Fill Dirt & Excavation Calculator

Measure the space being excavated or filled. For a rectangular cut, multiply length, width, and depth. A 20 ft by 10 ft area excavated 1 foot deep contains 200 ft³, or about 7.407 yd³ before any change in volume after excavation.

Bank or in place volume describes material before it is disturbed. Loose volume describes excavated or delivered material. Compacted volume describes the placed condition. State which quantity a quote, drawing, or truck or trailer capacity represents. For several cuts or changing depths, calculate each measured section separately and add quantities in the same state.

For loose debris, estimate the actual pile or container volume using suitable measured sections. Void space, mixed materials, and pile shape can make the loose volume different from an excavated soil quantity. Do not apply an unverified soil factor to mixed debris.

The main cubic yard calculator can add separate shapes and depths. A disposal quote may also depend on material type, weight, contamination, or container rules. A volume estimate does not automatically include those charges.

Open Volume state, displacement, and cost to select the measured state and desired state. The initial result is measured geometric volume with no state assigned. Choose the state explicitly; the tool does not infer that a planned berm or backfill is bank material. Enter a ratio defined as desired volume divided by measured volume. The tool does not invent a swell or shrink factor.

For example, a stated loose to bank ratio of 1.20 converts 10 bank yd³ into 12 loose yd³. Reversing that relationship means dividing by 1.20, not subtracting 20%. If a specification instead says loose volume decreases by 20% when placed, 100 compacted yd³ would require 100 ÷ 0.80 = 125 loose yd³.

A requirement such as 95% compaction usually refers to dry density compared with a laboratory maximum. It does not mean the volume shrinks by 5%. Do not enter a compaction test percentage as a volume ratio.

Choose Trench backfill and enter the inside trench dimensions. Deduct the volume occupied by pipes, foundations, bedding that is accounted for separately, or other obstructions. Use outside pipe dimensions when finding the space unavailable for backfill.

A 40 ft by 2 ft trench at 3 ft deep is about 8.889 yd³. If other material occupies 2 yd³, the remaining geometric backfill space is about 6.889 yd³. For a cylindrical obstruction, its external volume is π × radius² × length with all dimensions in feet, then divided by 27.

Choose Berm and enter its length, bottom width, top width, and height. A top width of zero makes a triangular cross section. A positive top width makes a trapezoid. The model assumes the same cross section along the entire length.

A berm 20 ft long, 6 ft across the bottom, 2 ft across the top, and 2 ft high contains 160 ft³, or about 5.926 yd³. The illustration shows the cross section, not an assumed pile shape. Slope stability, drainage, and site design require their own project decisions.

Choose the measured volume state before pricing. Use a quoted rate for the same state as the result being priced. The cost field uses the converted quantity when a valid conversion ratio is provided. If a needed state or ratio is missing, the tool keeps the measured quantity visible and does not create a converted cost. Delivery, disposal fees, tax, and other charges are not added automatically.