Zerdly

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.

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How to use this calculator

Enter Values

Enter your values and press Calculate to see results.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the top (crest) width and the vertical height of the embankment.
  2. Enter the side slope as a horizontal-to-vertical ratio (for a 2:1 batter, enter 2), then the length along the embankment.
  3. 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

Explore more in Geometry, Shape, Area & Volume.

Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.

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