Key numbers
- Formula: tons = ft² × depth (in) ÷ 324 × 1.74 (FHWA compacted dry density)
- FHWA-RD-97-148: mean dry density 129.0 lb/ft³ over 143 tests (2,066 kg/m³); specific gravity 2.2–2.5 coarse, 2.0–2.3 fine
- Absorbs more water than virgin stone: 2–6% coarse, 4–8% fine, so wet loads weigh more
- Coverage: 1 ton covers about 47 ft² at 4 in and 31 ft² at 6 in
- Alkaline: FHWA reports pH of RCM-water mixtures often above 11; it can corrode aluminium or galvanized steel pipe
On this page
- How to use the Crushed Concrete Calculator
- How do you calculate how much crushed concrete you need?
- How much does crushed concrete weigh per yard?
- Crushed concrete tons for common driveway sizes
- Is crushed concrete as good as gravel for a base?
- Crushed concrete vs crusher run, gravel and millings
- Crushed concrete in metric
- Common crushed concrete ordering mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
How to use the Crushed Concrete Calculator
- 1Describe the areaChoose Rectangle (length × width), Circle (diameter) or Known area if you already have the square footage.
- 2Pick your unitsUse US (feet and inches) or Metric (meters and centimeters). Switching converts the numbers you typed, so the area stays the same.
- 3Enter the depthType how deep the crushed concrete (fhwa compacted dry 129 lb/ft³) should be, 4 in is a common starting point for this job.
- 4Choose the materialThe calculator uses 1.7415 tons per cubic yard for crushed concrete (fhwa compacted dry 129 lb/ft³). Use your supplier's figure if it differs.
- 5Allow for settlingChoose the extra: none, 5%, 10% (the default) or 20% for a base you will compact.
- 6Read and price the resultsSee cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, US tons and metric tonnes. Enter your supplier's price per ton for the total cost.
Results update as you type. Back to the calculator ↑
How do you calculate how much crushed concrete you need?
Find the compacted volume, then multiply by the density to get tons. The calculator starts from the Federal Highway Administration’s measured density for recycled concrete and lets you replace it with your supplier’s figure.
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324
Tons = cubic yards × 1.74 (129 lb/ft³ × 27 ÷ 2,000)
The 1.74 comes from FHWA report FHWA-RD-97-148, User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction. Its Table 14-3, a six-year study of recycled concrete from uncontrolled stockpiles on Long Island, New York, gives a mean dry density of 129.0 lb/ft³ (standard deviation 2.6) across 143 tests. In metric that is about 2,066 kg/m³.
What that number is, and is not. It is a compacted, dry density. That suits a base you will compact: tons = finished volume × compacted density, with no separate compaction factor. It is not the loose weight in a truck bed (lower) or the weight of a rain-soaked pile (higher). If your yard gives its own tons per yard, type it into the density box.
Worked example: 12 × 40 ft driveway, 4 in deep
- Area: 12 × 40 = 480 ft² (44.6 m²)
- Volume: 480 × 4 ÷ 324 = 5.93 yd³ (160 ft³, 4.53 m³)
- Weight at 1.74 t/yd³: 5.93 × 1.7415 = 10.32 tons
- With 10% extra: 6.52 yd³, 11.35 tons
Every square foot at 4 in holds 4 ÷ 12 × 129 = 43 lb of compacted material, which is a quick check on any quote.
How much does crushed concrete weigh per yard?
About 1.74 tons (3,483 lb) per compacted cubic yard, dry, from FHWA’s 129 lb/ft³ mean. Treat it as a reference point, not a guarantee for your load.
Three things move the real weight:
- Moisture. Recycled concrete absorbs more water than virgin stone. FHWA’s Table 14-1 gives absorption of 2–6% for coarse particles and 4–8% for fines, with values as high as 11.8% reported, against 2% or less for virgin aggregate in the granular base guideline. A wet ton holds less stone.
- What is mixed in. FHWA notes that recycled concrete excavated from old pavements may include 10 to 30% subbase soil and asphalt. Its granular base guideline suggests limiting the asphalt (RAP) content to 20% to protect bearing strength.
- Loose vs compacted. A cubic yard in the truck weighs less than the same material rolled down in place.
Particle density. The crushed pieces are lighter than natural rock: FHWA lists specific gravity of 2.2–2.5 for coarse particles and 2.0–2.3 for fines, and the granular base guideline describes recycled concrete’s unit weight as lower than conventional aggregate.
Crushed concrete tons for common driveway sizes
Tons use FHWA’s 129 lb/ft³ (1.7415 t/yd³) compacted density; the right-hand columns add 10%.
| Area | Depth | yd³ | Tons | yd³ +10% | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft pad | 4 in | 1.23 | 2.15 | 1.36 | 2.37 |
| 12 × 40 ft drive | 4 in | 5.93 | 10.32 | 6.52 | 11.35 |
| 10 × 50 ft drive | 4 in | 6.17 | 10.75 | 6.79 | 11.83 |
| 12 × 60 ft drive | 4 in | 8.89 | 15.48 | 9.78 | 17.03 |
| 20 × 40 ft parking area | 4 in | 9.88 | 17.20 | 10.86 | 18.92 |
| 12 × 60 ft drive | 6 in | 13.33 | 23.22 | 14.67 | 25.54 |
| 24 × 40 ft two-car drive | 6 in | 17.78 | 30.96 | 19.56 | 34.06 |
| 12 × 100 ft drive | 6 in | 22.22 | 38.70 | 24.44 | 42.57 |
| Depth | ft² per ton | lb per ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in (75 mm) | 62 | 32.3 |
| 4 in (100 mm) | 47 | 43.0 |
| 6 in (150 mm) | 31 | 64.5 |
The right depth depends on your soil, traffic and whether the recycled concrete is the base or the surface. Check your plans or local practice; the driveway gravel calculator sizes a layered base.
Is crushed concrete as good as gravel for a base?
Often yes, when it is clean and well graded. FHWA’s granular base guideline says the properties of processed recycled concrete generally exceed the minimum requirements for conventional granular aggregates, and that it can be used as coarse or fine aggregate in granular base. Its Table 14-2 reports California Bearing Ratio values of 94 to 148%, against a typical 100% for crushed limestone, and Los Angeles abrasion loss of 20–45% for coarse particles.
FHWA points to AASHTO M147 and ASTM D2940 for base gradation. A yard that crushes to a state DOT base specification will usually say so; ask for the spec or a gradation sheet.
Cautions from the same guideline:
- High pH. FHWA reports that recycled-concrete-and-water mixtures often exceed pH 11. The same FHWA material description warns this can corrode aluminium or galvanized steel pipe; keep drainage away from such pipe and from watercourses.
- Contamination. Ask what went into the crusher. Rebar, brick, asphalt and soil all change how the base performs.
- Fines and drainage. Crushed concrete with lots of fines can drain slowly. Ask for a gradation that suits a drainage layer if that is the job.
Crushed concrete vs crusher run, gravel and millings
All of these are sized the same way; density, price and behaviour differ.
| Material | Density used on this site | Source of density | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed concrete (RCA) | 1.74 t/yd³ (compacted, dry) | FHWA-RD-97-148, Table 14-3 | this page |
| Asphalt millings (RAP) | 1.62–1.89 t/yd³ | FHWA-RD-97-148, RAP unit weight | asphalt millings calculator |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.6 t/yd³ | typical planning value | crusher run calculator |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 1.35 t/yd³ | typical planning value | crushed stone calculator |
The planning values for crusher run and #57 stone are loose weights with no authoritative source; the two FHWA figures are measured but come from specific studies. In every case, a supplier’s tons-per-yard figure for the load you buy beats any table.
Crushed concrete in metric
Volume (m³) = area (m²) × depth (m); tonnes = m³ × 2.066 at FHWA’s density.
Worked example: 3 × 15 m driveway, 150 mm deep
- Area: 3 × 15 = 45 m²
- Volume: 45 × 0.15 = 6.75 m³
- Weight at 2,066 kg/m³: 13.95 tonnes, or 15.34 tonnes with 10% extra
Switch the calculator to Metric and enter your supplier’s t/m³ if they give one.
Common crushed concrete ordering mistakes
- Adding compaction twice. If you use a compacted density, the tons already allow for compaction. Use the 10% for edges and losses.
- Using a wet weight to compare prices. A soaked stockpile can carry several percent water. Compare dry or ask for the scale ticket.
- Ignoring what is in it. Asphalt, brick and soil change both weight and strength.
- Laying it where runoff reaches metal pipe. FHWA warns high-pH water can corrode aluminium or galvanized steel.
- Skipping compaction. Spread in lifts and compact each one, as you would any granular base.
Results are ordering estimates. The supplier’s density and gradation and your plans take priority.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much crushed concrete do I need for a 12×60 driveway?
At 4 in deep, 720 ft² needs 8.89 yd³, about 15.5 tons at FHWA's 129 lb/ft³ compacted density, or 17 tons with 10% extra. At 6 in it is 13.33 yd³, about 23.2 tons, or 25.5 tons with 10%.
How much does a yard of crushed concrete weigh?
About 1.74 tons (3,483 lb) per cubic yard compacted and dry, from the FHWA mean of 129 lb/ft³ across 143 tests on Long Island stockpiles. Loose in a truck it weighs less per yard; wet it weighs more. Ask your yard for its figure.
How much area does a ton of crushed concrete cover?
At 1.74 tons per compacted cubic yard, a ton covers about 62 ft² at 3 in, 47 ft² at 4 in and 31 ft² at 6 in. That is roughly 43 lb of material for every square foot at 4 in.
Is crushed concrete good for a driveway base?
It can be. FHWA's guideline says processed recycled concrete generally exceeds the minimum requirements for conventional granular base and reports CBR values of 94–148%, against about 100% for crushed limestone. Quality varies by source, so ask what is in it.
Is crushed concrete heavier than gravel?
Per particle it is lighter: FHWA gives specific gravity 2.2–2.5 for coarse recycled concrete and calls its unit weight lower than virgin aggregate. A compacted yard still weighs about 1.74 tons. Compare suppliers' tons-per-yard figures, not names.
How much extra crushed concrete should I order?
The calculator adds 10% by default for edges, grading and losses. The FHWA density is already a compacted figure, so for a ton order you do not add a separate compaction factor on top. If the yard sells by the loose cubic yard, ask how much it compacts.
How much crushed concrete per square metre?
At 150 mm deep each m² takes 0.15 m³, about 310 kg at FHWA's 2,066 kg/m³ compacted density. A 3 × 15 m drive is 6.75 m³, about 13.95 tonnes, or 15.34 tonnes with 10% extra.
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Last reviewed October 10, 2026 by M Bilal. Found an error? Tell us.