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Calculators
Pipe & Trench Calculator
LF
in
ft
in
| Material | CY | Tons | Loads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation (export) | 83.3 | 90.0 | 4.6 |
| Bedding (import) | 5.6 | 8.3 | — |
| Backfill (import) | 68.1 | 88.8 | — |
| Restoration | 400 SF (44.4 SY) | — | |
Advanced Options
Concrete Calculator
ft
ft
in
LF
ft
ft
in
| Type | Area | CY | Loads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatwork | 1,000 SF | 20.00 | 2.0 |
Advanced Options
Asphalt Calculator
SF
in
in
| Material | Quantity | Loads |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt (HMA) | 110.0 tons | 5.0 |
| Tack Coat | 7.8 gal | 111.1 SY |
Advanced Options
Aggregate & Fill Calculator
ft
ft
in
| Measure | Value | Loads |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 2,400 SF | — |
| Order Quantity | 51.1 CY / 76.7 tons | 4.5 |
Advanced Options
Earthwork Calculator
ft
ft
ft
SF
SF
ft
| Cut (Export) | CY | Tons | Loads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose Volume | 2,777.8 | 3,333.3 | 154.3 |
| Surface Area | 20,000 SF | 0.46 ac | |
Advanced Options
Reference
Trench Dimensions Reference
Proper trench sizing is critical for safety, installation, and accurate estimating. Always check local codes and OSHA requirements.
| Standard Trench Widths by Pipe Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe Size | Min Width | Typical | Notes |
| 4" - 6" | 18" | 24" | Small utilities |
| 8" - 12" | 24" | 30" - 36" | Standard sewer/water |
| 15" - 18" | 30" | 36" - 42" | Larger sewer |
| 24" - 30" | 42" | 48" - 54" | Storm drain |
| 36" - 48" | 54" | 60" - 72" | Large storm/trunk |
| Minimum Cover Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Application | Min Cover | Typical |
| Water main | 36" - 42" | 48" |
| Sanitary sewer | 36" - 48" | 60" - 72" |
| Storm drain | 24" - 36" | 36" - 48" |
| Gas line | 18" - 24" | 24" - 36" |
| Electric | 24" - 36" | 36" |
Basic Trench Volume (Bank CY)
CY = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
| Bank CY per 100 LF of Trench | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 4' Deep | 5' Deep | 6' Deep | 8' Deep |
| 24" | 29.6 | 37.0 | 44.4 | 59.3 |
| 30" | 37.0 | 46.3 | 55.6 | 74.1 |
| 36" | 44.4 | 55.6 | 66.7 | 88.9 |
| 42" | 51.9 | 64.8 | 77.8 | 103.7 |
| 48" | 59.3 | 74.1 | 88.9 | 118.5 |
| Swell & Shrink by Soil Type | ||
|---|---|---|
| Soil Type | Swell % | Shrink % |
| Sand/Gravel | 10-15% | 10-12% |
| Common Earth | 20-30% | 15-20% |
| Clay | 30-40% | 20-25% |
| Rock | 50-60% | N/A |
Concrete Reference
Basic Volume
CY = L (ft) × W (ft) × Thickness (ft) ÷ 27
Add 5-10% for waste, overdig, and spillage
Shortcut (thickness in inches)
CY = Square Feet × Thickness (in) ÷ 324
| CY per 1,000 SF by Thickness | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | CY/1,000 SF | Tons/CY* |
| 4" | 12.35 | 49.4 |
| 5" | 15.43 | 61.7 |
| 6" | 18.52 | 74.1 |
| 8" | 24.69 | 98.8 |
| 10" | 30.86 | 123.4 |
| 12" | 37.04 | 148.2 |
* Based on 4,000 lbs/CY concrete weight
| Standard Curb & Gutter Profiles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Height | Width | CY/100 LF |
| Rolled Curb | 4" - 6" | 18" - 24" | 1.5 - 2.0 |
| Vertical Curb | 6" | 6" face | 0.8 - 1.0 |
| Integral C&G | 6" × 18" | 24" gutter | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Barrier Curb | 8" × 12" | 24" gutter | 3.0 - 3.5 |
Asphalt Reference
Standard Tonnage Formula
Tons = SF × Thickness (in) × 0.055
Based on 145 lbs/CF compacted density (standard HMA)
Coverage Factor
1 Ton covers ~18 SF at 1 inch thick
| Tons per 1,000 SF by Thickness | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | Tons/1,000 SF | SF per Ton |
| 1" | 55 | 18.2 |
| 1.5" | 82.5 | 12.1 |
| 2" | 110 | 9.1 |
| 2.5" | 137.5 | 7.3 |
| 3" | 165 | 6.1 |
| 4" | 220 | 4.5 |
| Typical Road Sections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Type | Surface | Base | Subbase |
| Residential Street | 2" - 3" | 4" - 6" ABC | Optional |
| Collector Road | 3" - 4" | 6" - 8" ABC | 4" - 6" |
| Arterial | 4" - 6" | 8" - 12" ABC | 6" - 12" |
| Parking Lot | 2" - 3" | 4" - 6" ABC | Optional |
Aggregates & Base Reference
Shortcut for Road Base
Tons = SF × Thickness (in) × 0.0555
Based on 1.5 tons/CY (3,000 lbs)
| Material Weights (Compacted) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Material | Tons/CY | lbs/CY |
| Crushed Road Base (ABC) | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| 3/4" Crushed Rock | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| 1.5" Crushed Rock | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Pea Gravel | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Sand | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 2,200 |
| Rip Rap (large) | 1.25 | 2,500 |
| Road Base per 1,000 SF | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | Tons (ABC) | CY |
| 4" | 55.5 | 12.3 |
| 6" | 83.3 | 18.5 |
| 8" | 111 | 24.7 |
| 10" | 139 | 30.9 |
| 12" | 167 | 37.0 |
Production Rates
Rates vary by soil conditions, depth, access, weather, and crew experience. Use historical data when available.
| Excavator Production Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavator Size | Loose CY/Hour | Bank CY/Hour | Notes |
| Mini (1-3 CY) | 15-25 | 12-20 | Tight spaces, shallow |
| Small (3-5 CY) | 40-60 | 32-48 | Standard utility work |
| Medium (5-8 CY) | 80-120 | 64-96 | Deep trenches, large pipe |
| Large (8-12 CY) | 150-220 | 120-176 | Mass excavation |
| Pipe Installation Rates (Crew of 3-4) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pipe Size | LF/Day | Factors |
| 4" - 6" | 200-400 | Small, fast handling |
| 8" - 12" | 150-300 | Standard utility size |
| 15" - 18" | 100-200 | Heavier, slower |
| 24" - 30" | 50-100 | Requires larger equipment |
| 36"+ | 25-75 | Heavy equipment, careful placement |
Hauling & Trucking
| Truck Capacities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Type | Loose CY | Tons | Notes |
| Single Axle | 8-12 | 10-15 | Small jobs, tight access |
| Tandem Axle | 12-18 | 15-22 | Standard dump truck |
| Tri-Axle | 18-22 | 22-28 | Larger loads |
| End Dump (Semi) | 20-25 | 25-30 | Mass hauling |
| Bottom Dump | 25-30 | 30-35 | Spreading applications |
Number of Trucks Needed
Trucks = (Production CY/Hour × Haul Time Hours) ÷ Truck Capacity
Example: 100 CY/hr, 30-min round trip, 18 CY trucks → (100 × 0.5) ÷ 18 = 2.8 → 3 trucks
Quick Formulas
| Material | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | CY = SF × inches ÷ 324 | Add 5-10% waste |
| Asphalt | Tons = SF × inches × 0.055 | Standard HMA |
| Excavation | CY = L × W × D ÷ 27 | Bank measure |
| Import Fill | Tons = CY × 1.5 × 1.15 | Avg weight + shrink |
| Backfill | CY = Trench - Pipe - Bedding | Add compaction factor |
| Water Volume | Gal = SF × Depth × 7.48 | For dewatering |
| Haul Trucks | (CY/hr × Time) ÷ Capacity | Round up |
Volume Conversions
27 CF = 1 CY
7.48 gal = 1 CF
202 gal = 1 CY
Weight Estimates
1 CY soil ≈ 2,700 lbs
1 CY gravel ≈ 2,800 lbs
1 CY concrete ≈ 4,000 lbs
Area Conversions
9 SF = 1 SY
43,560 SF = 1 acre
4,840 SY = 1 acre