Earthwork Balance Calculator
Compare excavation cut with fill demand on a consistent volume basis. Account for excavation swell and placed-fill shrinkage before deciding whether the project has reusable surplus or needs imported material.
Cut and fill inputs
Earthwork balance
Why cut and fill must share a basis
Cut volume is commonly measured in its original in-place state. Fill demand may be specified as a finished compacted volume. Comparing those values directly can obscure the effect of excavation swell and placement compaction.
Loose fill needed = compacted fill ÷ (1 − shrinkage)
Usable loose cut = loose cut × usable fraction
Worked example
A 900 m³ in-place excavation at 20% swell produces an estimated 1,080 m³ loose material. If 700 m³ of compacted fill is required and the shrinkage assumption is 15%, about 823.53 m³ loose fill is needed.
What the balance means
If usable loose cut exceeds loose fill demand, the project may have a surplus requiring stockpiling, reuse elsewhere or disposal. If usable cut is lower, imported fill may be required.
Why the usable percentage matters
Not every excavated material is automatically suitable for structural or engineered fill. The usable percentage lets the estimator keep an explicit planning assumption rather than quietly treating all cut as acceptable fill.
Limitations
This tool does not classify soil, determine geotechnical suitability, calculate haul routes or establish final earthwork quantities from surveyed surfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cut equal fill by volume?
Only after the material states and volume definitions are made consistent.
Why is some cut marked unusable?
Because site specifications may exclude material from reuse.
Can it estimate imported fill?
Yes, when the usable cut is insufficient.
Is swell universal?
No.