Excavation Calculator
Estimate the volume of soil to be excavated for foundations, basements, pools, trenches and drainage projects. Our excavation calculator gives you cubic yards, cubic metres, tonnes of soil removed and the number of standard 10 cubic yard truck loads required.
Container Type
Common US roll-off sizes
10 yd³ = standard residential roll-off · 20–40 yd³ = construction/demo projects
How to Use This Calculator
- Select Imperial (ft) or Metric (m) units.
- Enter the length, width and depth of the excavation in feet (or metres for metric).
- Choose your soil type — this affects the weight estimate.
- Results update instantly showing volume, weight and truck loads.
Excavation Volume Formula
Cubic Yards = Volume (m³) × 1.30795
Tonnes = Volume (m³) × Soil Density (t/m³)
Truck Loads = Cubic Yards ÷ 10
Soil density reference: Loam 1.28 t/m³ · Clay 1.60 t/m³ · Sand 1.52 t/m³ · Gravel 1.68 t/m³ · Rock 2.60 t/m³
Excavation Planning Tips
- Call your utility locating service before any digging — hitting underground lines is dangerous and costly.
- Factor in slope stability — excavations deeper than 4 feet may require shoring or benching for safety.
- Account for bulking: excavated soil takes up 25–35% more volume than undisturbed soil.
- Check if you need a permit — many jurisdictions require permits for excavations over a certain depth.
- Consider on-site reuse of excavated soil as fill elsewhere on the project to reduce haulage costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate excavation volume? +
Multiply the length by the width by the depth. All measurements should be in the same unit. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Our calculator does this automatically and also calculates soil weight and truck loads.
How many truck loads of soil do I need to remove? +
A standard dump truck holds about 10 cubic yards of loose soil. Divide your total cubic yards by 10 to find the number of truck loads. Our calculator shows this figure directly.
Does excavated soil weigh more than in-ground soil? +
Yes — excavated soil expands (bulks) by approximately 25–35% depending on soil type. Clay bulks more than sandy soil. Our calculator uses in-bank volume; add 25% when estimating truck loads for haul-off.
How much does it cost to excavate and remove soil? +
Excavation costs vary by region and soil type, but typically range from $50–$200 per cubic yard for hire and removal. Rock excavation is significantly more expensive. Get local quotes based on your cubic yard estimate.
What is the difference between cut and fill in excavation? +
Cut refers to soil removed from an area. Fill refers to material brought in to raise an area. When cut material is reused on site as fill, it is called cut-to-fill. Our calculator gives you the cut volume.