Patio Excavation & Spoil Planner
Estimate excavation depth, in-place volume, loose spoil, and truck loads from a chosen paver assembly and finished elevation.
Set your project details
A patio can finish above or below the existing grade. Set the planned rise above existing ground to see how much excavation remains after the paver, bedding, and base layers are added.
See how the quantities change
The labeled view updates when you edit the inputs. It prints with the result.
Swipe the diagram sideways to see every label. The calculated quantities are listed below.
Your estimate appears here
Enter your measurements and calculate to see required and purchase amounts.
The calculation
Worked example (U.S. customary)
For a 192 sq ft patio with 7.375 in of combined layers at existing grade, excavation is about 4.37 in-place cubic yards. At 20% bulking, plan for about 5.24 loose cubic yards of spoil.
Set the finished height first
Choose the finished surface elevation relative to the current ground, then enter each layer at its finished thickness. The excavation depth is the sum of those layers minus the rise above existing grade. If the finished surface sits high enough that no excavation is needed, the tool reports zero for the geometric footprint.
Distinguish the hole from the spoil pile
In-place cubic yards describe soil before removal. Excavated soil usually occupies more room after it is broken up; the entered bulking allowance converts the geometric volume into a loose spoil estimate. This is separate from any compaction allowance for material going back into the patio.
Plan access and disposal
Mark where equipment can work, where spoil can sit, and whether material can be reused on site. A haul truck may take less than its nominal capacity because of weight or route restrictions. The entered truck size provides only a volume-based load estimate.
What to check before buying
This is geometric excavation for the footprint only. Working room, slopes, unsuitable soil, drainage, and haul restrictions may change removal volume.
Common questions
Does the calculation include extra working room outside the patio?
No. It covers the measured finished footprint. Measure any extra excavation strip separately.
Why can a raised patio still require excavation?
The total layer thickness can exceed the planned rise above current grade. The difference remains below grade.
Read the related What materials go beneath a paver patio?, or use the full patios & pavers planner for a complete material list.