Estimate excavation volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters — for trenches, foundations, driveways, and pools with truck load and soil weight estimates for hauling and earthwork bids.
Length × width × depth — results update as you type
Excavation required
Verify utilities, shoring, and disposal fees locally. Swell and buffer are planning factors only.
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
In feet: Cubic Feet = L × W × D, then Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27.
Cubic meters: multiply L × W × D in meters, or convert from cubic yards (1 cu yd ≈ 0.765 m³).
40 ft × 3 ft × 4 ft deep utility trench ≈ 17.8 cu yd (before swell).
40 ft × 12 ft × 6 in removal ≈ 8.9 cu yd of cut.
40 ft × 30 ft × 4 ft ≈ 177.8 cu yd — use buffer % for footings.
30 ft × 15 ft × 5 ft ≈ 83.3 cu yd; add swell for haul-off tickets.
Backfill: Order fill with the fill dirt calculator — compaction increases required yards.
Gravel base: Replace organic soil with aggregate using the gravel calculator.
Haul weight: Convert yards to tons with the yards to tons calculator for disposal quotes.
General volume: Cross-check with the cubic yard calculator for multi-material jobs.
Multiply length × width × depth in feet for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Divide total cubic feet by 27. Our tool does this automatically with unit conversion.
Plan on roughly 10 cubic yards per load for many trucks; heavy clay may hit weight limits sooner.
Match your plan: footings below frost line, trenches to pipe invert, driveways to subgrade spec.
Loosened soil expands when excavated. +25% swell is a common planning allowance for haul volume.