Free Cut & Fill / Earthwork Calculator

How It Works

1. Select Calculation Method

   Choose simple pad for uniform rectangular sites with four corner elevations, or grid method for complex terrain where you have survey data on a regular grid. The grid method provides much better accuracy for sloped or irregular sites.

2. Enter Elevation Data

   For simple pad: enter existing and proposed elevations at each corner. For grid method: input the grid spacing and existing ground elevations at each grid point, then set the proposed finish grade elevation or slope.

3. Select Soil Type

   Choose from common soil types: topsoil, sand, gravel, clay, shale, or rock. Each soil type has specific swell and shrink factors that the calculator applies automatically. You can also enter custom factors from geotechnical reports.

4. Review Volume Results

   The calculator shows total cut volume, total fill volume, and net balance in bank, loose, and compacted cubic yards. A balanced site (cut equals fill) minimizes hauling costs. The net balance tells you how much import or export is needed.

5. Estimate Truck Loads

   Enter truck capacity (typically 10-14 CY for tandem dump trucks) to calculate the number of loads for hauling cut material offsite or importing fill. Truck loads use loose cubic yards since that is the volume on the truck.

6. View Grid Map

   The color-coded grid shows cut zones in red/orange and fill zones in blue/green with depth values at each grid point. This visual helps identify the optimal grading strategy and locate balance points where cut transitions to fill.

Built For

• Grading contractors estimating earthwork volumes for site development bids
• Civil engineers performing preliminary grading analysis for subdivision design
• Homebuilders calculating pad grading quantities for residential lot preparation
• Excavation operators planning cut/fill balance to minimize material hauling
• Construction managers estimating truck loads and haul costs for project budgets

Assumptions

• Elevation data represents the ground surface at the time of survey with no subsurface obstructions.
• Swell and shrink factors are applied uniformly across the site for the selected soil type.
• Grid cells are computed using the four-corner average method for volume calculation.
• No topsoil stripping or unsuitable material removal is included unless separately entered.

Limitations

• Grid method is limited to rectangular grids; irregular site boundaries must be approximated.
• Does not account for staged earthwork operations or temporary stockpile volumes.
• Rock excavation and blasting quantities require separate geotechnical analysis.

References

• AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures, Appendix D - Earthwork Calculations
• Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 49 - Chapter on Material Properties and Swell/Shrink Factors
• US Army Corps of Engineers EM 1110-2-1911 - Construction Control for Earth and Rock-Fill Dams

Frequently Asked Questions