What’s the difference between in-ground volume and loose (bulked) volume?

In-ground volume is the geometric volume in natural soil. Loose (bulked) volume is larger because soil expands after excavation (swell/bulking).

What bulking (swell) percentage should I use?

Typical ranges: sand ≈ 10–15%, loam ≈ 15–25%, clay ≈ 20–30%. You can choose a soil preset or enter custom values.

How do I calculate the number of truck trips?

Enter the truck capacity in m³. The calculator divides the loose volume by truck capacity and rounds up to get the number of trips.

Does the calculator include a safety margin?

Yes. Use the “Overdig, %” field to add a reserve for uneven edges and measurement inaccuracies.

Earthworks Volume Calculator

Calculate soil volume: trench/pit/area/manual input, overdig, bulking, truck trips and tonnage. Includes chart, table, copy and CSV (Excel).

Auto calculation

Enter data

Construction

Mode

Choose a mode — the fields below will adapt.

Length (m)

Width (m)

Depth (m)

Average depth.

Area (m²)

Volume (m³)

Overdig, % (opt.)

Extra for unevenness / tolerance.

Soil type

Presets set bulking (%) and density (t/m³). “Custom” lets you edit manually.

Bulking, %

Density (t/m³) (opt.)

Truck capacity (m³) (opt.)

Result

CalcCore

Enter inputs to calculate.

Chart

Visualization of key values.

Table (open)

Item	Qty	Unit	Note

Cost (optional)

Excavation: price per 1 m³

Hauling/disposal: price per 1 m³

Truck: price per trip (opt.)

Works if truck capacity is set.

Extra (fixed)

Waste, % (for cost)

Enter prices to see the total cost.

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What is the Earthworks Volume Calculator?

The Earthworks Volume Calculator is an online tool designed to calculate the volume of soil for trenches, pits, and site grading works. It helps determine in-ground volume, excavation volume with overdig, loose (bulked) volume, soil tonnage, and required truck trips.

What is it used for?

This calculator is used for construction planning, estimating soil removal, selecting proper machinery, and calculating preliminary earthworks costs.

Foundation trench calculations
Building pit excavation
Site leveling and grading
Soil transportation planning
Budget estimation for excavation works

How does the calculation work?

1. In-ground volume:
V = Length × Width × Depth

2. Excavation volume (with overdig):
V₁ = V × (1 + Overdig % / 100)

3. Loose (bulked) volume:
V₂ = V₁ × (1 + Bulking % / 100)

4. Tonnage:
T = V₂ × Density (t/m³)

5. Truck trips:
R = V₂ / Truck capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between in-ground and loose volume?

In-ground volume is the natural geometric volume before excavation. After digging, soil expands and increases in volume — this is called loose (bulked) volume.

What bulking percentage should I use?

Sand ≈ 10–15%, loam ≈ 15–25%, clay ≈ 20–30%. The calculator automatically applies average preset values.

How are truck trips calculated?

The loose soil volume is divided by the truck capacity. The result is always rounded up to the nearest whole trip.

Why should I include overdig?

Overdig accounts for uneven surfaces and measurement tolerances, adding a safety margin to the calculated volume.