Excavation & Dirt Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter the length, width and depth of the excavation, the soil’s swell factor and the truck capacity. You get the in-ground volume, loose volume and number of truckloads.

Example

A 10 × 8 m basement dug 1.5 m deep in common earth (25% swell), 10 m³ trucks:

• Bank volume = 120 m³
• Loose volume = 150 m³ (196.2 yd³)
• Truckloads = 15

Frequently asked questions

What is swell factor?

Excavated soil loosens and takes up more space than it did in the ground — typically 10–40% more depending on soil type.

What swell factor should I use?

Around 10–15% for sand, 20–30% for common earth and clay, and 40–60% for rock.

How big is a dump truck?

Common sizes carry about 6–15 m³ (8–20 yd³). Check with your haulier.

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