Earthwork Cut and Fill Calculator

Net haul is the cut volume minus the fill volume. A positive value means you have surplus soil to export, while a negative value means you must import fill to the site.

It is a simple prism estimate that assumes a uniform depth over a flat rectangle. Real sites use the average end area method or terrain models, so treat this as a rough planning figure.

There are twenty seven cubic feet in a cubic yard, so dividing the volume in cubic feet by twenty seven converts it to cubic yards, the standard unit for earthwork.

When you excavate compact soil, it swells as it is loosened: a solid volume of 10 yards can take up 12 to 13 yards in the truck. Contractors multiply the cut by 1.20 to 1.30 when they quote trucking.

Average the cut depth by taking several readings on a grid. For more accuracy, split the site into smaller rectangles, calculate each one separately, and add the results.

The net comes out negative and you need to import soil. Order structural fill or common fill based on the end use (a foundation base calls for structural fill compacted in lifts).