Soil Volume Calculator (Bank, Loose, Compacted)
Convert between in-situ (bank), loose, and compacted soil volumes in one step. Just pick a reference state and volume, enter the swell factor L and compaction factor C, and get every state at once. Handy for earthwork planning and checking cut, fill, and haul quantities.
Input
e.g. 1.20 (loose volume relative to in-situ ground)
e.g. 0.90 (compacted volume relative to in-situ ground)
Result
In-situ (bank) volume · reference
100m³
| State | Description | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| In-situ (bank) volume | Soil in its natural state before excavation | 100 m³ |
| Loose volume | Soil after it has been excavated and loosened | 120 m³ |
| Compacted volume | Soil after being compacted as fill | 90 m³ |
How it works
- Soil volume changes with its state. The natural state before excavation is the bank (in-situ) volume, loosened soil after excavation is the loose volume, and soil compacted as fill is the compacted volume. This tool takes any one of these as the reference and converts to the others.
- Two volume change factors drive the conversion. The swell factor L is loose volume divided by bank volume; because loosening soil increases its volume, it is usually greater than 1 (around 1.2). The compaction factor C is compacted volume divided by bank volume; because compaction reduces volume, it is usually less than 1 (around 0.9).
- The calculation first converts your input back to the bank volume, then multiplies that bank volume by L and C to find each state. The same logic applies consistently whether you base it on the loose or compacted state.
- L and C depend on soil type (sand, cohesive soil, rock, etc.) and site conditions. For actual quantity calculations, always confirm the values defined by soil testing, design documents, or estimating standards.
- Results are rough estimates based on the volume change factors only. When planning haulage or computing cut, borrow, or contract quantities, verify against site conditions and the applicable standards.
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