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Estimating cut and fill volumes is a critical part of civil engineering, especially in grading, excavation, and highway design. Our Earthwork Cut-and-Fill Calculator is designed to make these calculations quick, accurate, and comprehensive — whether you’re working with ground grids, cross-sections, or haul cost scenarios.
🚀 What This Calculator Does
This tool helps you:
- Calculate earthwork volumes using two standard methods
- 🟩 Grid Cell Method – for surface grading based on elevation differences
- 🟨 Cross-Section Method – using the Average-End-Area rule
- Apply swell and shrinkage factors based on real-world soil data
- Toggle between Metric (m³) and Imperial (yd³) units
- Estimate haul cost based on volume × distance
- Import data using CSV
- Export a PDF Report for recordkeeping and site submission
Earthwork Cut & Fill Calculator
Grid Cells
| # | Area | Existing Elev. | Proposed Elev. |
|---|
Uniform Layers (Entire Footprint)
| # | Layer Name | Thickness | Material | Unit Wt. | Top-soil / Cut? | Haul Dist | Haul Rate |
|---|
📐 How to Use the Calculator
1️⃣ Choose Your Unit System
Select from the dropdown:
- Metric: meters, m², m³
- Imperial: feet, ft², yd³
All inputs and outputs adjust automatically.
2️⃣ Select Material Type (Auto Fills Swell & Shrinkage)
Choose from typical materials like:
- Clay
- Sand
- Gravel
- Blasted Rock
- Loam / Topsoil
- Silt, etc.
📌 Why it matters:
Each soil type expands (swells) or compacts (shrinks) differently when moved or placed.
Selecting a material auto-fills industry-standard percentages from USACE / BIS references.
| Material | Swell (%) | Shrinkage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Clay | 45 | 15 |
| Sand | 20 | 10 |
| Gravel | 12 | 8 |
| Rock (blasted) | 60 | 25 |
💡 You can always override the values manually if you have site-specific test data.
3️⃣ Choose Calculation Method
🟩 Grid Cell Method
Best for building pads, road medians, parking lots, etc.
- Add each grid cell (e.g. 25 m²)
- Enter:
- Area
- Existing Elevation
- Proposed Elevation
The calculator figures out whether it’s a cut or fill, then applies formulas accordingly.
.
🟨 Cross-Section Method
Best for roads, canals, and linear works.
- Add stations
- Enter:
- Distance to next station
- Cut area
- Fill area
Uses Average-End-Area rule:
Volume = ((A1 + A2) / 2) × Distance
