TryBuildCalcFill Dirt Calculator (Cut & Fill Volume, Truck Trips, Days & Cost)
Calculate cut and fill volume, truck trips, days, and cost for land leveling.
🕒 Last updated: July 30, 2026
Inputs
ℹ️Grid mode is best when you have site levels from a survey. Simple mode is faster for early planning.
Plot Size
High & Low Levels
ℹ️The simple method balances to the midpoint between highest and lowest levels.
Soil Allowances
ℹ️Use for bulking, shrinkage, handling loss, or practical site allowance.
Equipment & Cost
ℹ️Volume one vehicle, tractor trolley, or dumper trip can carry.
Level this plot to 0.6 m by planning for 308 m³ (10,876.92 cft) cut and 363.44 m³ (12,834.76 cft) fill.
Borrow Fill Needed: 55.44 m³ (1,957.85 cft)
Fill volume is greater than cut after allowances. Plan to import approved borrow fill from an outside source.
Calculations
Plot Area: 770 m²
Target Level: 0.6 m
Cut Soil: 308 m³ (10,876.92 cft)
Fill Soil: 363.44 m³ (12,834.76 cft)
Total Soil Handling: 671.44 m³ (23,711.68 cft)
Estimates
Estimated Cost: ₹1,84,646
Trips Required: 61
Days Required: 6
Approximate results for planning only. Verify with a professional.
Looking for the verification checklist, reference tables, or tips and mistakes?See the complete Land Leveling Calculator.
Fill dirt quantity estimate
This page uses a fill-heavy setup for a 35 m x 22 m area (770 m²) with a 0.8 m level difference — 308 m³ of raw cut and fill, with fill rising to about 363.44 m³ after an 18% compaction allowance, the highest wastage figure among this calculator's example pages.
The 18% allowance reflects loose, poorly-graded fill dirt that settles more once placed and compacted — needing about 61 truck trips at 6 m³ per load and 6 working days at 70 m³/day output, at an estimated cost of 184,646.
- Area: 35 m x 22 m.
- Fill compaction: 18%.
- Fill dirt needed: ~363.4 m³.
How the land leveling calculation works
Land leveling compares existing ground levels with a target level, then converts the level difference into cut volume, fill volume, handling quantity, and practical site estimates.
Step 1 - Calculate plot area
The calculator first converts plot dimensions to meters and calculates total area. This area is used for the simple high-low estimate and is also divided across spot levels in grid mode.
Step 2 - Choose the target level
Grid Mode Target = Average Spot Level or User Target Level
In simple mode, the target level is the midpoint between the highest and lowest points. In grid mode, the calculator uses the entered target level, or if left blank, it balances cut and fill around the average of all grid spot levels.
Step 3 - Calculate cut and fill volume
Height Difference = Highest Level - Lowest Level
Cut Volume = Plot Area x (Height Difference / 2)
Fill Volume = Plot Area x (Height Difference / 2)
Grid Mode:
Cell Area = Plot Area / Number of Spot Levels
Point Volume = |Spot Level - Target Level| x Cell Area
In simple mode, the calculator assumes the plot balances around the midpoint, so the same average depth is used for both cut and fill. In grid mode, each spot level is compared with the target level to decide whether that point requires cut, fill, or no adjustment.
Step 4 - Apply soil allowances
Adjusted Fill = Fill Volume x (1 + Fill Compaction / 100)
Cut allowance can represent bulking, shrinkage, or practical handling loss. Fill compaction allowance increases loose fill quantity so the required compacted fill can be achieved on site.
Step 5 - Calculate handling, trips, days, and cost
Trip / Day Quantity = Maximum of Adjusted Cut or Adjusted Fill
Trips = Trip / Day Quantity / Vehicle / Trolley Capacity
Days = Trip / Day Quantity / Earthwork Output per Day
Cost = Total Handling x Cost per m³
The calculator adds adjusted cut and fill to estimate total soil handling. For trips and daily productivity, it uses the larger of adjusted cut or adjusted fill so transport planning does not double count the same soil movement.
Real-World Example
This example walks through your current inputs above, using the same steps as the Formula section. Each table shows the calculation, the values substituted in, and the result it produces.
Input Values Used
| Input | Value | Why it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation method | Simple high-low estimate | Sets whether target level comes from two points or a full grid |
| Plot size | 35 m × 22 m | Sets the plot area every volume is built on |
| Highest / lowest level | 1.0 m / 0.2 m | Sets the target level and height difference |
| Soil allowances | 0% cut, 18% fill compaction | Converts raw volume into adjusted cut/fill quantity |
| Equipment & cost | 6 m³/trip, 70 m³/day, ₹275 per m³ | Sets trips, days, and total cost |
Step 1 — Calculate plot area
| Calculation | Substitution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Plot Area | 35 × 22 | 770 m² |
Step 2 — Find the target level
| Calculation | Substitution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| (Highest + Lowest) / 2 | (1.0 + 0.2) / 2 | 0.6 m |
Step 3 — Calculate cut and fill volume
| Calculation | Substitution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Height difference | 1.0 - 0.2 | 0.8 m |
| Cut volume (raw) | 770 × (0.8 ÷ 2) | 308 m³ |
| Fill volume (raw) | 770 × (0.8 ÷ 2) | 308 m³ |
Step 4 — Apply soil allowances
| Calculation | Substitution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted cut | 308 × (1 + 0/100) | 308 m³ |
| Adjusted fill | 308 × (1 + 18/100) | 363.44 m³ |
Step 5 — Handling, trips, days, and cost
| Calculation | Substitution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Total handling | 308 + 363.44 | 671.44 m³ |
| Trips | 363.44 ÷ vehicle capacity | 61 trips |
| Days | 363.44 ÷ daily output | 6 days |
| Cost | 671.44 × rate | ₹1,84,646 |
Therefore, this 770 m² plot needs a target level of 0.6 m, with 308 m³ adjusted cut and 363.44 m³ adjusted fill, requiring 61 trips over 6 days at an estimated cost of ₹1,84,646. Because fill is greater than cut, this job needs to borrow in an extra 55.44 m³ of fill material.
This page keeps things focused on the calculation above. For the full construction guide — verification checklist, reference tables, usage steps, tips, common mistakes, and limitations.See the complete Land Leveling Calculator.