Excavation Calculator
Calculate exactly how much earth needs to be moved for your foundation, including the soil swell factor for truck hauling.
Feet
Meters
Earthwork Expert Tips
1
The Swell Factor (Bulking)
Earth in the ground is highly compacted. When excavated by a JCB, it loosens and expands ("swells") by 20% to 30%. You must account for this when hiring trucks to haul it away.
2
Working Space
When digging for a foundation footing, always dig about 1 foot (300mm) wider than the actual footing size on all sides to allow laborers to work and place shuttering.
3
Truck Loads
A standard dump truck (Hyva) carries roughly 500 to 600 cubic feet (14 to 17 cubic meters) of loose earth. Use the "Loose Volume" to calculate truck trips.