Excavation Volume and Truck Loads Calculator
Enter your excavation's length, width and depth along with your truck's capacity to estimate volume and the number of truck loads needed.
Excavation Volume and Truck Loads Calculator
Calculates the volume of soil to be excavated and how many truck loads it will take to haul away.
This calculator multiplies excavation length, width and depth to find the raw volume of material to be removed, then divides by your truck's hauling capacity to estimate how many loads it will take. Keep in mind that dug soil typically bulks up compared to its in-ground (compacted) volume, so for large excavations it's wise to add a swell allowance on top of the raw geometric volume before finalizing your truck-load estimate.
Example
- With the default values shown above, this calculator returns: Excavation Volume ≈ 48 m³; Truck Loads Needed ≈ 4.8 loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I round the truck loads up?
Yes — you can't send a fraction of a truck, so round the estimate up to the next whole load when scheduling haul-away trips.
Does excavated soil volume equal the hole volume?
Not exactly — excavated soil typically 'bulks up' (expands) once it's dug out and loosened, so actual hauled volume can run somewhat higher than the raw hole volume; factor in a swell allowance for large jobs.
Sources
- Standard formula, publicly documented method