What These Calculators Cover
Excavation work involves more math than most people expect. You cannot simply measure a hole and order that volume of hauling capacity. Soil expands when you dig it out (swell factor), compresses when you put it back (shrink factor), and weighs enough to hit truck weight limits before filling the bed. These 10 calculators handle every aspect of excavation planning.
The excavation cluster covers three key areas: volume calculation (trench, foundation, topsoil removal), soil state management (swell/shrink conversion, cut and fill balance, spoil pile sizing), and logistics and safety (truckload estimation, cost breakdown, OSHA trench sloping).
All excavation calculators support both imperial and metric units with a toggle at the top of each calculator. Values are stored in metric internally, so shared links work correctly regardless of which unit system the recipient prefers.
Excavation Guides
Backfill Material Guide - Soil, Sand, Gravel, Bedding, and Fill
Choose a measured backfill scope without assuming a material specification.
How to Estimate Concrete Debris, Weight and Disposal Loads
Separate concrete volume, debris weight, haul loads, and disposal scope.
Dump Truck Sizes for Excavation Hauling - Capacity Guide
Compare stated truck capacity to measured loose material and legal loading.
Excavation Cost Factors Guide - What Changes Earthwork Pricing
Identify scope and field conditions that affect an excavation estimate.
Excavation Formulas Guide - Worked Earthwork Math Examples
Check rectangular, trench, slope-sided, swell, and truck-planning math.
Common Excavation Estimating Mistakes - Scope and Haul-Off Guide
Avoid common takeoff, swell, haul-off, and scope mistakes.
Excavation Planning Guide - From Site Concept to Volume Takeoff
Turn a site sketch into a measured excavation planning scope.
Gravel Density Chart for Excavation, Backfill, and Truckloads
Use stated density assumptions to relate volume, mass, and transport.
OSHA Trench Safety Requirements - Excavation Safety Guide
Understand safety terminology without using an estimator as a safety plan.
Understanding Soil Swell & Shrink Factors - Earthworks Guide
Keep bank, loose, and compacted material quantities distinct.
Soil Types for Excavation Planning - Earthworks Guide
Record observed soil conditions without replacing a site investigation.
Spoil Pile Examples Guide - Worked Excavation Staging Scenarios
Work through staged spoil and haul scenarios with explicit assumptions.
Spoil Pile Planning Guide - Excavated Material Staging
Estimate loose spoil while preserving access, safety, and haul constraints.
How to Estimate Trench Excavation Volume - Complete Guide
Measure trench geometry and distinguish it from protective-system design.
Each Calculator Explained
Trench Volume Calculator
Calculates excavation volume for trenches with rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sections. Applies soil swell factor for hauling estimates. Includes OSHA depth warnings and bank-to-loose volume conversion.
Use when: Digging trenches for utilities, footings, or drainage. Trapezoidal mode is critical for OSHA-compliant sloped trenches.
Foundation Excavation Calculator
Calculates foundation dig volume for slab, crawlspace, or basement with working room allowance and optional strip footing volume. Shows bank and loose volumes for hauling.
Use when: Excavating for new construction foundations. Working room adds significant volume that is often underestimated.
Topsoil Removal Calculator
Estimates topsoil stripping volume, weight, and truckloads for site preparation and grading. Distinct from the supply calculator — this focuses on removal and disposal.
Use when: Stripping topsoil before grading or foundation work. Typical strip depth is 6-12 inches.
Swell & Shrink Calculator
Converts between bank, loose, and compacted soil volumes instantly. Enter any one volume state to see all three with soil-specific factors.
Use when: You know one volume state and need to plan for another — for example, converting bank volume to loose volume for hauling.
Dump Truck Load Calculator
Calculates how many dump truck trips you need with both volume and weight limit checks. The controlling factor (volume or weight) determines the actual trip count.
Use when: Estimating hauling costs. Dense materials like wet clay hit weight limits before volume limits, requiring more trips.
Backfill Calculator
Calculates backfill material needed after pipe installation with compaction factor and pipe displacement subtracted from trench volume.
Use when: Backfilling around utility pipes. Compaction factor means you need more material than the void volume.
Cut and Fill Calculator
Calculates cut and fill balance with swell applied to cut and shrink applied to fill independently. Shows whether you need to export or import material.
Use when: Grading a site and trying to balance cut and fill to minimize hauling costs.
Spoil Pile Calculator
Calculates spoil pile footprint, height, and staging area from excavated volume. Models pile as a cone with angle of repose and includes OSHA 2 ft minimum setback distance.
Use when: Planning where to stage excavated material on site and how much space it will need.
Excavation Cost Calculator
Estimates total excavation project cost with itemized breakdown: excavation, hauling, disposal, labor, equipment, and contingency. All line items editable.
Use when: Creating project budgets or comparing contractor quotes. Typical residential excavation costs $3-12 per cubic yard.
OSHA Trench Sloping Calculator
Calculates OSHA-compliant trench slope setback and top width by soil type (Type A, B, or C). Defaults to Type C (most conservative) with required safety disclaimers.
Use when: Planning open-cut trench work where OSHA excavation standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P) apply. Required for trenches 5 ft deep or more.
Tips for Excavation Planning
- Always apply swell factors when estimating hauling. A 100 cu yd hole in clay produces 130-140 cu yd of loose material to haul. Use the swell & shrink calculator to convert between volume states.
- Check both volume and weight limits when planning truck trips. Dense soils like wet clay can hit the truck weight limit before filling the bed.
- OSHA requires protective systems for trenches 5 ft deep or more. Type C soil (the most common default) requires the widest slopes.
- Backfill compaction adds material: expect to use 10-20% more material than the void volume to achieve proper compaction density.
- Get soil tests before bidding large excavation projects. Soil type affects every calculation — swell, weight, slope requirements, and cost.
Common Tasks
Dig a Trench for Utilities
Excavate a Foundation
Plan Site Grading
All Excavation Calculators
All 10 excavation and earthworks calculators.
Excavation Volume Calculator
earthworks
Estimate dig volumes for trenches, foundations, and site clearance, with soil swell factors to plan spoil removal and haulage.
Concrete Removal & Demolition Calculator
earthworks
Estimate solid concrete, broken-rubble volume, mass, payload-safe loads, and optional haul, disposal, and demolition costs.
Trench Volume Calculator
earthworks
Calculate trench excavation volume for utilities, footings, and drainage with rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sections. Includes soil swell factors and OSHA depth warnings.
Foundation Excavation Calculator
earthworks
Calculate foundation dig volume for slab, crawlspace, or basement with working room allowance and optional strip footing volume.
Topsoil Removal Calculator
earthworks
Estimate topsoil stripping volume, weight, and truckloads from area and strip depth for site preparation and grading projects.
Soil Swell & Shrink Calculator
earthworks
Convert between bank, loose, and compacted soil volumes instantly. Enter any one volume state to see all three with soil-specific swell and shrink factors.
Dump Truck Load Calculator
earthworks
Calculate how many dump truck trips you need with both volume and weight limit checks. Compares volume-limited and weight-limited trip counts.
Backfill Calculator
earthworks
Calculate backfill material needed after pipe installation with compaction factor and pipe displacement.
Cut and Fill Calculator
earthworks
Calculate cut and fill balance with swell and shrink factors for earthwork grading.
Spoil Pile Calculator
earthworks
Calculate spoil pile footprint, height, and staging area from excavated volume.
Excavation Cost Calculator
earthworks
Estimate excavation costs with itemized breakdown: dig, hauling, disposal, labor, equipment.
OSHA Trench Sloping Calculator
earthworks
Plan trench slope setback and top width from OSHA Appendix B maximum allowable slope tables by soil type.