Excavation & Dirt Calculator (Yards & Truckloads)
Enter the length, width, and depth of your dig and get the bank cubic yards in the ground, the loose (hauled) yards once it is dug up and swells, and the truckloads to haul it off. The math updates as you type.
Excavation & Dirt Calculator
Enter your dig dimensions and your truck’s capacity, and read the volume in-ground versus hauled.
Bank yards are what is in the ground before you dig. Loose yards account for the standard ~25% swell that occurs once soil is excavated and loaded — that is the number your hauler bills and your truck capacity applies to. Actual swell varies by soil type; confirm with your hauler.
Bank yards vs. loose yards
Soil compacts in the ground. Once you dig it up, it fluffs — typically 20–30% more volume than it occupied in place, depending on soil type (clay swells more than sand or gravel). This calculator uses a standard 25% swell factor to convert bank yards to the loose volume you actually haul.
| Step | Example: 20×10 ft dig, 12″ deep |
|---|---|
| Depth to feet | 12 in ÷ 12 = 1.0 ft |
| Bank cubic feet | 20 × 10 × 1.0 = 200 ft³ |
| Bank cubic yards | 200 ÷ 27 = 7.41 yd³ |
| Loose (hauled) yards | 7.41 × 1.25 = 9.26 yd³ |
| Truckloads (10 yd³ truck) | 9.26 ÷ 10 = 0.93 → 1 truckload |
Always price haul-off using the loose figure, not the bank figure — that is what actually fills the truck. If you are bringing fill back in (backfill or import), most suppliers sell and deliver by loose volume as well, so this same swelled number is what you order.
Contractor Estimate Calculator (Excel & Google Sheets)
Turn the yardage into a priced, itemized estimate — materials, labor, markup, and profit, auto-totaled. The estimate you hand the client after the calculator tells you the volume.
What affects the swell factor
Sand and gravel swell the least, around 15–20%. Common clay and loam run closer to 25%. Rock and heavy clay can swell 30% or more. If you know your soil type, adjust your own math accordingly — this calculator uses 25% as a reasonable default for mixed topsoil and subsoil, which covers most residential digs.
Once the yardage is set, price the job
The calculator gives you the volume; your bid still needs equipment time, haul fees, and disposal or tipping costs. Price the full job with a construction estimate template before you quote the client.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of dirt are in a dig?
Convert every dimension to feet, multiply length × width × depth for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20×10 ft dig 12″ deep is 200 cubic feet, or about 7.41 bank cubic yards.
What is the difference between bank yards and loose yards?
Bank yards are the volume of soil in the ground before digging. Loose yards are the volume after it is excavated and swells, typically 20 to 30 percent more. Haulers bill by loose yards since that is what fills the truck.
How many truckloads will I need?
Divide your loose cubic yards by your truck’s capacity and round up. 9.26 loose yards with a 10 cubic yard truck is under one full load, so plan for 1 truckload.
Is this excavation calculator free?
Yes — free, no sign-up. Enter your dig dimensions and truck size and read the bank yards, loose yards, and truckloads. Estimates only; confirm actual swell with your hauler.