How to use this calculator
- Enter Bank volume in cu yd.
- Enter Loose volume in cu yd.
- Press Calculate. The highlighted row is your order quantity; the note beneath it translates the number into real-world terms.
Formula & constants
Swell % = (loose − bank) ÷ bank × 100. Sand runs 10–15%, common earth 20–30%, dense clay 30–40%, blasted rock 40–50%. Use it to convert bank takeoffs into haul volumes. 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 swell factor calculator:
- Excavation Calculator — Swell factor converts bank CY to loose CY for excavation.
- Cut and Fill Calculator — Swell affects cut-fill balance calculations.
- Compaction Calculator — Swell expands soil; compaction shrinks it.
- Truckload Calculator — Swell factor determines how many truckloads for excavated soil.
- Fill Dirt Calculator — Imported fill compacts from loose to bank density.
- Trench Calculator — Trench spoil volume increases due to swell.
Frequently asked questions
What is a load factor?
Bank ÷ loose volume — multiply truck capacity by it to get bank yards per load.
Does soil return to bank density when compacted?
It goes denser — compacted fill shrinks below original bank volume, which is why shrink and swell are tracked separately.
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.