Embankment Volume Calculator
Estimate the fill volume of a trapezoidal embankment, bund or levee with a constant cross-section. Enter the crest (top) width, height, side slope and length to get the volume of material needed, along with the cross-section area and the width at the base.
Enter Values
Minimum 0
How to use this calculator
- Enter the top (crest) width and the vertical height of the embankment.
- Enter the side slope as a horizontal-to-vertical ratio (for a 2:1 batter, enter 2), then the length along the embankment.
- Read the total fill volume in cubic metres, plus the cross-section area and calculated bottom width.
How it works
The base is wider than the crest because the sides batter outward. Bottom width = top width + 2 × height × side slope (each side spreads out by height × slope). The trapezoidal cross-section area is A = height × (top width + bottom width) / 2, and the volume is simply that area multiplied by the length: V = A × length.
Worked example
Worked example. A 5 m wide crest, 3 m high with 2:1 side slopes, running 100 m long: bottom width = 5 + 2 × 3 × 2 = 17 m; area = 3 × (5 + 17) / 2 = 33 m²; volume = 33 × 100 = 3,300 m³.
Common mistakes
- Entering the side slope the wrong way round — use the horizontal run per unit of vertical rise (H:V), so a 2:1 batter is 2.
- Using the sloped face length instead of the vertical height for the height input.
- Applying it to an embankment whose cross-section changes along its length; this formula assumes a constant profile.
Frequently asked questions
What does a side slope of 2 mean?
It means the batter runs 2 metres horizontally for every 1 metre of vertical rise (a 2:1 slope). Steeper batters have smaller numbers, so a 1:1 slope is entered as 1.
Can I use this for a cutting instead of a fill?
The geometry is the same for a symmetric cutting, but the widths reverse (the top opening is wider than the base). For a straightforward cut, the pit or excavation volume tools are usually a better fit.
Related tools
- Pit Volume from Dimensions Calculator
- Batter Slope Volume Calculator
- Mound Volume Calculator
- Tank Volume Calculator
- Average End Area Volume Calculator
- Trench Volume Calculator
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Cite this tool
Zerdly. (2026). Embankment Volume Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.zerdly.com/tools/embankment-volume-calculator/
Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.
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