Free Tool · EN 1997-1 / BS 6031 / CIRIA C706 · Cut & Fill Volume

Civil Earthworks Cut & Fill Calculator

Cross-section-based cut/fill volume estimation using the prismoidal formula per EN 1997-1 and BS 6031:2009. Shrinkage/bulking correction, mass haul diagram, and spoil/import in m³ and tonnes.

Station Data
Material Factors
Cohesive (clay) — shrinkage 1.10–1.15
Granular (sand/gravel) — shrinkage 1.05
Rock (bulking 1.33–1.50, excavated)
Free preview: totals, balance, mass haul curve, first 5 stations. Sign in as Pro or Civil to unlock the full step-by-step breakdown and PDF export.
Shallow Foundation Bearing Capacity → Slope Stability (EN 1997-1 §11) →
Calculating earthworks volumes…
Earthworks Results
Cut & Fill Areas per Station
Mass Haul Diagram
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Frequently Asked Questions
V = ((A₁ + A₂)/2 − (A₂ − A₁)/6) × L (BS 6031:2009 / CIRIA C706). Where A₁, A₂ are end areas at consecutive stations and L is the station spacing. The correction term −(A₂−A₁)·L/6 accounts for the taper between sections. For uniform areas (A₁ = A₂) the correction is zero and the formula reduces to the simple average-end-area method.
Cut = ground level above formation level (excavation). Fill = formation level above ground level (embankment). The area is corridor_width × height difference. Ground > formation → cut area. Formation > ground → fill area. At any station where levels are equal, no earthworks are required.
Shrinkage factor (fill): excavated material compacts under self-weight and loads, occupying less space in situ. Cohesive soils: 1.10–1.15. Granular: 1.05. Rock: 0.67 (bulking, not shrinkage). Bulking factor (cut): excavated material is looser than in situ and occupies more volume. Rock: 1.33–1.50. Cohesive: 1.10. Granular: 1.05. FrameAI applies bulking to spoil volume and shrinkage to import volume.
A mass haul diagram plots cumulative net volume (cut − fill) against chainage. The zero-crossing marks the point where cut and fill balance locally. Areas above the axis represent surplus material (waste); areas below represent deficit (borrow). The diagram identifies free-haul zones (volume that can be moved within the free-haul distance at no extra cost) and overhaul zones (volume moved beyond the free-haul distance, charged per m³·m).
Free haul distance is the maximum distance material can be moved at no additional cost. Material placed within this distance from its origin is classified as free haul. Material moved beyond this distance requires overhaul — charged proportionally to the excess distance. Default is 100 m for road works (Highways England CD 622) and 150 m for railway (BS 6031).
EN 1997-1:2004 (geotechnical design — earthworks as mass balance), BS 6031:2009 Code of Practice for Earthworks (prismoidal formula, shrinkage/bulking factors, mass haul), CIRIA C706 Earthworks Handbook (rock bulking factors, cohesive shrinkage), and Highways England CD 622 (road earthworks specification, free haul defaults).