Earthworks & Sitework

Excavation Calculator

Q: What is the difference between bank volume and loose volume?

Bank volume (BCM) is soil in its natural, undisturbed state in the ground. Loose volume (LCM) is the volume after excavation, when soil expands due to air gaps between particles. Clay typically swells 20–30%, so 100 m³ of bank clay becomes 120–130 m³ loose — which affects truck load and disposal costs.

Q: How many cubic meters can a standard dumper truck carry?

Standard dumper sizes in Pakistan: small (Suzuki) 2–3 m³; medium 5–6 m³; large (10-wheeler) 8–12 m³. For BOQ purposes 5 m³ is the most common standard truck size. Always verify with your contractor, as actual capacities vary by vehicle and payload limits.

Q: What is the standard excavation rate in Pakistan (2025)?

Approximate 2025 rates in Pakistan: manual excavation in soft soil PKR 300–500/m³; machine excavation (JCB/excavator) PKR 400–700/m³; disposal with truck PKR 200–400/m³ extra; hard soil or murram adds 30–50%. Rates vary by city, soil type and site access.

Calculate earthwork volume, backfill quantity, disposal load, number of truck trips, and excavation cost for foundations, trenches, basements, and pools.

Excavation Volume Calculator

Foundation Pit · Trench · Basement · Sloped Cutting

Length L (m)Pit length at bottom

Width W (m)Pit width at bottom

Depth D (m)Excavation depth

Working Space (m)Extra clearance around foundation

Trench Length (m)

Trench Width (m)

Trench Depth (m)

Number of Trenches

Bottom Length (m)

Bottom Width (m)

Depth (m)

Side Slope H:V (e.g. 1:1)

Diameter (m)

Depth (m)

Number of Pits

Pit Type

Soil Swell Factor (%)Volume increases after excavation

Backfill Percentage (%)% of volume returned as backfill

Truck Capacity (m³)Dumper truck volume

Excavation Rate (PKR/m³)Local rate per cubic meter

Excavation Results

Calculated

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m³

Net Volume

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m³

Bulk Volume

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m³

Backfill Volume

—

m³

Disposal Volume

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trips

Truck Trips

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PKR

Est. Cost

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How Excavation Volume is Calculated

Bank vs Loose vs Compacted Volume

Bank Volume    = L × W × D  (in-situ, before excavation)
Bulk/Loose Vol = Bank Vol × (1 + Swell Factor%)  [for trucks]
Backfill Vol   = Bank Vol × (Backfill%)           [returned to pit]
Disposal Vol   = Bulk Vol − Backfill Vol           [remove from site]
Truck Trips    = Disposal Vol ÷ Truck Capacity
Sloped Pit Vol = D/6 × (A_bottom + A_top + 4×A_middle)  [Prismoidal]
Circular Pit   = π × r² × D

Always add 10–20% wastage to excavation volumes for site irregularities, over-excavation, and measurement tolerances.

Excavation deeper than 1.5m requires shoring, timbering, or sloped sides per Pakistan safety regulations. Always consult a geotechnical engineer for deep excavations.

Soil Swell & Load Factors Reference

Soil Type	Swell Factor	Load Factor	Angle of Repose
Loose Sand	10–12%	0.89–0.91	30°–35°
Sandy Loam	15–18%	0.85–0.87	25°–35°
Clay Loam	20–25%	0.80–0.83	15°–25°
Hard Clay	28–35%	0.74–0.78	10°–20°
Soft Rock	35–40%	0.71–0.74	45°–55°
Hard Rock	40–60%	0.63–0.71	60°–80°

Frequently Asked Questions

Bank volume (BCM) is the volume of soil in its natural, undisturbed state in the ground. Loose volume (LCM) is the volume after excavation, when soil expands due to air gaps between particles. Clay typically swells 20–30%, so 100 m³ of bank clay becomes 120–130 m³ loose — affecting truck load calculations and disposal costs.

Standard dumper truck sizes in Pakistan: Small (Suzuki): 2–3 m³ · Medium: 5–6 m³ · Large (10-wheeler): 8–12 m³. For BOQ purposes, 5 m³ is the most common standard truck size. Always verify with your contractor as actual capacities vary by vehicle and payload limits.

Approximate excavation rates in Pakistan (2025): Manual excavation (soft soil): PKR 300–500/m³ · Machine excavation (JCB/excavator): PKR 400–700/m³ · Disposal (with truck): PKR 200–400/m³ extra · Hard soil/murram: +30–50% above above rates. Rates vary by city, soil type, and site access.