high
Then:
10 × 6 × 4 = 240 cubic feet
240 ÷ 27 = about 8.9 cubic yards
So, your truck can carry about 8.9 cubic yards of material.
Additional Considerations
When calculating yardage, keep in mind that internal features of the dump body can slightly reduce usable capacity. For example, the hoist well typically takes up about ½ cubic yard of space. On bodies like the Stampede, you may lose another ½ yard due to the curved radius of the body design. These details don’t always need to be factored into basic sizing—but they can come up in situations where precise volume matters.
A Few More Things to Keep in Mind
- Watch the Weight: Even if the body can hold a lot of material, your truck might not be built to carry that much weight. Know your limits
- Stay Safe: Use bed liners and load covers to help protect your truck and your load.
Need Help?
Understanding yardage is a big step toward picking the right dump body. Think about the type of material, your truck’s specs, and the kind of work you’re doing.
Still not sure what you need? We’re happy to help. Reach out anytime—we’ll work with you to find the perfect fit.
