Quick answer
Bank volume = length × width × depth, and loose volume = bank volume × (1 + swell). A 30 × 20 ft hole 4 ft deep is 88.89 yd³ in the ground and 111.11 yd³ once dug with 25% swell.
Enter length, width, depth and the swell percentage. The calculator returns bank and loose volume. Use this excavation volume calculator to check your own figures.
Related tools: Aquarium Volume Calculator: Capacity and filled weight of a rectangular aquarium. Pool Volume Calculator: Gallons of water in a rectangular, round or oval pool. Volume Converter: Convert litres, gallons, cups, spoons and more.
How to use the Excavation Volume Calculator
- Enter length (ft) (above 0).
- Enter width (ft) (above 0).
- Enter depth (ft) (above 0).
- Optionally, enter swell after digging (%) (between 0 and 100).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Length | A number, in ft | > 0 |
| Width | A number, in ft | > 0 |
| Depth | A number, in ft | > 0 |
| Swell after digging (optional) | A number, in % | ≥ 0, ≤ 100 |
Formula and method
Formula
bank volume = length × width × depth; loose volume = bank volume × (1 + swell)
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
Soil expands when excavated; enter the swell your contractor expects to size trucks. Plan geometry only; confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Length = 30; Width = 20; Depth = 4; Swell after digging = 25.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Bank volume | 88.89 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 2,400 |
| Cubic meters | 67.96 |
| Loose volume | 111.11 yd³ |
Example 2
Inputs: Length = 10; Width = 3; Depth = 2.5.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Bank volume | 2.78 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 75 |
| Cubic meters | 2.124 |
| Loose volume | 2.78 yd³ |
Example 3
Inputs: Length = 50; Width = 2; Depth = 3; Swell after digging = 0.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Bank volume | 11.11 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 300 |
| Cubic meters | 8.495 |
| Loose volume | 11.11 yd³ |
The first line is the headline result (bank volume). Below it the excavation Volume Calculator lists cubic feet, cubic meters and loose volume, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
Swell
Soil expands when dug because loosening adds air gaps, often by 15 to 40% depending on type. The hauling volume is the loose volume: 111 yd³ here, so truck loads should be planned on that, not on the in-place volume.
Shrinkage when compacted
Backfill compacted back into a hole can be slightly less than the original bank volume. For site work, consult a soils report. Rock and clay swell differently.
How the result changes with length
Holding every other input at the first worked example, this table changes only length. It shows how sensitive the answer is to that one value; each row was produced by running this calculator.
| Length | Bank volume | Cubic feet | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 44.44 yd³ | 1,200 | 33.98 |
| 30 | 88.89 yd³ | 2,400 | 67.96 |
| 60 | 177.78 yd³ | 4,800 | 135.921 |
| 120 | 355.56 yd³ | 9,600 | 271.842 |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Width: entering "0" shows "Width must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
- Swell after digging: entering "-1" shows "Swell after digging must be at least 0." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Excavation Volume Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Aquarium Volume Calculator](/construction/aquarium-volume/) | length, width and water height | Capacity |
| [Pool Volume Calculator](/construction/pool-volume-calculator/) | shape, length and average depth | Pool volume |
| [Volume Converter](/converters/volume-converter/) | value, from and to | US gallon → Litre (L) |
| [Concrete Volume Calculator](/construction/concrete-volume-calculator/) | length, width and thickness | Concrete needed |
| [Gravel Volume Calculator](/construction/gravel-volume-calculator/) | length, width and depth | Material needed |
Background: construction estimates
Material quantities are geometry plus a margin. Calculate the exact volume or area, add an allowance for waste, spillage, cuts and uneven ground (calculator pages commonly mention 5 to 10 percent, a rule of thumb that varies by material and job) and round up to whole units. One cubic yard is exactly 27 cubic feet.
Suppliers often have minimum order sizes and may charge for small loads, so confirm quantities, product yields and local code with your supplier or a qualified estimator before ordering.
Assumptions and limitations
- Swell depends on soil type
Quantities are estimates. Add allowances for waste and site conditions, and follow local codes and a qualified professional's instructions for structural or safety-critical work.
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for width and swell after digging to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
What is bank volume?
The volume of undisturbed soil in place.
How many yards does a dump truck carry?
Common tandem trucks carry about 10 to 14 yd³ loose.
Does depth include a slope?
Use the average depth for sloped excavations.
What does the Excavation Volume Calculator calculate?
Soil volume to dig for a pit, trench or foundation, with an optional swell factor. It returns Bank volume, Cubic feet, Cubic meters and Loose volume.
What formula does the Excavation Volume Calculator use?
bank volume = length × width × depth; loose volume = bank volume × (1 + swell). Soil expands when excavated; enter the swell your contractor expects to size trucks.
What do I need to enter in the excavation Volume Calculator?
You enter Length (ft), Width (ft) and Depth (ft). Optional: Swell after digging (%).
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated. Swell depends on soil type.
What is an example of a excavation Volume result?
With length 30, width 20, depth 4 and swell after digging 25, the bank volume is 88.89 yd³.
Can I rely on this calculator for a decision?
Quantities are estimates. Add allowances for waste and site conditions, and follow local codes and a qualified professional's instructions for structural or safety-critical work. For this calculator in particular: Swell depends on soil type.
Related calculators
- Aquarium Volume Calculator — Capacity and filled weight of a rectangular aquarium.
- Pool Volume Calculator — Gallons of water in a rectangular, round or oval pool.
- Volume Converter — Convert litres, gallons, cups, spoons and more.
- Concrete Volume Calculator — Cubic yards of concrete and bags needed for a slab, footing or pad.
- Gravel Volume Calculator — Cubic yards (and tons, if you know the material weight) of gravel, sand, soil or mulch to fill an area.
- Volume of a Hemisphere Calculator — Volume and surface area of a hemisphere.
Sources
- OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e (Rice University): perimeter, area, volume, circumference and the Pythagorean theorem
- NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Appendix B conversion factors (international foot 0.3048 m, inch 25.4 mm, US gallon 3.785411784 L)
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.