How to use this calculator
- Enter Loose volume in cu yd.
- Enter Compaction ratio in %.
- Press Calculate. The highlighted row is your order quantity; the note beneath it translates the number into real-world terms.
Formula & constants
Compacted volume = loose volume × (compaction ratio). Placing at 95% Standard Proctor, 100 loose cy of granular fill finishes at roughly 85–90 cy in place, laid in 6–8 in lifts. Every default in the fields above is editable — when your supplier’s spec sheet lists a different density, coverage rate or price, enter that number instead. The waste and compaction allowances follow common trade practice; see our methodology page for the derivation of each formula and the standards it references.
Where this fits in the project
Earthwork precedes everything: dig volumes set the budget for hauling and determine imported fill or base gravel. Bank volume expands when dug (swell) and imported fill shrinks when compacted — use the truckload calculator on loose volume, not bank volume.
How this connects to your project
No quantity stands alone — each material in the chain depends on the ones around it. These are the planning steps that pair with the compaction calculator:
- Excavation Calculator — Subgrade is compacted after excavation.
- Swell Factor Calculator — Compaction reduces volume; swell increases it.
- Fill Dirt Calculator — Fill dirt must be compacted in lifts.
- Gravel Calculator — Gravel base must be compacted before paving.
- Sub-base Calculator — Sub-base compaction is critical for pavement performance.
- Asphalt Calculator — Asphalt is compacted to 92-96% density after placement.
- Concrete Calculator — Subgrade under concrete must be compacted.
- Cut and Fill Calculator — Fill material shrinks when compacted.
- Pavement Calculator — Every pavement layer requires compaction.
- Trench Calculator — Trench backfill requires compaction.
Frequently asked questions
What does 95% Proctor mean?
Field density must reach 95% of the soil’s lab-established maximum dry density — the standard spec under pavements and slabs.
How thick can compaction lifts be?
6–8 in loose per lift for plate and roller compactors; thicker lifts leave uncompacted cores that settle later.
Last verified: — prices reflect current national averages. See our methodology.
Estimates are for planning. Material densities, coverage rates and prices vary by region and supplier — confirm final quantities before ordering, and check local code where structural or electrical work is involved.