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Excavation Volume Calculator

Work out excavation volume instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Excavation Volume Calculator

Excavation is measured as bank volume, the space left in the ground, but hauled as loose volume because digging breaks up the soil structure. Bulking is about 10-15 percent for sand, 25-30 percent for clay and up to 50 percent for rock, and it is the loose figure that determines the number of truck movements.

Formulas

Bank volume

V bank = length x width x depth

Loose volume

V loose = V bank x (1 + bulking)

Worked example

With the default values below, Excavation Volume Calculator returns Volume in the ground of 400.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Excavation lengthminimum 0.1 m
20 m
Excavation widthminimum 0.1 m
10 m
Excavation depthminimum 0.1 m
2 m
Bulking on excavationaccepts 0–60 %
25 %

Results

Volume in the ground
400.00 m³
Loose volume to cart away
500.00 m³
Truck loads at 10 m³
50
Plan area
200.0 m²

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Bank volume
  3. 3Loose volume
  4. 4Volume in the ground= 400.00 m³
  5. 5Loose volume to cart away= 500.00 m³
  6. 6Truck loads at 10 m³= 50
  7. 7Plan area= 200.0 m²

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Excavation Volume figure worked out?

V bank = length x width x depth. Excavation is measured as bank volume, the space left in the ground, but hauled as loose volume because digging breaks up the soil structure.

Does the excavation need to be wider than the structure?

Yes. Add working space for formwork and access, and battered sides or shoring for stability. Vertical faces in anything but rock are a serious excavation hazard.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Excavation length, Excavation width, Excavation depth, Bulking on excavation. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.

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