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Bank and loose fill for a specified compacted volume

Convert a compacted-volume target using two explicitly entered bank-based volume ratios. No soil type, compaction acceptance, transport capacity or order allowance is chosen.

Use the reviewed placed-and-compacted volume, not a loose stockpile or a nominal truck load. Default 9 m³ is fictional.
Enter a documented volume ratio for the same material and scope. Fictional 0.90 is not a recommended soil coefficient, 90% maximum dry density, a shrink percentage of 0.10 or its reciprocal.
Enter the compatible documented ratio with the SAME bank denominator. Fictional 1.25 means 25% more loose volume than bank, not a field compaction target.
Required bank-basis volume

10.000 m³

Corresponding loose-basis volume

12.500 m³

Loose volume / compacted volume

1.388889 ×

Positive specified compacted volume and positive compatible volume ratios, both referenced to the same bank basis. Defaults are fictional. No soil classification, factor selection, density acceptance, tonnes, truck count, contamination decision, reserve, settlement or loss added automatically. Record losses already included in supplied factors; conversion does not approve material, excavation or compaction work.

FROM ESTIMATE TO ACTION

Use the result, not just the number.

01

Confirm the two denominators before calculating

Here c = compacted volume / bank volume and l = loose volume / bank volume. Both must describe compatible material and the same bank basis. Ask the designer or supplier to spell out a factor stated only as “shrink”, “swell” or “balance”: another document may use a reciprocal or include different losses. A volume ratio is not a percentage of maximum dry density or proof of compaction acceptance. Do not enter a field density target such as 95% as c = 0.95. Check moisture/material scope and whether handling losses are already included; the calculator cannot reconcile incompatible records or select the factors.

02

Convert the target without adding percentages

Fictional C = 9 m³, c = 0.90 and l = 1.25 give B = 9 / 0.90 = 10 m³ bank and L = 10 × 1.25 = 12.5 m³ loose. The loose/compacted multiplier is 1.25 / 0.90 = 1.388889. These values are arithmetic inputs, not a recommendation for a named soil. Do not simply add a 25% loose increase and a 10% compacted reduction: 9 × 1.35 = 12.15 m³, not 12.5 m³. A factor above one for compacted/bank is not rejected automatically: FHWA describes materials such as rock that can remain larger than their original bank volume. The actual factor still needs evidence.

03

Keep procurement and safe execution separate

Before any order, confirm the supplier’s state of measurement, material suitability, specification and documented allowances. This calculator adds no hidden waste and does not convert volume into tonnes or vehicle payload. A change of material or moisture scope needs matching new data, not reuse of convenient coefficients. This is quantity accounting, not permission to excavate, enter a trench or choose a safe side slope. It does not set lift thickness, equipment, compaction energy, testing or density acceptance. Keep those decisions with the appropriate project professionals and the applicable local process.

Inputs to verify

Specified compacted volume C (m³)
Use the reviewed placed-and-compacted volume, not a loose stockpile or a nominal truck load. Default 9 m³ is fictional.
Compacted-to-bank volume ratio c = Vc/Vb (×)
Enter a documented volume ratio for the same material and scope. Fictional 0.90 is not a recommended soil coefficient, 90% maximum dry density, a shrink percentage of 0.10 or its reciprocal.
Loose-to-bank volume ratio l = Vl/Vb (×)
Enter the compatible documented ratio with the SAME bank denominator. Fictional 1.25 means 25% more loose volume than bank, not a field compaction target.

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