Question 1

How do you calculate cut and fill volume?

Accepted Answer

Cut volume = Length x Width x Average cut depth. Fill volume = Length x Width x Average fill depth. The net difference tells you how much material to export or import. Add 30% for swell factor on excavated material. A typical tandem truck holds 12 cubic metres.

Question 2

How do you calculate pond excavation volume?

Accepted Answer

Pond volume = Surface area x Average depth x Bowl factor (typically 0.4 for sloped banks). For a 20m x 12m pond at 2.5m depth: 20 x 12 x 2.5 x 0.4 = 240 cubic metres. Divide by 12 for tandem truck loads (20 loads).

Question 3

How much gravel do I need?

Accepted Answer

Volume = Area (m2) x Depth (m). For example, 200 m2 at 150mm depth = 30 cubic metres. Gravel weighs approximately 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre, so 30 m3 = 45 tonnes. At 12 m3 per tandem load, that's 3 loads.

Earthworks Calculator

1. Cut and Fill

2. Trench / Excavation

3. Pond Volume

4. Material Spread