Cut and Fill Calculator

This cut and fill calculator helps you determine the material balance for earthwork grading projects. It calculates whether you will have surplus material to export or a deficit requiring imported fill.

Area-Based Approach

Enter the cut area and average cut depth, and separately the fill area and average fill depth. The calculator computes volumes for each independently before comparing them.

Swell on Cut (Bank to Loose)

Swell factor is applied to the cut volume only. When soil is excavated, it expands:

• Loose Cut Volume = Bank Cut Volume × (1 + Swell%/100)

Shrink on Fill (Bank to Compacted)

Shrink factor is applied to the fill volume only. When soil is placed and compacted, it contracts:

• Compacted Fill Volume = Bank Fill Volume × (1 − Shrink%/100)

Balance Formula

Balance = Loose Cut Volume − Compacted Fill Volume. A positive balance means surplus material (export needed), which usually starts with checking the original bank quantities in the excavation calculator before confirming the loose-volume math in the excavation formulas guide. A negative balance means a deficit (import needed). Values within 1% of each other are considered balanced.

If the result shows surplus soil that must be exported, review the excavation cost factors guide to account for hauling distance, disposal, and reuse assumptions before you budget the work.