Cut & Fill Calculator — ft, yd³ (Slope Grading)
How to use this calculator
Pick the survey shortcut that matches your data. Simple — one uniform cut or fill depth across a rectangle (driveway lift, lawn re-grade, shed pad). Two-Point — sloped existing vs sloped finish grade along a length (driveway with crown, walkout basement strip). Grid — four corner spot elevations averaged with the end-area method for an irregular pad. The result drives haul-off trucks, import quantity, and whether you balance on site or pay for off-haul.
Swell factor — soil expands when excavated; tap a soil chip below to load the typical bulk %. Compaction shrink — imported structural fill loses 10–20% volume when rolled to 95% Proctor, so order more loose yards than the finished hole.
Trucks — based on a standard 10 yd³ tandem dump; lower the count mentally for a 12 yd³ or articulated hauler.
Saved Calculations
| Time | Method | Area ft² | Cut yd³ | Fill yd³ | Net yd³ | Haul yd³ | Trucks |
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How to Calculate Cut & Fill Volumes
Pick the method that matches your survey data. Simple applies one uniform cut or fill depth over a rectangular pad — handy for a driveway lift or a building pad strip. Two-Point compares existing grade against finished grade along a length and automatically splits the prism at the crossover where cut turns to fill. Grid averages four corner spot elevations, the field shortcut for the average-end-area method. Bank (in-place) volumes are reported separately for cut and fill so you can plan balanced earthwork before ordering haul-off or import.
Formulas
Simple: V = (L × W × |d|) ÷ 27 yd³. Two-Point: end difference = existing − desired; V = W × L × (d₁ + d₂) ÷ 2 ÷ 27 (split at crossover when one end is cut and the other fill). Grid: average existing = (C1+C2+C3+C4) ÷ 4, average desired the same way; V = |Δavg| × L × W ÷ 27. Swell: loose haul volume = bank volume × (1 + swell ÷ 100). Truck loads = loose volume ÷ 10 yd³, rounded up.
Swell & Shrink Factors
Excavated soil bulks up: sand/gravel 10–20%, loam/topsoil 20–30%, clay 30–40%, shale 35–45%, rock 40–60%. Compacted structural fill shrinks 10–20% from bank volume, so imported fill is usually under-estimated if you ignore compaction — confirm import quantities with the fill & backfill calculator. For trench grading, add over-dig per the OSHA Type C slope and a 5–10% waste allowance.
Where this fits on site
Use this tool for the rough mass-haul balance, then size the dig with the excavation volume & cost calculator. Surplus cut hauled off or aggregate brought in is priced by the ton with the gravel & aggregate calculator, and any stripped topsoil to respread is tracked in the topsoil & mulch calculator. Once subgrade is set, pads carry into the concrete slab calculator.
On the jobsite
Three numbers move earthwork bids in 2025 USA. Haul-off runs $12–25 per loose yd³ within 20 miles of a dump; tipping fees add $8–18/ton. Imported structural fill trucked in is $18–35/ton delivered, and you need 10–20% more loose than the finished hole because of compaction — the row above sizes that order. The #1 estimator miss on residential cut & fill: forgetting the topsoil strip (typically 4–6″ off the whole footprint, hauled or stockpiled) before counting the structural cut underneath. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P sets the trench / cut slope (Type C soil = 1½H:1V) — add that over-dig to anything deeper than 4 ft before pricing the haul.
FAQ
Bank vs loose volume? Bank is undisturbed in-place soil — what you pay an earthwork sub to excavate. Loose is the bulked-up volume on trucks after excavation, which is what sizes haul-off. Why is net not zero on a balanced site? Bank cut equals bank fill at balance, but loose haul still moves; the swell factor only scales hauling, not the bank quantities. How many trucks? Based on a standard 10 yd³ tandem dump on loose material — lower the divisor mentally for a 12 yd³ truck or articulated hauler.
