Cut and Fill Calculator
Calculate cut and fill earthwork volume with the average end area method. Enter cross-section areas along the alignment to get total cut, fill, and the net import or export in cubic yards. Free, no sign-up.
What to calculate next
Tools commonly used alongside this calculation
Culvert Size Calculator
Size a round culvert with Manning's equation. Get the full-flow capacity in cfs and velocity for a diameter, or the minimum standard pipe size for a design flow — concrete, CMP, or HDPE. Free, no sign-up.
Rational Method Calculator
Estimate peak stormwater runoff with the Rational Method, Q = C·i·A. Build a weighted runoff coefficient from multiple surfaces, enter the rainfall intensity and area, and get the peak flow in cfs. Free, no sign-up.
Explanation
Cut and fill is the earthwork of moving soil from where the ground is too high (cut) to where it is too low (fill) to reach a design grade. Estimating the volume tells you how much dirt has to be excavated, how much fill is needed, and whether the job balances on site or needs soil hauled in or out. This calculator uses the average end area method: enter the cut and fill area at each surveyed cross-section along the alignment and it returns the total cut, the total fill, and the net import or export in cubic yards.
How the average end area method works
Between any two cross-sections, the volume of earth is the average of the two end areas times the distance between them. The calculator does this for cut and fill separately, segment by segment, sums the segments, and divides by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Closer station spacing on curving or irregular ground gives a more accurate result.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| V | Volume between two stations (ft³, then converted to cubic yards) |
| A₁, A₂ | Cut (or fill) cross-sectional area at each station (ft²) |
| L | Distance between the two stations along the centerline (ft) |
Bank, loose, and compacted volume
A cubic yard of dirt is not the same in the ground, in the truck, and back in the fill. Soil sitting undisturbed is measured in bank cubic yards (BCY). Excavating it breaks it up and it swells into more loose cubic yards (LCY) for hauling. Placing and compacting it squeezes it back down — it shrinks into fewer compacted cubic yards (CCY). To compare cut against fill, this tool puts both on a bank basis, then converts the net to loose volume for the haul and an optional truckload count.
| Soil type | Swell (bank→loose) | Shrink (bank→compacted) |
|---|---|---|
| Sand / gravel | 10–18% | 5–12% |
| Common earth / loam | 20–25% | 8–12% |
| Clay | 25–40% | 10–20% |
| Rock (blasted) | 50–60% | −10–0% (bulks up) |
Figures are typical ranges; use a geotechnical report or material test when one is available.
Earthwork balance and what comes next
When the cut you excavate (on a bank basis) exceeds the fill you need, the surplus has to be exported off site; when it falls short, you have to import borrow. The grading often runs alongside the site drainage: once the rough grade is set, the runoff has to be carried to and across the property, which is where the Rational Method runoff calculator and the culvert size calculator take over for sizing the pipe under a driveway or road crossing.
The average end area method is a preliminary estimate, typically within about 10–15% of a full earthwork takeoff. It assumes the ground varies linearly between stations and does not replace a survey, a grading plan, or a digital terrain model. Confirm swell and shrink with a geotechnical report, account for topsoil stripping and over-excavation separately, and verify the final quantities and any export or import permits with the authority having jurisdiction.