Excavation takeoff: dig, haul and disposal volumes
By the Give Me The Cost estimating team · Methods reviewed by a senior GTA estimator (25+ years in the field) · Updated July 2026
An excavation takeoff produces two volumes: the bank (in-ground) volume you dig, and the loose volume you haul away. Soil swells 25–40% when excavated, so disposal and trucking are priced on the loose volume, not the hole. Anchor it to an accurate footprint and dig depth, apply the geotech swell factor, and keep excluded scope (contaminated soil, dewatering, shoring) as separate lines.
Bank vs. loose: the distinction that matters
Soil takes up more room out of the ground than in it:
- Bank (in-situ) volume — what you measure off the drawings: the hole.
- Loose volume — that same soil after it bulks up, = bank × swell factor (commonly ~1.25–1.40 per the geotech report).
- Disposal & haul are priced on loose volume — that's what fills the trucks.
Quote the dig in bank volume, the haul-away in loose. Mixing them up under- or over-states the truck count and the tipping fees. (We break the swell math down in detail in how much soil comes out of a basement dig.)
What drives the numbers
- Footprint / dig area — plan area of the excavation (building outline plus working space).
- Dig depth — grade to underside of footing/slab, driven by below-grade levels and frost depth (Ontario, ~1.2 m frost cover, deeper for basements/parking).
- Working space — extra width for access and forming (often 2–3 ft per side; zero where shored).
- Swell factor — from the geotech report; drives loose/disposal volume.
- Strip & grub — topsoil stripping, taken separately.
Common mistakes
- Pricing disposal on bank volume. Forgetting swell under-counts the haul by 25–40%.
- A flat dig depth. A basement or parking level is far deeper than slab-on-grade — read the below-grade levels.
- Ignoring working space. The hole is wider than the building.
- Bundling excluded scope. Contaminated soil and dewatering are their own lines — call them out.
Doing it faster
Give Me The Cost derives the dig depth from the below-grade levels, applies the geotech swell factor, and reports bank and loose volumes plus a truck count — with contaminated soil, dewatering and shoring correctly excluded. You get a defensible earthwork number in minutes, and you can sanity-check the swell logic with our free excavation calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
What is bank vs loose volume in excavation?
Bank volume is the soil in the ground (the hole you measure). Loose volume is that soil after it swells when excavated. Disposal and haulage are priced on the loose volume.
What is a swell factor?
How much soil expands when dug — clay 30–40%, loam ~25%, sand 10–15%. Bank volume × swell factor = the loose volume you truck away and pay disposal on.
How do you find the dig depth?
From grade to the underside of the footing or slab, driven by the number of below-grade levels and frost depth. A building with a basement or parking is far deeper than slab-on-grade.
What's excluded from an excavation takeoff?
Contaminated soil removal, dewatering, and shoring design are typically separate lines priced by others — a takeoff calls them out rather than burying them in the dig.