CrewMeasure

Trench Volume Calculator

Trench excavation volume for rectangular or trapezoidal (sloped-side) trenches.

This trench requires excavating — cu yd.

Trench inputs

Leave top width blank for a straight-wall trench, or enter it for a trapezoidal (sloped-side) trench.

This trench requires excavating — cu yd.

Excavate

Trench volume estimate

Warnings

  • ERROR Enter a length greater than zero.
  • ERROR Enter a bottom width greater than zero.
  • ERROR Enter a depth greater than zero.

Detail values

Assumptions

  • Trench profile: Rectangular (straight sides)
  • Swell and compaction: Not accounted for -- this is in-place (bank) volume. Excavated spoil swells and backfill compacts, both by soil-specific amounts, and no factor is applied in either direction.

Included: trench volume.

Not included: labor, delivery, permits, disposal, compaction (enter your intended post-compaction depth/volume — this estimate does not account for compaction itself).

Formula details
  • Rectangular volume: length x width x depth
  • Cubic yards: cubicFeet / 27
Material List

About this calculator

Enter length, bottom width, and depth. Add a top width to compute a trapezoidal (sloped-side) trench instead of a straight-wall one.

FAQ

What's the difference between rectangular and trapezoidal?

A rectangular trench has straight, vertical sides -- leave top width blank. A trapezoidal trench has sloped sides (wider at the top than the bottom), common for deeper trenches or unstable soil -- enter a top width wider than the bottom width.

Does this account for spoil pile or bedding material?

No -- this estimates raw excavation volume only.