Free Muck Away & Topsoil Volume Calculator | DigFill

## Soil Bulking vs. Soil Compaction Whether you are stripping a site for a new patio or bringing in topsoil for a new lawn, the raw geometric volume ($L \times W \times D$) is only half the equation. Ground behaves differently depending on whether it is being disturbed or laid down. ### Stripping Out (Muck Away & Bulking Factors) When earth sits in the ground, it is solid and highly compacted by years of gravity and rain. As soon as you dig an excavator bucket into it, you introduce air into the material. This is known as the **Bulking Factor**. * **Standard Soil/Mix:** Fluffs up by roughly 20-30%. If you dig a 10m³ hole, you will have roughly 12.5m³ of loose spoil to remove. * **Heavy Clay:** Bulks significantly more, often up to 40%. Our calculator accounts for this bulking factor, meaning it tells you the exact number of 16-Ton Grab Lorries required based on the *loose, bulked volume*, preventing you from under-booking muck away vehicles. ### Bringing In (Importing Topsoil) The opposite is true when importing soil. Topsoil arrives loose in bulk bags or tippers. When you spread it out and lightly track it down (or let it settle under a few rain showers), it loses volume. To achieve a finished, settled depth of 150mm across a garden, you generally need to order **15% to 20% more loose topsoil** to account for this settlement. This tool calculates the required order volume automatically to ensure your final landscape levels are perfect. --- ## Explore More Site Tools

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