Introduction
Cut and fill questions come up at every stage of a grading project – before measuring, during the work, and when the invoice arrives. Most of them have short, practical answers rooted in the same few principles: cut is measured in bank yards, fill in compacted yards, shrink connects the two, and the net balance decides the hauling bill. This guide collects the questions asked most often, with answers you can act on.
For the underlying calculations, the Cut and Fill Calculator returns cut, fill, and net balance in cubic yards and cubic meters from your dimensions. The answers below explain what those numbers mean and what to do with them.
Volume and Balance Questions
What is cut and fill?
Cut is earth removed from high areas; fill is earth placed into low areas. Together they describe the earthwork balance of a grading project: soil is moved from where the ground is too high to where it is too low, and the net balance (cut minus fill) tells you whether soil must be exported, imported, or neither.
What does “balanced site” mean?
A site where cut volume roughly equals fill volume, so no soil is hauled in or out. Balanced sites are the cheapest to grade because hauling – trucking plus dump fees or material purchase – is the most expensive part of earthwork. Note the shrink catch: because compacted fill occupies only 85-90% of the bank cut volume, a truly balanced site needs about 10-15% more cut than fill.
How is net earthwork calculated?
Net = Cut – Fill, with both in matching volume states. The honest version adjusts for shrink first: True net = (Cut x 0.85-0.90) – Fill. Positive means surplus to export; negative means a deficit to import. The formula-explained guide derives this fully.
What are bank yards, loose yards, and compacted yards?
Three states of the same soil: bank yards measure undisturbed soil in the ground (used for cut), loose yards measure excavated fluffed-up soil (used for truck capacity), and compacted yards measure placed and compacted fill (used for fill). The same 100 bank yd3 becomes roughly 125-130 loose yd3 in trucks and compacts down to roughly 85-90 yd3 of fill.
What is the shrink factor?
The ratio of compacted fill volume to bank cut volume – typically 0.85-0.90 for common earth. It exists because excavation fluffs soil up and compaction squeezes air and voids back out, ending below the original in-place volume. Forgetting shrink is the most common cut and fill estimating error; the common mistakes guide covers it first.
What is the swell factor?
The volume increase when soil is excavated – typically 25-30% for common earth. Swell matters whenever soil goes into trucks or stockpiles: multiply bank yards by 1.25-1.30 to get loose yards before dividing by truck capacity.
Measurement Questions
How do I measure cut and fill on my site?
Stake a grid over the work area, shoot existing and design elevations at each grid point with a level, compute each cell’s volume from its four corner depths, and sum cut cells and fill cells separately. The full step-by-step workflow is in the estimating guide.
What is the grid (borrow-pit) method?
Divide the site into squares, compute each cell’s volume as (cell area x average of its four corner depth changes), and add all cells. It handles irregular terrain far better than a single average-depth calculation across the whole site.
How many measurements do I need?
Enough that each reading honestly represents its area. For residential work, 10-15 ft (3-5 m) grid spacing is standard; tighten spacing where the ground changes fastest. Fewer, wider-spaced readings on rolling ground produce confident-looking but unreliable numbers.
Do I include topsoil?
No. Measure topsoil depth in test holes, compute its volume separately, strip and stockpile it, and keep it out of the cut/fill balance. Topsoil’s organic content makes it unsuitable as structural fill.
Cost and Hauling Questions
How much does cut and fill work cost?
As typical US planning ranges: excavation $3-$8/yd3, on-site placement $2-$5/yd3, compaction $1-$4/yd3, export hauling $8-$20/yd3, imported fill placed and compacted $15-$35/yd3. Regional variation is large – always get local quotes. Full breakdowns are in the cost guide.
How many truckloads is my surplus?
Convert the surplus to loose yards (bank yards x 1.25-1.30 for common earth), then divide by the truck’s loose-yard capacity – about 10-12 yd3 for a typical tandem dump truck. Example: 26 yd3 compacted surplus is roughly 32 loose yd3, or about 3 truckloads.
Is it cheaper to import fill or export surplus?
Importing usually costs slightly less per yard because export carries dump fees while import carries material cost – but both are far more expensive than balancing the site so neither is needed. When imbalance is large, adjusting finished elevations by a few inches is often cheaper than hauling.
Technical Questions
What slope do I need for drainage?
A minimum of 2% (1:50) away from structures – 2 cm of fall per meter, or about 1/4 in per foot. This is the standard minimum to keep water moving away from buildings; verify with a level, since the eye judges 2% poorly.
Can I use my cut soil as fill?
Only the suitable portion. Clean granular or good loam cut makes fine structural fill when placed in lifts and compacted. Rocky, saturated, or organic-laden cut belongs in waste piles or non-structural areas. Sort by quality at the excavator bucket.
How thick should fill layers be?
15-20 cm (6-8 in) per lift for granular soils, 20-30 cm (8-12 in) for cohesive soils, each compacted before the next is placed. Deeper lifts leave uncompacted soil buried below the roller’s reach, which settles later.
Do I need a permit for grading?
Often yes – many jurisdictions require grading permits above certain volume thresholds or when drainage patterns change. Requirements vary widely by location, so check with your local building or planning authority before work starts. The code compliance guide explains what to ask.
Should I do this myself or hire a contractor?
Small, simple pads with good access suit DIY or rented equipment; large volumes, structural pads, drainage ties, or permit requirements favor a licensed contractor.
Related Guides
- Cut and Fill Calculator: Complete Guide – terminology, formulas, and the full worked example.
- Cut and Fill Calculator: Formula Explained – derivations and conversion formulas.
- Cut and Fill Calculator Cost Guide – turn volumes into budget numbers.
- Cut and Fill Calculator Pro Tips – field techniques from the trade.
- Cut and Fill Calculator Checklist – verification steps before, during, and after.
- Cut and Fill Calculator Case Study – illustrative scenarios showing the math in action.
Get Your Number
Questions answered, the next step is measurement: grid your site, shoot your elevations, and run the numbers through the Cut and Fill Calculator. An estimate built on honest fieldwork and the principles above – shrink respected, states kept straight, drainage designed in – is an estimate you can price, permit, and build against with confidence.
Disclaimer: Calculator results are planning estimates based on the dimensions you enter. Actual earthwork volumes vary with soil type, moisture, compaction, and measurement accuracy. Cost figures are typical planning ranges, not quotes. Verify quantities and pricing with local contractors, and consult a licensed professional or your local building authority for structural, drainage, or code-related decisions.
