Start with the in-place excavation volume. Subtract the portion reused on site on the same bank-volume basis, then apply your loose swell factor to the remainder and compare with a truck’s loose-volume capacity.

Formula: loose volume to haul = (excavated bank yd³ − reused bank yd³) × (1 + swell % ÷ 100); loads = round up(loose haul yd³ ÷ truck loose yd³)

Worked example

Excavating 100 bank yd³ and reusing 40 bank yd³ leaves 60 bank yd³ to remove. At an entered 25% swell, that is 75 loose yd³, or five 15-loose-yd³ truckloads by volume.

Use one basis for the subtraction

Reuse is entered as in-place-equivalent bank volume. Subtract it before applying the loose swell factor. Do not enter a compacted-fill quantity as though it were bank volume without a project-specific conversion.

A truck may be limited by weight

The load count only compares loose volume with your usable truck volume. Wet or dense spoil may hit the vehicle payload limit first. This page does not estimate mass, legal load limits, road access, scheduling or disposal fees.

Swell is site-specific

FHWA earthwork guidance distinguishes in-place, loose and compacted states. The example percentage illustrates the math; obtain a material- and handling-specific factor for real work. Moisture and rock breakage can change it.

Explore the related calculation

For a different starting point, try the excavation swell calculator or return to the main calculator. Browse the complete tool directory for this site.

Reference and corrections

The definitions and assumptions above follow these sources; the examples and calculator arithmetic are original to this page.

highways.dot.gov reference

Found a problem? Email contact@cubicyardstotons.org.

Excavation spoil haul calculator

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