Measure a trench without entering the hole

Why measure from the edge

Climbing into an excavation to tape it is slow and can be unsafe, and a tape only gives you a few dimensions of an irregular hole. Measuring from the rim keeps you out of the hole and captures its real shape.

With a formula

For a straight trench with vertical sides: volume = length × width × depth. With sloping sides, use the average of the top and bottom widths.

Real excavations have uneven floors and battered sides, so the formula is a rough estimate at best.

With your phone

Stockpile has a trench or hole mode. It measures the hole as a pile upside down: it fits the ground round the rim and measures the space below it.

1. Choose Trench or hole.
2. Find the ground at the rim, then tap Start.
3. Walk slowly round the edge, keeping the floor and sides in view, until the app says Ready.
4. Tap Finish to get the volume, a 3D model and a report.

Stay safe

Keep a safe distance from the edge, follow your site’s excavation rules, and never lean over an unsupported face to get a better view.