Excavation Calculator
Estimate cubic yards of soil to excavate and haul away.
Results update as you type.
How it works
An excavation calculator estimates how much soil you must dig out for a footing, foundation, basement, pool, pond or trench, and reports it in the cubic yards that dump trucks and disposal fees are measured by. You enter the length, width and depth of the hole in feet, and the tool multiplies them for the volume in cubic feet, then divides by 27 to reach cubic yards. Knowing this figure up front drives the whole earthwork plan: it tells you how many truckloads of spoil must be hauled away, roughly what disposal will cost, and whether the machine and site access suit the job. A crucial real-world adjustment is soil swell, sometimes called the bulking factor. Undisturbed ground is compacted, but once you dig it out the soil loosens and expands, so the same earth takes up noticeably more space as a pile or in a truck than it did in the ground — commonly 15 to 30 percent more depending on the soil, with clay swelling more than sand. This calculator gives the in-place, bank volume, so multiply the result by a swell factor to size trucks and estimate haul-away loads. Conversely, if you are backfilling and compacting soil, it shrinks below its loose volume. The estimate also assumes vertical sides; deep excavations are often sloped or benched back for safety, which increases the volume removed. Contractors, builders and homeowners use it to plan haulage, price disposal and compare quotes. Always follow local rules on shoring, sloping and calling utility locators before any digging begins.
Volume (ft³) = length × width × depth; yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27
Length, width and depth are all entered in feet, so multiplying them together directly gives the volume of the excavation in cubic feet without any unit conversion. Dividing that figure by 27 converts to cubic yards, because a cubic yard is a cube three feet on each side and therefore contains 27 cubic feet. Cubic yards are the unit excavation is quoted, hauled and charged by, since dump trucks and disposal fees are measured that way. The result is the in-place, undisturbed volume of soil; loosened spoil swells and takes up more space once it is dug out.
Source:Standard construction estimation
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter length, width and depth.
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Volume to excavate updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
What is soil swell and why does it matter?
Soil swell, or bulking, is the way earth expands once it is dug out of the compacted ground and loosened. The same volume that sat tight in the bank takes up more space as a loose pile or in a truck, commonly 15 to 30 percent more depending on soil type. It matters because you haul and dispose of the loose volume, not the in-place figure, so multiply this result by a swell factor when sizing trucks and estimating disposal loads.
Does this give bank or loose volume?
It gives the bank volume, the in-place volume of undisturbed soil measured by the hole's dimensions. Once excavated, that soil loosens and swells, so the loose volume you actually load and haul is larger. For truck loads and disposal, multiply the bank cubic yards by a swell factor for your soil, around 1.15 for sand up to 1.30 or more for clay. If you are compacting fill, the volume shrinks instead.
How many cubic yards fit in a dump truck?
It varies with the truck. A standard tandem dump truck typically carries around 10 to 14 cubic yards of loose soil, while smaller trucks carry less and articulated or larger trucks more. Weight limits can matter more than volume for heavy, wet soil, since a full load by volume may exceed the legal weight. Divide your loose, swollen volume by the truck's capacity to estimate the number of loads to haul away.
Should I account for sloped excavation sides?
Often yes. This calculator assumes vertical walls, but deep excavations are frequently sloped back or benched for safety to prevent collapse, and sloping adds volume beyond the simple box because the top of the hole is wider than the bottom. For a rough footing or shallow dig, vertical sides are a reasonable approximation, but for deep or unstable excavations, add volume for the slope and follow the required safety measures and shoring rules.
Do I need to call before I dig?
Yes, always. Before any excavation you should have underground utilities located and marked, since striking a gas, electric, water or communications line is dangerous and costly. In many areas a free locating service must be called a few days before digging. This calculator plans the earthwork volume only; it is no substitute for utility location, permits, and the local rules on shoring and safe excavation, which you must follow before breaking ground.