{
    "name": "Excavation Earthwork Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/excavation-earthwork-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/excavation-earthwork-calculator.md",
    "category": "Construction",
    "description": "Calculate excavation volume for a pit or trench with vertical or sloped sides, the loose volume after swell and the number of truckloads to haul it away.",
    "summary": "Soil in the ground (bank volume) bulks up once dug (loose volume). Sloped sides make the hole wider at the top, so the volume uses the prismoidal formula.",
    "also_called": [
        "Dig volume calculator",
        "Earthworks calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "units",
            "label": "Units",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "metric",
            "options": {
                "metric": "Metric",
                "imperial": "Imperial"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "length",
            "label": "Bottom length",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10"
        },
        {
            "name": "width",
            "label": "Bottom width",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "5"
        },
        {
            "name": "depth",
            "label": "Depth",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2"
        },
        {
            "name": "slope",
            "label": "Side slope (horizontal per 1 vertical)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0.5",
            "unit": ": 1",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "count",
            "label": "Number of identical pits",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "swell",
            "label": "Swell factor",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "25",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "truck",
            "label": "Truck capacity (loose)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "bank_m3",
            "label": "Bank (in-place) volume",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "bank_yd3",
            "label": "Bank volume",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "loose_m3",
            "label": "Loose volume to haul",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "loose_yd3",
            "label": "Loose volume to haul",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "truckloads",
            "label": "Truckloads",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "top_area_m2",
            "label": "Area at the top of one pit",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "V = D ÷ 6 × (A_bottom + 4 A_middle + A_top);  A at depth z uses (L + 2s·z)(W + 2s·z);  Loose = V × (1 + Swell)",
        "variables": {
            "L, W": "bottom length and width",
            "D": "depth",
            "s": "side slope, horizontal per 1 vertical"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "units": "metric",
            "length": "10",
            "width": "5",
            "depth": "2",
            "slope": "0.5",
            "count": "1",
            "swell": "25",
            "truck": "10"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Bottom 10 × 5 = 50 m²; top (10 + 2) × (5 + 2) = 84 m²; middle 11 × 6 = 66 m².",
            "V = 2 ÷ 6 × (50 + 4 × 66 + 84) = 132.667 m³.",
            "Loose = 132.667 × 1.25 = 165.833 m³ ÷ 10 m³ = 16.6 → 17 truckloads."
        ],
        "result": "A 10 × 5 m pit 2 m deep with 0.5:1 sides holds 132.7 m³ in the ground, about 166 m³ loose, or 17 ten-cubic-metre loads."
    },
    "interpretation": "Price digging on the bank volume and haulage on the loose volume. If the soil goes back as compacted fill, it shrinks below its bank volume.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Level ground and a flat, rectangular bottom.",
        "All four sides have the same slope."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Swell factors vary widely with soil and moisture; a site investigation gives better values.",
        "Does not assess trench stability or shoring."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What is the difference between bank and loose volume?",
            "answer": "Bank volume is soil as it sits in the ground; once dug it loosens and takes up more space, by the swell percentage."
        },
        {
            "question": "Is the prismoidal formula exact here?",
            "answer": "Yes. For a pit with straight, evenly sloped sides the cross-section area is a quadratic in depth, which the prismoidal formula integrates exactly."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Site Cut and Fill Volume Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/site-cut-and-fill-volume-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Foundation Concrete Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/foundation-concrete-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Pile Concrete Volume Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/pile-concrete-volume-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "Quantities are estimates. Confirm requirements with your engineer or supplier before ordering materials.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}