How to use this calculator
- Enter Length in ft.
- Enter Width in ft.
- Enter Depth in ft.
- Enter Swell in %.
- Press Calculate. The highlighted row is your order quantity; the note beneath it translates the number into real-world terms.
Formula & constants
Bank volume = length × width × depth ÷ 27 cu yd. Soil swells 15–30% when excavated — haul the loose volume, not the bank volume. A 12 cy tandem hauls ~9.5 bank yards of typical soil. 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 excavation calculator:
- Fill Dirt Calculator — Excavation removes soil; fill dirt replaces it.
- Gravel Calculator — After excavation, gravel is placed as base material.
- Cut and Fill Calculator — Excavation is the cut in cut-and-fill earthwork.
- Swell Factor Calculator — Excavated soil swells 15-30% in volume.
- Compaction Calculator — After excavation, subgrade is compacted.
- Truckload Calculator — Excavated material is hauled away by trucks.
- Asphalt Calculator — Excavate before asphalt paving.
- Concrete Calculator — Excavate before concrete placement.
- Trench Calculator — Trenching is linear excavation.
- French Drain Calculator — French drain installation requires trench excavation.
- Driveway Cost Estimator — Excavation is part of total driveway cost.
- Sub-base Calculator — Excavation happens before sub-base construction.
Frequently asked questions
What is swell factor?
Excavated soil occupies more volume than in-ground (bank) soil — typically 20–30% more. Hauling is priced on loose yards.
How much does an excavator dig per hour?
A mid-size machine moves 30–60 bank cy/hour in open cutting; trenching and tight access cut that in half.
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.