Excavation Rate per Cubic Meter in Nepal?

Overview

In this process, the soil or rock is removed from the work area in order to prepare the site for construction. This can be done mechanically and manually too. You have to understand two technical terms in excavation: lead and lift. Lead is the horizontal distance from the point of excavation to the point of disposal. Lift is the vertical height through which the soil or rock has to be lifted.

There are two codes you should deal with to calculate the rate for excavation.

1. District Rate
2. Norms by DUDBC

You can find the details in our previous blog: https://www.ieccc.com.np/2024/06/cost-of-m20-grade-concrete-in-Nepal.html.

Let's deal with excavation cost analysis per cu. m. for different categories of soil by manual and mechanical means.

1. Soft clay and silty soil
2. Hard clay and soils mixed with soft moorum stones (up to 30 cm in size)
3. Medium rock
4. Hard Rock

By Manual Means

Soft Clay

Earthwork excavation of soft clay and silty soils, including disposal of up to 10 m of lead and 1.5 m of lift
Description	Type	Quantity	Unit	Rate	Amount	Remarks
Workers	Skilled	0.00	Mday	1185	0.00
	Unskilled	0.70	mday	870	609
Tools and Plants at 3%					18.27
Sub Total					627.27
Contractor Overhead and Profit at 15%					94.09
Total					721.36

 

Normal Soil

Earthwork excavation of hard clay and soils mixed with soft moorum stones (up to 30 cm in size), including disposal of up to 10 m of lead and 1.5 m of lift
Description	Type	Quantity	Unit	Rate	Amount	Remarks
Workers	Skilled	0.00	Mday	1185	0.00
	Unskilled	0.80	mday	870	696
Tools and Plant at 3%					20.88
Sub Total					716.88
Contractor Overhead and Profit at 15%					107.53
Total					824.41

 

Medium rock

Earthwork excavation of medium rock, including disposal of up to 10 m of lead and 1.5 m of lift
Description	Type	Quantity	Unit	Rate	Amount	Remarks
Workers	Skilled	0.00	Mday	1185	0.00
	Unskilled	3.00	mday	870	2610
Tools and Plant at 3%					78.30
Sub Total					2688.30
Contractor Overhead and Profit at 15%					403.24
Total					3091.54

 

Hard Rock

You should make use of a hydraulic excavator for earthwork in hard rock.

 

By Hydraulic Excavator

Particular	Description	Unit	Time (Hours)	Remarks
Hydraulic Excavator	Soft Soil	Cu.m	0.0163
	Hard Soil	Cu.m	0.0200
	Medium Rock	Cu.m	0.0277
	Hard Rock	Cu.m	0.0370

Note: You need an extra tractor or dumper with an unskilled worker for mechanical means.

 

Others

Before excavation work, site clearance has to be done. Let's calculate the rate of site clearance per square meter.

Site Clearance

Site Clearance including vegetation cutting and surface dressing
Description	Type	Quantity	Unit	Rate	Amount	Remarks
Workers	Skilled	0.00	Mday	1185	0.00
	Unskilled	0.01	mday	870	8.70
Tools and Plants at 3%					0.26
Sub Total					8.96
Contractor Overhead and Profit at 15%					1.34
Total					10.3

Note: The above-calculated price is exclusive of VAT.