Excavation Calculator
How many cubic yards of dirt do you need to remove? Enter your excavation dimensions and soil type to get volume, truck loads, and cost estimates with swell factors and access difficulty adjustments.
Excavation Dimensions
Swell factor: 1.2x (excavated soil expands)
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Enter excavation dimensions
Last updated June 12, 2026 by our expert review team
Soil Swell Factors
Excavated soil expands when removed from the ground. This "swell" means you'll remove more volume than the hole's actual size. Always account for swell when estimating dump truck loads.
Sand/Loam
1.12xLoose, easy to dig
$50-$80/cu yd
Clay
1.3xDense, expands most
$80-$120/cu yd
Mixed Soil
1.2xAverage conditions
$65-$100/cu yd
Rocky Soil
1.4xVery difficult, requires breaking
$100-$150/cu yd
Topsoil
1.15xOrganic, light
$40-$70/cu yd
Expert Contributors
Ruth Wairimu
Landscape Architect
Landscape architect with 9+ years of experience, AAK member, IFLA climate activist, and founder of Bloomwell.
See full profileHawkin
Certified Cost & Estimating Professional
AACE-certified estimator working with 20+ insulation companies including the two largest franchises in America.
See full profileUpdated June 2026
How we verify our calculators
Choose by Excavation Job
A trench, patio dig-out, pool shell, and foundation cut all use the same volume math, but the job plan changes with depth, access, spoil handling, and safety requirements.
Drain trench
Plan trench protection, pipe bedding, and where wet or clay soil will go.
Patio or pad
Depth control and base prep matter more than truck count on small flatwork.
Pool dig
Overdig creates extra hauling and backfill. Access for equipment is the price driver.
Foundation
Deep cuts need setbacks, shoring, drainage planning, and permit checks.
Spoil strategy
Decide what stays, what gets reused, and what must be hauled. Clean topsoil, clay, rock, and construction debris should not all go in the same pile.
Access path
A short dig can become expensive if every bucket travels through a gate, across a lawn, up a slope, or around finished landscaping.
Backfill plan
If soil goes back in, plan compaction lifts and drainage. Loose backfill settles later and can damage patios, slabs, and pipe slopes.
Dump Truck Capacity Guide
| Truck Type | Capacity (cu yd) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Small/Mini Dump | 8-10 | Tight access, residential |
| Standard Dump Truck | 12-14 | Most common for excavation |
| Tri-Axle Dump | 18-20 | Large commercial projects |
| Super Dump | 22-26 | Heavy loads, long haul |
Pro Tips
Estimate both bank volume and loose volume. Bank volume is the hole size. Loose volume is what you actually haul after the soil expands.
Use soil swell factors for every haul-away plan. Clay can turn a 10 cu yd cut into about 13 cu yd of loose material.
Walk the access path before pricing. Gates, slopes, soft lawns, overhead wires, and tight turns can force smaller equipment and more labor.
Call 811 before digging, then still look for private lines such as irrigation, drainage, landscape lighting, pool plumbing, and old conduit.
Removing concrete before excavation? Use the concrete weight calculator to plan debris weight separately from soil hauling.
Keep clean topsoil separate if you plan to reuse it. Mixing it with clay, rock, or construction debris can turn reusable material into disposal cost.
For pool projects, use the pool volume calculator for water volume after you estimate soil removal.
Follow OSHA excavation guidance for trenches and deep cuts. The calculator estimates volume, not trench safety.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator separates the hole you dig from the soil you haul. Bank volume is the in-ground cut. Loose volume is the expanded material after excavation. Truck loads and cost use the loose volume because that is what leaves the site.
1. Bank volume
Length times width times depth gives the in-ground cut before soil is disturbed.
2. Swell factor
Soil type expands the volume. Clay and rocky soil usually need more hauling than sand or topsoil.
3. Logistics
Truck capacity, access difficulty, and whole-load rounding turn volume into a job plan.
What the estimate includes
The result includes in-ground volume, loose volume with swell, truck loads rounded up, and a cost range adjusted for soil and access. It does not include engineering, permits, dewatering, shoring, utility repair, export dump fees outside the normal range, or imported backfill.
Formulas
Volume (cu ft) = Length × Width × Depth
Volume (cu yd) = Volume (cu ft) ÷ 27
Adjusted Volume = Volume × Swell Factor
Truck Loads = Adjusted Volume ÷ Truck Capacity, rounded up
Cost Range = Adjusted Volume × Soil Rate × Access Multiplier
Quick Reference
- 1 cu yd
- 27 cu ft
- Standard truck
- 12-14 cu yd
- Clay swell
- +30%
- Sand swell
- +12%
- Avg cost/cu yd
- $65-100
Pre-Dig Checks That Prevent Expensive Surprises
Call 811 and check private lines
Utility marks do not always cover irrigation, lighting, pool plumbing, drain tile, or old lines installed by a previous owner.
Test the soil and water table
A shallow test hole can reveal clay, hardpan, roots, rock, groundwater, or fill that changes equipment and hauling.
Reserve spoil pile space
Loose soil takes more room than the cut. Without staging space, the job may need same-day trucks or extra handling.
Measure equipment access
Gate width, slope, turning radius, overhead wires, and lawn protection can decide whether a mini excavator, skid steer, or hand labor is needed.
Check permits and setbacks
Deep cuts, drainage changes, pool digs, foundation work, and grading near property lines often trigger local requirements.
Plan backfill and compaction
Soil placed back in the hole should be compacted in lifts. Loose backfill settles and can damage slabs, pipes, and hardscape.
Project-Specific Excavation Playbooks
French Drain Trench
60' x 1.5' x 2' deep
6.7 cu yd bank, 8 cu yd (mixed), 1 load, $520-800
Plan: Keep clean soil on site if it can regrade low areas, but separate clay or wet spoil from bedding stone.
Watch: Trench depth, wall stability, and pipe slope matter more than total cubic yards on drainage jobs.
Basement Foundation Dig
40' x 30' x 8' deep
355.6 cu yd bank, 462 cu yd (clay), 39 loads, $37,000-55,000
Plan: Use a contractor with shoring, trucking, and staging capacity. Negotiate by scope, not just by cubic yard.
Watch: Water, setbacks, wall support, and spoil staging can change the schedule as much as the digging.
In-Ground Pool Excavation
16' x 32' x 6' avg
113.8 cu yd bank, 127.4 cu yd (sandy), 11 loads, $6,400-10,200
Plan: Plan truck timing and equipment access before the dig. Pool shells need shape control, not only volume removal.
Watch: Overdig adds hauling now and backfill later. Check drainage, groundwater, and access for the pool builder.
Patio or Slab Base Cut
20' x 16' x 8" deep
7.9 cu yd bank, 9.5 cu yd (mixed), 1 load, $620-950
Plan: Excavate only to the base design depth, then compact subgrade before adding stone.
Watch: Removing too much soil means buying extra base or fill, and it can make the finished patio sit too low.
Important Disclaimer
These estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual costs vary by location, material availability, and project complexity. Always get at least 3 local quotes. This calculator does not replace professional advice.