Excavation Calculator
Estimate Excavation quantities, sizes, and project costs for home and construction work.
This excavation calculator estimates the volume of soil that needs to be removed for a project - like a foundation, pool, or basement - based on the area and depth to be dug, and can estimate cost from a price per cubic yard or hour.
Enter your excavation area and depth, and the calculator returns the volume of soil to be removed.
Worked Calculation Examples
| Scenario | Result | Calculation Step |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft × 15 ft area, 4 ft deep | ≈44.4 yd³ | Volume = 20 × 15 × 4 = 1,200 ft³. Converted to cubic yards: 1,200 ÷ 27 ≈ 44.4 yd³. |
| 30 ft × 20 ft area, 6 ft deep | ≈133.3 yd³ | Volume = 30 × 20 × 6 = 3,600 ft³. Converted: 3,600 ÷ 27 ≈ 133.3 yd³. |
The Excavation Volume Formula
Volume = length x width x depth, giving cubic feet, which is typically converted to cubic yards (dividing by 27) since that's the standard unit excavation contractors and disposal services often use for pricing and hauling.
Why Soil Type Affects the Estimate
Different soil types (sandy, clay, rocky) affect excavation difficulty, equipment needs, and disposal or hauling costs - rockier or harder soil generally takes longer to excavate and can significantly increase labor and equipment costs beyond a simple volume-based estimate.
How to Use the Excavation Calculator
- Open the Excavation Calculator and enter the values requested in the input fields.
- Check the units, percentages, dates, or time periods before reading the answer.
- Review the instant result and adjust any value to compare another scenario.
- Use the formula, example, and FAQs below to understand how the excavation calculator works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate excavation volume?
Multiply length x width x depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards, the standard unit for excavation pricing and soil hauling.
Does soil type affect excavation cost?
Yes - rocky or dense clay soil is typically harder and slower to excavate than sandy or loose soil, which can significantly increase labor time and equipment costs beyond a simple volume-based estimate.
What is excavated soil typically used for?
Some excavated soil can be reused on-site for backfilling or grading, while excess material often needs to be hauled away and disposed of, adding to overall project cost depending on local disposal fees.
How do I use this excavation calculator?
Enter the known values, review the units or settings, and the calculator updates the result instantly. The formula and example on this page show how the answer is produced.
What does the Excavation Calculator calculate?
Estimate Excavation quantities, sizes, and project costs for home and construction work. It is designed for fast browser-based calculations without sign-up, downloads, or manual spreadsheet setup.
What formula does this excavation use?
The formula is: Volume (yd³) = (Length × Width × Depth in ft) ÷ 27. The cubic yard has been the standard US earthwork and excavation measurement unit since well before the metric system was proposed, rooted in the imperial measurement system's yard-based volume conventions - modern earthmoving equipment specifications and construction bidding across the US still reference cubic yards for exactly this historical reason.
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Last updated: September 27, 2026.