Excavation Calculator

Calculate cubic yards of dirt to excavate and haul away for a foundation, basement, pool, or trench. Estimate truck loads needed and excavation cost from your project dimensions.

🚜 Earthwork🏗️ Cubic Yards = Length x Width x Depth / 27

Excavation length (ft)

Excavation width (ft)

Excavation depth (ft)

Hauling cost per truck load ($)

Soil type

Please enter valid values.

Formula & Reference

Variable	Formula	Units
Excavation Calculator	Cubic Yards = Length x Width x Depth / 27	cubic yards + trucks

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1

House Foundation

30x24 ft footprint, 4 ft deep, average soil, $350/load.

Bank: 30x24x4/27 = 106.7 cu yds
Loose (1.3x): 138.7 cu yds
Truck loads: 138.7/14 = 10 loads (ceil)
Hauling: 10 x $350 = $3,500

✓ 106.7 bank cu yds, 10 truck loads, ~$3,500 hauling

Example 2

Inground Pool

16x32 ft pool, 5 ft average depth, clay.

Bank: 16x32x5/27 = 94.8 cu yds
Loose (1.4x): 132.7 cu yds
Truck loads: 10 loads

✓ 94.8 bank cu yds, 10 truck loads

Example 3

Foundation Trench

Linear trench: 100 ft long, 3 ft wide, 3 ft deep.

Bank: 100x3x3/27 = 33.3 cu yds
Loose (1.3x): 43.3 cu yds
Truck loads: 4 loads

✓ 33.3 bank cu yds, 4 truck loads

Real-World Applications

🏗️

Contractors

Estimate excavation volume and cost for bid proposals.

🏠

Homeowners

Know your excavation scope before getting contractor quotes.

💰

Cost Estimating

Calculate hauling loads to budget dirt disposal costs upfront.

🚜

Site Work

Plan grading and excavation for driveways, pads, and drainage.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

⚠️

Forgetting the swell factor

Dirt expands when excavated - this is called swell. Clay expands 40% in volume. What fits in 100 bank cubic yards becomes 140 truck cubic yards. Trucks are priced on loose volume.

⚠️

Not accounting for slope benching

Deep excavations over 4-5 ft require benched or sloped sides for safety (OSHA requirement). This significantly increases excavated volume beyond the footprint.

⚠️

Assuming all dirt is equal

Clay is heavy and hard to dig. Rocky soil may require blasting or rock saws. Sandy soil caves easily and may need shoring. Soil type affects both equipment needed and cost per yard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cubic yards of dirt in a dump truck? ▾

A standard tandem dump truck holds 10-14 cubic yards of loose soil. Tri-axle trucks hold 14-16 yards. Single-axle trucks hold 6-8 yards. Always confirm capacity with your excavation contractor.

What does excavation cost? ▾

Excavation typically costs $50-$200 per hour for equipment plus $300-$500 per load for hauling. Total cost depends heavily on soil type, depth, access, and disposal fees. Rock excavation can cost 3-5x more than average soil.

How long does house excavation take? ▾

A standard basement excavation (30x40 ft, 8 ft deep) typically takes 1-2 days with an excavator. Adding 1 day for cleanup and grading. Larger projects or rocky soil take longer.

Do I need permits for excavation? ▾

Yes for foundation work and pools. Often required for any excavation over 4 ft deep or near property lines. Call 811 (USA) to mark utilities before any digging.

What happens to the excavated dirt? ▾

Options: haul off-site (most common), re-use on-site for grading (backfill), stockpile for landscaping (topsoil layer), or sell to another contractor who needs fill. Contaminated soil requires special disposal.