Material Density Tables To Help Estimate Earthwork Volumes

VOLUME

Calculating appropriate volumes is critical to accuracy. In-bank soil, loose soil that has been excavated and fill soil that has been compacted, have different volumes and resulting load factors.

Definitions:

Bank Cubic Yards (BCY)/Bank Cubic Meters (BCM): Material as it lies in its natural bank state.

Loose Cubic Yards (LCY)/Loose Cubic Meters (LCM): Material which has been excavated in some way and swelled as a result of the space that now exist between its elements.

Compact Cubic Yards (CCY)/Compact Cubic Meters (CCM): Material which has been compacted and become more dense as a result.

COMMON MATERIALS LOOSE & BANK TABLE

Material description*	Loose (kg/m³)	Loose (lb/yd³)	Bank (kg/m³)	Bank (lb/yd³)	Load Factor
CLAY, NATURAL BED	1660	2800	2020	3400	0.82
Clay, Dry	1480	2500	1840	3100	0.81
Clay, wet	1660	2800	2080	3500	0.80
Clay & gravel, dry	1420	2400	1660	2800	0.85
Clay & gravel, wet	1540	2600	1840	3100	0.85
EARTH, DRY PACKED	1510	2550	1900	3200	0.80
Earth, wet excavated	1600	2700	2020	3400	0.79
Earth, Loam	1250	2100	1540	2600	0.81
GRAVEL, PITRUN	1930	3250	2170	3650	0.89
Gravel, dry	1510	2550	1690	2850	0.89
Gravel, dry (1/4 - 2”)	1690	2850	1900	3200	0.89
Gravel, wet (1/4 - 2”)	2020	3400	2260	3800	0.89
SAND, DRY LOOSE	1420	2400	1600	2700	0.89
Sand, damp	1690	2850	1900	3200	0.89
Sand, wet	1840	3100	2080	3500	0.89
SAND & CLAY, LOOSE	1600	2700	2020	3400	0.79
Sand & Clay, compacted	2400	4050
Sand & Gravel, dry	1720	2900	1930	3250	0.89
Sand & Gravel, wet	2020	3400	2230	3750	0.91
CRUSHED STONE	1600	2700	2670	4500	0.60
TOP SOIL	950	1600	1370	2300	0.70

*Weight of material varies with moisture content, grain size, degreee of compaction, etc. Tests must be made to determine exact material characteristics. Consult your Cat dealer for more information.