Earthwork Cut/Fill Volume Calculator
Mass Haul Summary
Excess cut of 928.2 CY must be hauled off-site (waste) or stockpiled. The swelled volume for hauling is approximately 2,025.5 CY.
Segment Details
| Segment | Length (ft) | Cut (CY) | Fill (CY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sta. 0 - 100 | 100 | 555.6 | 92.6 |
| Sta. 100 - 200 | 100 | 648.1 | 277.8 |
| Sta. 200 - 300 | 100 | 416.7 | 231.5 |
This earthwork calculator computes cut and fill volumes from cross-section areas using the Average End Area Method, the standard approach in roadway and site grading. You enter a series of stations with their cut and fill areas; the tool averages adjacent areas, multiplies by the distance between stations, and converts cubic feet to cubic yards. It then applies shrinkage and swell factors and reports a mass-haul summary showing whether the site needs borrow or generates excess.
Formula
V = L × (A₁ + A₂) / 2, then CY = V / 27
- V
- Segment volume in cubic feet
- L
- Distance between the two stations in feet
- A₁, A₂
- Cross-sectional cut (or fill) areas at each station, in square feet
- CY
- Volume in cubic yards (cubic feet ÷ 27)
How it works
- Enter at least two stations, each with a station number and the cut and fill cross-sectional areas in square feet. The calculator sorts stations and uses the distance between consecutive stations as the segment length.
- For each segment it averages the two end areas and multiplies by the length to get the volume in cubic feet, then divides by 27 to convert to cubic yards (both cut and fill).
- Totals are adjusted with a shrinkage factor (fill needs extra material, default 15%) and a swell factor (excavated cut expands for hauling, default 25%). Net earthwork is total cut minus adjusted fill — positive means excess to haul off, negative means borrow is required.
Worked example
Three stations 100 ft apart: station 0 (cut 50, fill 0), station 100 (cut 30, fill 20), station 200 (cut 0, fill 40), with default 15% shrinkage and 25% swell.
- Segment 0–100 cut: 100 × (50 + 30) / 2 = 4,000 CF = 148.1 CY; fill: 100 × (0 + 20) / 2 = 1,000 CF = 37.0 CY.
- Segment 100–200 cut: 100 × (30 + 0) / 2 = 1,500 CF = 55.6 CY; fill: 100 × (20 + 40) / 2 = 3,000 CF = 111.1 CY.
- Totals: cut = 203.7 CY, fill = 148.1 CY. Adjusted fill with 15% shrinkage = 148.1 × 1.15 = 170.3 CY.
- Net earthwork = 203.7 − 170.3 = 33.4 CY (excess); swelled cut for hauling = 203.7 × 1.25 = 254.6 CY.
Total cut 203.7 CY and adjusted fill 170.3 CY leave a 33.4 CY excess to haul off; the swelled hauling volume is about 254.6 CY.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between shrinkage and swell?
- Shrinkage accounts for compacted fill occupying less volume than in-place borrow, so you need extra material to make a given fill — modeled as a percentage added to required fill. Swell accounts for loose excavated soil expanding above its in-place volume, which matters for estimating truck loads when hauling cut away.
- Why is the Average End Area Method only an approximation?
- It assumes the cross-section transitions linearly between stations, so it slightly overestimates or underestimates where the ground curves. For higher accuracy on uneven terrain, surveyors use the prismoidal correction, but the end-area method is the accepted standard for most earthwork estimating.
- What does a negative net earthwork value mean?
- A negative net means adjusted fill exceeds available cut, so the site is short of material and you must import borrow. A positive net means surplus cut that must be wasted off-site or stockpiled, and a value near zero means the site roughly balances.
- How are cubic feet converted to cubic yards?
- There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft), so the calculator divides every cubic-foot volume by 27. Earthwork is quoted in cubic yards because that is the standard unit for hauling and pricing excavation.