What is the difference between bank, loose, and compacted volume?

Bank (in-place) volume is soil in its natural undisturbed state. Loose volume is soil after excavation, which expands due to increased air void content. Compacted volume is fill after mechanical compaction, which is denser than bank and significantly denser than loose. Pay quantities on contracts specify which measurement applies, so always confirm with the contract documents.

How many cubic yards does a dump truck hold?

A single-axle dump truck holds 10 to 12 cubic yards. A tandem-axle dump truck holds 14 to 18 cubic yards. A semi end-dump or belly dump holds 20 to 25 cubic yards. Confirm capacity with your hauler before calculating load counts.

How do I handle irregular site shapes?

Break the site into simple rectangles or triangles, calculate each section separately, and sum the results. For sites with complex grading plans, use the average end area method or a grid method from survey data. This calculator is suitable for preliminary estimates on roughly rectangular sites.

What is the average cost to haul dirt per cubic yard?

Hauling costs in 2026 range from $5 to $18 per bank cubic yard depending on haul distance, dump fees, and regional rates. Short hauls under 5 miles average $5 to $8 per yard. Longer hauls or locations with tipping fees run $12 to $20 per yard. Get current rates from your trucking subcontractor.

Construction & Engineering

Excavation / Earthwork Volume Calculator

Calculate cut and fill volumes for site grading projects with swell factors by soil type and truck load estimates.

Site Length (ft)

Site Width (ft)

Average Cut Depth (ft)

Depth of soil to remove (excavation).

Average Fill Depth (ft)

Depth of fill material needed.

Soil Type

Truck Capacity (cu yd)

Standard dump truck holds 10 to 14 cu yd.

Your Results

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Enter site dimensions and click calculate.

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Introduction

Site contractors who quote earthwork by the square foot without accounting for soil swell routinely underbid hauling costs by 20 to 30 percent. When you dig a cubic yard of common earth out of the ground, it expands to approximately 1.25 cubic yards on the truck because excavation introduces air voids. That swell factor is what drives hauling cost, not the in-place bank volume. According to RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data, common earth has a standard swell factor of 25 percent, meaning a 100 cubic yard cut produces 125 loose cubic yards to dispose of at the dump fee rate. On a 5,000 cubic yard grading job, that gap represents 1,250 tons of additional hauling that never gets priced if you skip the swell calculation. This excavation volume calculator handles cut and fill quantities, applies soil type swell factors, and converts net earthwork to truck loads for logistics and cost planning.

What This Calculator Does

This excavation and earthwork calculator estimates cut volume (material to remove), fill volume (material to add), and net earthwork balance. Enter site dimensions and average cut and fill depths, then select soil type to apply the correct swell factor. Output includes bank cubic yards, loose cubic yards after swell, net import or export requirement, number of truck loads for hauling, and estimated hauling cost.

The Formula

Bank Volume (cu yd) = (L x W x Avg Depth) / 27 | Loose Volume = Bank Volume x Swell Factor | Net Export/Import = Cut - Fill (in bank yards)

Bank volume is the volume of material in its natural undisturbed state, calculated in cubic feet (length x width x average depth) and converted to cubic yards by dividing by 27. When soil is excavated, it swells: common earth 25%, sand 12%, clay 35%, rock 50%. This swell factor is applied to the cut volume only when calculating hauling quantities. Net earthwork equals cut minus fill in bank cubic yards. A positive number means material must be exported; a negative number means fill must be imported. Truck loads are calculated from the loose (swelled) export volume divided by truck capacity.

Step-by-Step Example

Measure site dimensions and determine depths

Site: 150 ft long by 80 ft wide. Average cut depth from grading plan: 2.5 ft. Average fill depth in low areas: 0.8 ft.

Calculate cut and fill volumes

Cut area: 150 x 80 = 12,000 sq ft. Cut volume: 12,000 x 2.5 / 27 = 1,111 cu yd bank. Fill area (partial): 60 x 40 = 2,400 sq ft. Fill volume: 2,400 x 0.8 / 27 = 71 cu yd bank. Net export: 1,111 - 71 = 1,040 cu yd bank.

Apply swell factor for hauling

Common earth swell factor: 1.25. Loose volume to haul: 1,040 x 1.25 = 1,300 loose cubic yards. Truck capacity: 14 cubic yards (tandem). Truck loads needed: 1,300 / 14 = 93 loads.

Estimate hauling cost

At $85 per load (haul and dump): 93 loads x $85 = $7,905 in hauling cost. Excavation equipment time at $120/hr, 8 hours to cut and load: $960. Total earthwork cost estimate: $8,865 before profit and overhead.

Real-World Use Cases

Residential Building Pad

A site contractor grading a building pad for a new home on sloping terrain needs to cut 800 cu yd and import 200 cu yd of fill. Net export: 600 cu yd bank. Loose: 750 cu yd. At 12 cu yd per load and $75/load: 63 loads x $75 = $4,725 in hauling. Site work quote is built from this number plus equipment time and spread cost.

Foundation Excavation

A concrete contractor excavating a full basement 40 ft x 28 ft by 8 ft deep: volume = 40 x 28 x 8 / 27 = 329 cu yd. After stripping 6 inches of topsoil across the footprint (123 cu yd), total cut: 452 cu yd. Loose: 565 cu yd. At 14 cu yd per tandem: 41 loads. Topsoil stockpiled separately for final grading reduces disposal cost.

Parking Lot Subgrade Preparation

A commercial paving contractor subgrading a 25,000 sq ft parking lot with an average 1 ft of cut and 0.5 ft of fill in low areas: Net export: 695 cu yd. Loose: 869 cu yd. Truck loads: 62 at 14 cu yd each. Adding topsoil strip (6 in over 25,000 sq ft = 463 cu yd) raises total haul to 115 loads. Hauling cost: $9,775 at $85/load.

Comparison

Soil Type	Swell Factor	Bank to Loose Conversion	Example Application
Sand / Gravel	1.12	100 yd bank = 112 yd loose	Beach, desert, riverbed sites
Common Earth	1.25	100 yd bank = 125 yd loose	Typical residential grading
Clay	1.35	100 yd bank = 135 yd loose	Heavy clay soils, wet sites
Blasted Rock	1.50	100 yd bank = 150 yd loose	Bedrock excavation, quarry work

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using bank cubic yards for hauling estimates instead of loose cubic yards. A 500 cu yd cut of common earth generates 625 loose cubic yards on the truck. Hauling 500 loose yards instead means 10 fewer truck loads ordered, resulting in a $850 shortfall at $85/load.
Ignoring topsoil stripping volume. Topsoil is stripped 6 to 12 inches deep before rough grading begins and is stockpiled separately. On a 15,000 sq ft site, a 6-inch strip removes 278 cu yd that must be accounted for in hauling or stockpile area planning.
Assuming uniform cut depth across the site. Real sites have variable grades. Using a single average depth produces estimates within 10 to 15 percent of actuals. For bid-level accuracy, use a grid or cross-section method from survey data.
Forgetting shrinkage on imported fill. When you import fill and compact it, volume shrinks by 10 to 15 percent compared to the loose truck volume. Order fill by the compacted cubic yard needed, not the loose quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accuracy and Disclaimer

Earthwork calculations are estimates based on average depths and simplified rectangular geometry. Actual volumes depend on field survey data, soil types, compaction requirements, and site-specific conditions. This tool is for preliminary planning and budgeting. Use survey cross-sections and professional grading plans for contract-level takeoffs. Consult a licensed civil engineer for sites with retaining walls, drainage requirements, or environmental considerations.

Conclusion

Once you have the net earthwork figure and truck load count, multiply loads by your hauler's per-load rate for a hauling line item. If the project involves a concrete foundation poured after excavation, calculate the concrete backfill volume separately in the Concrete Volume Calculator since fill concrete has different density characteristics than compacted native soil. For parking lot grading that feeds into asphalt paving, use the net graded area in the Asphalt Paving Calculator once final grade elevations are confirmed.

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