Use your geotech report, field trial data, or company table; 1.1–1.3 is a common textbook range for many soils but is not universal (gravel vs clay can differ a lot).

Earthwork Volume Calculator — Bank, Loose & Bulking Factor

Bank measure, loose volume & what this tool covers

Field teams juggle bank (in-situ), loose haul/spoil, and sometimes compacted fill volumes. This page only computes bank volume Vₙ for the prism you enter, then loose volume Vₗ = Vₙ × k. Define k consistently with your contract, geotech memo, or internal earthworks table—literature uses several names (bulking factor, swell factor, etc.); do not mix conventions. The model excludes batter slopes, working width, dewatering/shoring footprint, BOQ/payline geometry beyond your prism, and similar items that need separate takeoff rules or CAD.

References & further reading

Geotechnical and construction texts on cut/fill volume changes with moisture and compaction (conceptual background).
Project geotech reports and contractor bid earthworks sheets for trial-derived or tabulated k values.
Contract measurement and pricing rules (excavation payline, whether haul losses are included).
Slope and trench safety are governed by local codes and site-specific plans; they are not represented by this geometric volume estimate.

Model assumptions

Simple box prism L×W×H; no batter slopes, benches, or tapered sections.
Bulking/expansion factor k is user supplied; the tool does not infer soil class, moisture, or compaction curves.
No dewatering drawdown, support system deductions, overbreak allowances, or working-face widening.

When the toolbar exposes “Copy shareable link”, inputs can be encoded in the URL so colleagues can reopen the same case. All computations run locally in your browser; this tool may not expose share links yet.

Frequently asked questions

What k should I use?: Use your geotech report, field trial data, or company table; 1.1–1.3 is a common textbook range for many soils but is not universal (gravel vs clay can differ a lot).

Extended copy on this page (headings, references, assumptions, FAQs) may be drafted or localized with AI assistance; engineering judgment and governing codes still apply. Numerical models run locally in your browser as implemented. For contract-critical work, cite primary standards and qualified review.