EARTHWORK & MASONRY
Trench Excavation Estimator
Calculate cubic yards of dirt removed and tons of bedding gravel required.
How to Calculate Trench Excavation Estimator
The estimator converts trench width and depth from inches to feet, multiplies them by length, and converts cubic feet to cubic yards. It applies the swell factor for hauled soil and separately estimates bedding gravel volume and tonnage.
- Compact excavation volume in cubic feet = length x (width inches / 12) x (depth inches / 12); cubic yards = cubic feet / 27.
- Hauled soil = compact cubic yards x swell factor; bedding tons = (length x width x bedding depth in feet / 27) x 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is hauled soil volume larger than the trench volume?
Excavated soil typically loosens and occupies more space than it did in place. The swell factor estimates this increase for hauling and disposal planning.
Does bedding gravel replace the full trench excavation volume?
No. Bedding is calculated separately using the entered bedding depth. Check the planned bedding thickness, pipe zone requirements, and supplier aggregate density for the project.