Excavation / Earthwork Calculator
Calculate excavation volume, loose-soil volume after bulking, number of truck trips, and total cost in NPR. Sized for typical residential foundation pits in Nepal.
Why bulking matters
When soil is excavated, it loosens and takes up more volume than it did in the ground. The bulking factor varies by soil type — sandy soil swells around 15–20%, clay 25–30%, and rocky soil up to 40%. Use the swelled volume when planning truck trips and disposal, but the in-situ volume when paying for excavation work.
FAQ
How much does excavation cost per cubic meter in Nepal?
In and around Kathmandu Valley, manual excavation typically costs NPR 350 to 500 per cubic meter for soft to medium soil. Excavator-assisted excavation is roughly NPR 250 to 400 per cubic meter. Rocky ground or hard murum can push rates above NPR 700 per cubic meter.
What is a soil bulking factor?
A bulking factor expresses how much soil expands when excavated. Loose sandy soil expands 15 to 20 percent, normal clay 25 to 30 percent, and broken rock up to 40 percent. Use the bulked volume to plan truck trips, since trucks carry loose soil, not in-situ soil.
How many trips will a tipper need for my foundation pit?
A typical Nepali tipper carries 5 to 6 cubic meters of loose soil. For a 12 m × 8 m × 1.5 m pit (144 m³ in-situ, ~180 m³ bulked at 25 percent), you would need around 30 trips with a 6 m³ tipper.
Should I include a working space allowance?
Yes — for foundation pits, add 0.3 to 0.5 metres on each side beyond the foundation outline as a working space for shuttering and labourers. Add this allowance to your length and width before calculating volume.