Volume Calculator › Excavation Volume

Excavation Volume Calculator

Find the volume of a rectangular excavation or fill from length, width and depth in feet, in cubic yards for ordering dirt, gravel or removal.

Excavation volume
ft
ft
ft
Result
Volume100 cu ft
Cubic yards3.7 cu yd
Quick answer
An excavation holds length × width × depth in cubic feet, and there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. A 10 by 5 by 2 ft trench is 100 cubic feet, or about 3.7 cubic yards. Dirt, gravel and topsoil are sold by the cubic yard, so this is the figure to order or haul.

How it works

cubic yards = length × width × depth ÷ 2727 = cubic feet in a cubic yard
length
excavation length in feet
width
excavation width in feet
depth
how deep it goes, in feet

Loose soil swells when dug out, often 20 to 30 percent, so a hole this size yields more loose dirt to haul away than the in-ground figure.

Frequently asked questions

How many cubic yards is a 10x5x2 ft hole?

About 3.7 cubic yards.

How many cubic feet in a cubic yard?

Twenty-seven.

How much dirt will I haul away?

More than the hole volume, since loose soil swells 20 to 30 percent.

Is gravel sold by the cubic yard?

Yes, like dirt and topsoil, so cubic yards is the number to order.