Cut & Fill Calculator

Calculate earthwork volumes, balance cut vs. fill, estimate truck loads and haul costs for any grading or site preparation project.

Site Parameters

Site Area (sq ft)

sq ft

Existing Avg Grade (ft)

Proposed Avg Grade (ft)

Cut Zone

% of Site Being Cut

Avg Cut Depth (ft)

Fill Zone

% of Site Being Filled

Avg Fill Depth (ft)

Soil Factors

Swell Factor (%)

Shrink Factor (%)

Haul Distance

Haul-off Cost ($/CY)

Import Fill Cost ($/CY)

Net Balance

—

cubic yards

—

Cut Volume (CY bank)

—

Fill Needed (CY bank)

—

Truck Loads (14 CY)

—

Est. Haul / Import Cost

Volume Conversions

Cut (Loose CY) —

Fill (Compacted CY) —

Volume Balance Analysis

Detailed breakdown of cut, fill, and net earthwork volumes with swell and shrinkage adjustments.

Cut vs Fill vs Balance

Volume Summary Table

Cross-Section Profile

Schematic cross-section showing existing grade, proposed grade, cut zones, and fill zones.

Cut Zone (excavation)

Fill Zone (embankment)

Proposed Grade

Existing Grade

Equipment Selection Guide

Match the right machine to your cut/fill scope and site conditions.

Production Rate Reference

Compaction Requirements

Structural Fill (under slabs)

95% Standard Proctor or 90% Modified Proctor
Lift thickness: 8" max (loose)
Use vibratory drum roller or plate compactor
Moisture within 2% of optimum

General Embankment / Roadway

90–95% Standard Proctor typical
Lift thickness: 6–12" depending on material
Use sheepsfoot or pad-foot roller for cohesive soils
Vibratory smooth drum for granular soils

Landscape / Non-Structural

85% Standard Proctor minimum
Lift thickness: 12" max
Walk-behind plate compactor acceptable
Water and tamp in layers to minimize settling

How to Use This Calculator

Enter site area — Total site footprint in square feet. For rectangular sites, multiply width by length.

Set existing and proposed grades — Average elevations in feet. A lower proposed grade means net cut; higher means net fill. This drives the overall balance direction.

Define cut and fill zones — Enter what percentage of the site is being cut vs. filled, along with average depths. These can sum to more than 100% if zones overlap or less if some areas are undisturbed.

Set soil factors — Swell factor: how much soil expands when excavated (typically 20–30% for common earth). Shrink factor: how much fill compacts under load (typically 8–15%).

Review Balance Analysis tab — See the bar chart and table comparing cut and fill volumes in bank, loose, and compacted measure.

View Profile tab — Cross-section diagram showing the relationship between existing and proposed grades.

Earthwork Terminology

Bank Measure (BCY)Volume of soil in its natural, undisturbed state in the ground. The baseline measurement for earthwork calculations.

Loose Measure (LCY)Volume after excavation. Soil expands (swells) when dug — 1 BCY typically becomes 1.2–1.3 LCY in a truck.

Compacted Measure (CCY)Volume after fill is placed and compacted. Soil shrinks — 1 BCY of fill typically compacts to 0.85–0.92 CCY.

Swell FactorPercentage expansion from bank to loose state. Common earth: 20–25%. Rock: 30–40%. Sandy soil: 10–15%.

Shrink FactorPercentage reduction from bank to compacted state. Common earth: 8–12%. Clay: 12–20%. Gravel: near zero.

Balanced SiteCut volume equals fill volume — no soil needs to be hauled off or imported. The most cost-effective outcome.

BorrowFill material that must be imported from off-site because on-site cut is insufficient to meet fill requirements.

Mass HaulThe process of moving cut material to fill areas. Optimizing mass haul routes minimizes hauling cost and time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between bank, loose, and compacted cubic yards?

Bank cubic yards (BCY) measure soil in its undisturbed state. When you excavate it, the soil expands (swell) — that's loose cubic yards (LCY), the volume in a dump truck. When you place and compact fill, it shrinks back — that's compacted cubic yards (CCY). Most earthwork contracts are measured in BCY. Truck capacities are rated in LCY. Understanding all three prevents costly over- or under-ordering.

What swell and shrink factors should I use?

Common earth (topsoil, loam): swell 20–25%, shrink 10–15%. Sandy soil: swell 10–15%, shrink 5–8%. Clay: swell 20–30%, shrink 12–20%. Rock (blasted): swell 30–50%, shrink near 0 (it doesn't compact). When in doubt, use 25% swell and 10% shrink for general earthwork — this calculator's defaults.

How big is a typical dump truck load?

A standard tandem-axle dump truck carries 10–14 loose cubic yards (LCY). This calculator uses 14 CY as the default. Tri-axle trucks can carry up to 18 LCY. Always confirm your hauler's capacity — overweight trucks face fines, and underweight hauls increase your cost per CY.

What does "balanced site" mean and why does it matter?

A balanced site means the volume of soil being cut equals the volume needed for fill — nothing needs to be hauled away or imported. This is the most economical scenario because earthwork hauling is expensive. Grading design often tries to achieve balance within a site. When cut exceeds fill, surplus must be disposed of (export cost). When fill exceeds cut, you need borrow material (import cost).

How accurate is this calculator?

This calculator uses simplified average-end-area methods suitable for preliminary estimates and small projects. For large commercial grading projects, a surveyor uses grid-based or triangulated irregular network (TIN) methods from actual survey data, often in specialized software like AutoCAD Civil 3D or InfraWorks. Expect accuracy within 10–20% for preliminary planning purposes; always confirm with a licensed surveyor for projects requiring permits or contracts.