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Earthwork & operating budgets

Earthmoving Cost per Unit Calculator

Allocate productive and standby costs to output in one matched material state.

160 / EARTHMOVING COST PER UNIT

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Starting values are illustrative. Use your own costs, rates and assumptions.

INPUT GROUP 01

Entered assumptions and matching units

Check the assumptions before acting on a result.

Read the method and example

YOUR CALCULATION

Allocate operating and standby costs to the entered material output.

Operating plus standby cost

$1,120.00

Produced volume in the declared state (m³)

600

Mass at the same-state bulk density (t)

960

Cost per produced m³

$1.87

Cost per produced metric tonne

$1.17

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Illustrative inputs loaded. Replace them with your own assumptions.

How the earthmoving cost per unit calculator works

Produced volume is productive hours times production per productive hour. Produced mass multiplies volume by the entered bulk density. Total period cost adds productive and standby hours at their separate combined cost rates.

Divide period cost by output for cost per m³ or per metric tonne. Zero output leaves a unit-cost ratio unavailable while retaining incurred period cost; standby adds cost without output.

Volume and density must both use the same bank, loose or compacted basis. No swell, compaction, payload legality or machine rating is inferred. Include the same crew and machine cost components in each entered hourly allowance.

Worked example

Six productive hours at $150 plus two standby hours at $110 cost $1,120. Output at 100 m³/productive hour is 600 m³ or 960 t at 1.6 t/m³. With no standby, total cost is $900.

Sources and assumptions

The source material explains the underlying calculation or pricing structure. Entered prices, costs, schedules and scenario choices are your assumptions; this tool does not obtain supplier quotes or predict actual results.

  • Earthmoving Truck Loads

    Apply an entered swell allowance to bank volume, then use both loose-volume and approved payload constraints.

  • Loader & Haul Truck Matching

    Balance one loader with a truck fleet using whole loading passes and a declared away cycle.

  • Wheel Loader Productivity

    Relate loose bucket load, observed active cycle and a separate delay allowance to hourly output.

  • Material Stockpile Quantity

    Model a pile with a constant trapezoidal cross-section and vertical ends, then apply your bulk density and unit value.

Calculation methods, testing and sources · Practical calculation guides