Crushed Concrete Calculator
Calculate exactly how much recycled crushed concrete you need in tons and cubic yards for driveways, patios, and structural bases. Includes compaction and waste allowances.
Project Dimensions
Recommended Order
Total Tons
The Complete Guide to Estimating Crushed Concrete
Crushed concrete—often called Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA)—is one of the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and structurally sound base materials available in construction. By crushing old concrete slabs, sidewalks, and foundations into usable gravel-like material, suppliers offer a product that is not only cheaper than virgin quarried stone but actually performs better in many compaction scenarios.
However, calculating exactly how much crushed concrete you need can be tricky. Unlike water or solid steel, crushed concrete is full of air voids. When you run a heavy plate compactor over it, those pieces grind together, the fine dust settles into the gaps, and the entire layer shrinks in height. If you don’t calculate your yards and tons correctly—and if you fail to account for this compaction rate—you will end up with a driveway or base that is too thin.
How to Calculate Crushed Concrete for a Driveway or Base
Because landscaping yards sell materials by the Cubic Yard or by the Ton, you must translate your physical project dimensions into volume and weight. Our crushed concrete calculator performs these steps instantly, but here is the underlying math:
- Calculate Square Footage: Measure the Length and Width of your project in feet and multiply them together (e.g., a 10 ft × 20 ft driveway extension = 200 sq ft).
- Calculate Cubic Feet: Multiply your square footage by your desired depth in feet. Important: Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12. A standard 4-inch base is 0.33 feet thick (4 ÷ 12 = 0.33). So, 200 sq ft × 0.33 ft = 66.6 cubic feet.
- Convert to Cubic Yards: There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. Divide your cubic feet by 27. (66.6 ÷ 27 = 2.46 Cubic Yards).
- Convert to Tons: One cubic yard of well-graded crushed concrete (like 21AA or 304) weighs approximately 1.4 tons. Multiply your yards by 1.4. (2.46 × 1.4 = 3.44 Tons).
- Add the Compaction Factor: Because standard base materials shrink when compacted, industry standard dictates adding 10% to 15% to your order. Adding 15% to 3.44 tons gives you a final order of roughly 4 Tons.
Understanding Different Grades of Crushed Concrete
When you call a local material yard, they won’t just sell you “crushed concrete.” You have to specify the grade or size. The size you choose dramatically affects the density (weight per yard) and how well the material functions for your specific project.
21AA & 304 Crushed Concrete Base
Density: ~1.4 Tons per Cubic Yard
Depending on your region, this is called 21AA (Michigan/Midwest) or 304 (Ohio area). This is the gold standard for driveway bases and paver patios. It contains angular stones up to 1.5 inches in size mixed with concrete dust (“fines”). When watered and compacted, the fines lock the larger stones together, causing it to harden almost like a solid sheet of concrete.
Type 1 MOT (UK Standard)
Density: ~1.35 to 1.4 Tons per Cubic Meter/Yard
In the UK and Europe, Type 1 MOT (Ministry of Transport) is the equivalent sub-base material. Recycled Type 1 crushed concrete must meet strict grading requirements to ensure it provides a frost-resistant, highly stable load-bearing sub-base for roads and driveways.
1×3 Oversized Crushed Concrete
Density: ~1.2 Tons per Cubic Yard
This material consists of larger chunks of concrete ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches in diameter, usually with the fines sifted out. Because there are no fines to fill the gaps, it has more air volume, making it lighter per yard. It is highly porous and is primarily used for deep mud remediation, construction entrances, or heavy drainage areas.
Clean Crushed (#57 Equivalent)
Density: ~1.3 Tons per Cubic Yard
Similar to #57 quarried limestone, this is crushed concrete screened to roughly 3/4″ to 1″ in size with all the dust washed or screened away. Because it lacks fines, water flows freely through it, making it excellent for French drains or behind retaining walls where drainage is critical.
Coverage Charts & Quick Math
How much will 1 ton of crushed concrete cover?
One ton of standard 21AA crushed concrete (yielding about 0.71 cubic yards) will cover varying square footage depending on how deeply it is spread. The table below illustrates the coverage of exactly 1 Ton before compaction.
| Depth of Material | Square Footage Covered (Per Ton) |
|---|---|
| 1 Inch Deep | ~ 230 Sq Ft |
| 2 Inches Deep | ~ 115 Sq Ft |
| 3 Inches Deep | ~ 77 Sq Ft |
| 4 Inches Deep (Standard Base) | ~ 57 Sq Ft |
| 6 Inches Deep (Heavy Duty) | ~ 38 Sq Ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many yards is 20 tons of crushed concrete?
Assuming standard 21AA or 304 base material which weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 20 tons is equal to approximately 14.28 cubic yards (20 ÷ 1.4 = 14.28). This is essentially the max payload of a large standard quad-axle dump truck.
How much is 1 yard of crushed concrete?
Prices vary highly by region, but recycled crushed concrete is significantly cheaper than virgin limestone. As of recent industry averages, one cubic yard of crushed concrete ranges from $25 to $40 picked up at the yard. Delivery fees (usually hourly or mileage-based) will add to this cost.
What is cheaper, crushed rock or gravel?
In almost all local markets, recycled crushed concrete is the cheapest bulk aggregate available, often costing 30% to 50% less than virgin crushed limestone or river gravel. Crushed rock (limestone) is generally more expensive than natural round gravel due to the labor and machinery required to mine and blast it from quarries.
How many cubic feet does a 50 lb bag of gravel cover?
A standard 50 lb bag of gravel yields approximately 0.5 cubic feet of volume. If you lay this 50 lb bag 2 inches deep, it will cover exactly 3 square feet. Buying material in 50 lb bags is extremely expensive compared to bulk delivery; a cubic yard weighs roughly 2,800 lbs, which would require fifty-six 50lb bags!
What is the price of a 50lb bag of gravel at Lowe’s?
At major home improvement stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot, a 50 lb bag of standard all-purpose gravel typically costs between $4.50 and $6.00 depending on the exact stone type and region. While you can buy pallets of gravel at these stores, it is generally much cheaper to buy bulk loose material from a local landscaping or stone yard if you need more than 1 cubic yard.
Which type of gravel hardens like concrete?
Gravel that contains a mixture of angular stones and fine stone dust will harden into a near-solid mass. The best materials for this are Crushed Concrete Base (21AA/304), Crush and Run (Crusher Run), and Item 4. The unwashed fine dust acts as a binder; when moistened and compacted heavily, the fines lock the jagged stones into place, creating an incredibly hard, unyielding surface suitable for driveways.
What should I put down before laying gravel or crushed concrete?
To prevent your newly laid crushed concrete from sinking into the mud over time, you should always lay down a woven geotextile fabric (often called heavy-duty driveway fabric) directly over the exposed dirt subgrade before dumping the stone. This fabric prevents the mud from mixing with your stone base while still allowing water to drain through.
Calculation Methodology
This tool calculates volume based on exact standard geometric equations (Length × Width × Depth for rectangles). Conversion from volumetric cubic yards to imperial tons relies on baseline material density averages provided by aggregate industry standards.
Compaction factors are calculated by taking the base mathematical volume and multiplying it by the selected percentage overage (e.g., a 15% waste factor multiplies the total weight by 1.15) to account for material shrinkage when subjected to mechanical compaction equipment.
Accuracy & Limitations
- Density Variations: The calculated tons are estimates based on a standard 1.4 tons/yd³. Actual weight can vary slightly based on the aggregate size, fines content, and moisture level of the pile at the time of loading.
- Subgrade Fluctuations: If your excavated base is uneven, wavy, or rutted, it will consume more material than a mathematically perfect rectangle.
- Compaction Loss: 15% is a standard baseline recommendation for base rock compaction. Heavy vibratory rolling on soft subgrades may require up to a 20% allowance.
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