Excavation Calculator
Enter the length, width, and depth of your dig to estimate the soil volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and the number of dump-truck loads to haul it away.
Results
- In-ground volume
- 7.41 cu yd
- Loose volume (hauling)
- 9.26 cu yd
- Estimated weight
- 10 tons
- Dump truck loads (10 yd)
- 1 loads
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Excavation volume is measured in place but hauled away loose, so this calculator applies a swell factor and reports both bank yards and loose yards for truck planning.
Most soils swell 20 to 30 percent when dug. Ignoring swell is the most common reason a dumpster or dump truck order comes up short.
Also works as a dirt calculator, cut and fill calculator, and soil removal estimator.
How to use the excavation calculator
- Enter the length in ft.
- Enter the width in ft.
- Enter the depth in in.
- Enter the swell factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Length
- 20 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 12 in
- Swell factor
- 25 %
Results
- In-ground volume
- 7.41 cu yd
- Loose volume (hauling)
- 9.26 cu yd
- Estimated weight
- 10 tons
- Dump truck loads (10 yd)
- 1 loads
Using the example values above, the excavation calculator returns 7.41 cu yd (in-ground volume). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
Swell and compaction factors
Common swell values: sand 12 percent, loam 25 percent, clay 30 percent, and rock 50 percent or more. Apply the factor to in place volume to get the haul volume.
Backfill works the other way. Compacted fill shrinks roughly 10 to 15 percent, so order more fill material than the raw hole volume suggests.
Truck loads and disposal
A standard tandem dump truck carries 10 to 12 cubic yards. A 20 cubic yard dumpster is typically weight limited well before it is volume limited with soil, which weighs 2,000 to 2,700 lbs per yard.
Always call 811 before digging. Utility marking is free and required in most areas.
Formula
Volume = length × width × depth. Cubic yards = volume ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × 1.35. Truckloads = cubic yards ÷ 10.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is excavated dirt more than the hole?
- Soil expands when dug up — a swell factor of about 25% accounts for the loose, hauled volume being larger than the in-ground volume.
- How many cubic yards fit in a dump truck?
- A standard tandem dump truck holds about 10–14 cubic yards of soil; smaller trucks carry 5–6.
- How many cubic yards of dirt will I remove?
- Length times width times depth in feet, divided by 27, then multiplied by the swell factor for your soil type.
- How much does a cubic yard of dirt weigh?
- About 2,000 lbs dry and up to 3,000 lbs when saturated, which is why hauling is usually weight limited.
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