Excavation Calculator

Formula

bankVolume = area × depthbankCuYd = bankVolume / 27looseCuYd = bankCuYd × (1 + swellFactor/100)truckLoads = ⌈looseCuYd / 10⌉weight = (bankVolume × 100 lb/ft³) / 2000

Parameters

Depth

Excavation depth (default: 4 ft).

Soil Type

Auto-suggests swell: sand 12%, common 25%, clay 35%, rock 50%.

Swell Factor

Volume increase when soil is excavated and loosened.

Results

Bank Volume

In-ground (undisturbed) volume in cubic yards.

Loose Volume

Hauled volume after swell.

Truck Loads

Standard 10 yd³ dump trucks needed.

Weight

Estimated soil weight in tons.

Example

bankVolume = 500 × 4 = 2,000 cu ft = 74.1 cu ydlooseVolume = 74.1 × 1.25 = 92.6 cu ydtruckLoads = ⌈92.6 / 10⌉ = 10 trucks

Common Use Cases

• Foundation excavation
• Trench digging for utilities
• Swimming pool excavation
• Site grading and leveling

Notes

• Bank volume is the in-ground volume; loose volume is what you actually haul.
• Rock has the highest swell factor (40-65%) due to fragmentation.
• Typical soil weights: sand 95–105 lb/ft³, common earth 95–115 lb/ft³, clay 100–125 lb/ft³ (heavier when wet), rock 145–170 lb/ft³.
• Standard dump truck sizes: tri-axle (10–12 yd³), tandem (8–10 yd³), single-axle (4–6 yd³). Highway weight limits often cap soil loads at 12–16 tons regardless of volume.

Frequently Asked Questions