Crushed Concrete / Recycled Aggregate Calculator

Enter your project area and compacted depth to instantly calculate how many cubic yards and tons of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) you need, plus a material cost estimate.

Free to use No sign-up required Bulk density-adjusted weight Imperial & metric supported

✓ Tons & short tons output ✓ Compaction factor included ✓ Cost estimator included ✓ Last verified May 2026

Written by Rachel Sousa — bulk density values cross-checked against ASTM C127 and AASHTO M147 standards, May 2026.

Enter Your Project Dimensions

Area Length

Measure the longest dimension of the area to be covered. Please enter a valid length greater than 0.

Area Width

The shorter dimension of the coverage area. Please enter a valid width greater than 0.

Compacted Depth

Enter the finished compacted depth. Sub-base under driveways: 6–8 in. Driveway surface layer: 4 in. Pathway: 3–4 in.

Please enter a valid depth greater than 0.

Overage Factor (%)

Add 10% for standard jobs. Add 15% for irregular shapes or steep slopes. Crushed concrete is inexpensive — never order exact.

Price per Ton (optional)

Leave blank to skip cost estimate. US average: $8–$25/ton depending on region and crushing source. Confirm with your local supplier.

Results appear instantly. No sign-up required.

Your Recycled Aggregate Estimate

Volume Required (with overage)

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Cubic Yards (yd³)

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Cubic Feet (ft³)

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Cubic Meters (m³)

Material Weight (with overage)

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US Short Tons

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Metric Tonnes

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Pounds (lbs)

— Area (sq ft)

— Area (m²)

— Depth

— Overage Factor

Estimated Material Cost

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Material cost only. Add delivery ($80–$200/load), spreading, and compaction labor for a full budget. Use our Full Project Estimator for a complete breakdown.

Step 1: Convert all dimensions to feet
Step 2: Volume (ft³) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
Step 3: Cubic Yards = ft³ ÷ 27
Step 4: Final Volume = Volume × (1 + overage% ÷ 100)
Step 5: Weight (lbs) = Final ft³ × Bulk Density (lbs/ft³)
Step 6: US Short Tons = lbs ÷ 2,000 | Metric Tonnes = lbs ÷ 2,204.62

RCA Bulk Density used: 120 lbs/ft³ (1,922 kg/m³) — typical compacted value per ASTM C29.
Virgin crushed stone density: ~100 lbs/ft³ loose, ~120 lbs/ft³ compacted.

How to Use This Crushed Concrete Calculator

Measure the area to be covered. Use a tape measure to record the length and width of the area in feet or your preferred unit. For L-shaped or irregular sites, break the area into rectangles, calculate each separately, and add the results. The calculator handles unit conversions — enter whatever you measured, don't convert manually.
Enter the required compacted depth. This is the finished depth after compaction, not the loose-dump depth. For a gravel driveway sub-base, 6–8 inches is standard. For a crushed concrete pathway or parking area surface, 4 inches compacted is typical. Use the preset buttons to fill common depths without typing.
Set an overage factor and enter a price per ton. The default 10% overage is appropriate for square or rectangular areas. Increase to 15% for irregular shapes, sloped sites, or if you're ordering for the first time. Enter the price per ton your supplier quoted — crushed concrete typically runs $8–$25/ton delivered depending on your region.
Read your results and call your supplier. Give the cubic yards figure to your aggregate supplier — that's how bulk materials are sold and delivered. The tons figure is useful for cross-checking the ticket weight on the delivery slip. Print or copy your estimate before placing the order.

⚠ Pro Tip: Crushed concrete is typically sold and delivered in tons, but quoted in cubic yards — and the density of RCA varies between suppliers depending on the source concrete and crushing process. Always confirm the bulk density your specific supplier uses. A 5% difference in density changes your tonnage calculation enough to matter on large jobs.

Crushed Concrete Volume & Weight Formula

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is a granular material, so the calculation starts with volume — then converts to weight using bulk density. The compacted bulk density of RCA typically falls between 115–125 lbs/ft³ (1,842–2,002 kg/m³). This calculator uses 120 lbs/ft³, the midpoint commonly cited in ASTM C29 test data for well-graded RCA.

Step	Formula	Example (20 × 12 ft, 6 in deep)
1. Convert depth to feet	inches ÷ 12	6 ÷ 12 = 0.500 ft
2. Volume in cubic feet	L × W × D	20 × 12 × 0.500 = 120 ft³
3. Convert to cubic yards	ft³ ÷ 27	120 ÷ 27 = 4.44 yd³
4. Add overage (10%)	Volume × 1.10	4.44 × 1.10 = 4.89 yd³
5. Weight in pounds	Final ft³ × 120 lbs/ft³	132 ft³ × 120 = 15,840 lbs
6. Convert to short tons	lbs ÷ 2,000	15,840 ÷ 2,000 = 7.92 tons

Common Project Size Reference Table

Volume and weight estimates at stated depths. No overage applied — add 10% for ordering.
Area Size	Depth	Cubic Yards	US Short Tons	Typical Use
10 × 10 ft	3 in	0.93 yd³	1.67 tons	Garden path, walkway
10 × 20 ft	4 in	2.47 yd³	4.44 tons	Residential pathway
12 × 20 ft	6 in	4.44 yd³	8.00 tons	Small parking pad
20 × 20 ft	4 in	4.94 yd³	8.89 tons	Driveway surface
20 × 40 ft	6 in	17.78 yd³	32.00 tons	Standard driveway sub-base
20 × 40 ft	8 in	23.70 yd³	42.67 tons	Heavy-duty driveway sub-base
50 × 50 ft	6 in	46.30 yd³	83.33 tons	Commercial parking lot
100 × 100 ft	8 in	246.91 yd³	444.44 tons	Large commercial base course

Based on 120 lbs/ft³ compacted bulk density. Add 10% to all figures for real-world ordering. Verify density with your supplier.

How Deep Does Your Crushed Concrete Layer Need to Be?

Depth is the most consequential variable in a crushed aggregate project — it directly drives volume, weight, cost, and long-term performance. Too shallow and the base will shift; too deep and you're wasting material. The guide below reflects industry-standard specifications for common RCA applications.

Recommended compacted depth of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) by application.
Application	Compacted Depth	Traffic / Load	Notes
Garden path / walkway	3–4 inches	Foot traffic only	Compact in one lift
Residential driveway surface	4 inches	Passenger vehicles	Top-dress annually if needed
Residential driveway sub-base	6 inches	Cars, light trucks	Under asphalt or concrete slab
Heavy driveway / RV pad sub-base	8 inches	RVs, delivery trucks	Compact in two 4-inch lifts
Parking lot sub-base	8–12 inches	Commercial vehicles	Engineer spec recommended
Construction site access road	12 inches	Heavy equipment	Geotextile fabric underneath
French drain / drainage fill	6–12 inches	N/A (drainage)	Use 3/4 to 1.5 inch RCA only
Building pad sub-base	6–8 inches	Foundation loads	Engineer approval required

When compacting RCA in multiple lifts, compact each 4-inch layer before placing the next. A single 8-inch loose dump compacted in one pass will not achieve adequate density in the lower portion of the layer — the material at the bottom simply doesn't receive the compactive effort of the plate compactor or roller.

Common Mistakes When Estimating Crushed Concrete

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Confusing loose volume with compacted depth. When you dump RCA from a truck, it arrives in a loose, uncompacted state roughly 25–30% fluffier than its final compacted volume. If you order based on compacted depth requirements (which is correct), the loose pile will look larger than you expected — that's normal. Never adjust your order downward because the pile "looks like too much."
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Not verifying bulk density with your supplier. RCA bulk density varies with source concrete mix, particle size, and crushing method — typically 110–130 lbs/ft³. Using a generic number without checking can result in ordering 10–15% too little material on large jobs. Ask your supplier what density they use for tonnage quotes and use that value.
📐
Ordering by tons without understanding volume. Suppliers price and quote in tons, but you need to think in cubic yards to understand coverage. A 10-ton load of RCA covers significantly different areas depending on depth — roughly 31 yd³ at standard density, or about 500 sq ft at 6-inch compacted depth. Always cross-check volume against area to confirm the order makes sense before calling.
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Ignoring particle size specification. Not all crushed concrete is the same. Minus 3/4 inch (¾" minus) is appropriate for compacted bases and driveways. Larger crushed concrete (1.5–2 inch) is better suited for drainage applications but will not compact tightly for load-bearing use. Specify the correct grading for your application — the wrong gradation will either stay loose or drain poorly.
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Skipping geotextile fabric on soft or clay subgrades. RCA placed directly on soft clay or organic soils will gradually migrate downward under traffic loads — a process called "fines migration." A layer of non-woven geotextile fabric between the native soil and the RCA prevents this and effectively doubles the functional life of the base course. It's cheap insurance at $0.20–$0.50 per square foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recycled concrete aggregate is crushed concrete that has been recovered from demolition projects — old driveways, slabs, foundations, roadways, and building pads. The demolished concrete is run through crushing and screening equipment to produce a graded aggregate material. The resulting product ranges from fine crusher screenings to coarse 1.5-inch pieces and behaves similarly to virgin crushed limestone or gravel as a base course material. It is widely accepted by state DOTs and municipalities as a sub-base material for roads, parking lots, driveways, and building pads.
For most residential and light commercial applications, properly graded RCA performs comparably to virgin crushed limestone as a sub-base material. It compacts well, provides good load distribution, and offers adequate drainage when well-graded. One practical advantage: residual cement paste in RCA causes fine particles to bind together over time, which can actually improve the stability of a compacted RCA base compared to loose gravel. The main limitation is variability — RCA quality depends on the source concrete, so specification compliance matters more than with virgin aggregate.
RCA typically costs $8–$25 per ton depending on your region, with the lower end in urban areas with high demolition activity (where the supply of crushed concrete is greatest) and higher prices in rural markets. Delivery is usually charged separately at $80–$200 per load depending on haul distance. By comparison, virgin crushed limestone or gravel typically runs $15–$45 per ton before delivery. The cost savings on large sub-base jobs can be significant — 30–50% less than virgin aggregate in markets with good RCA availability.
At a typical compacted bulk density of 120 lbs/ft³, one cubic yard of RCA weighs approximately 3,240 lbs, or 1.62 US short tons. In loose condition (straight off the truck), RCA is less dense — around 95–105 lbs/ft³ — so a loose cubic yard weighs closer to 2,600–2,800 lbs (1.3–1.4 tons). Suppliers typically quote and bill based on compacted or "bank run" density; always confirm which density basis your supplier uses when ordering.
Yes, always. Uncompacted RCA will continue to settle under traffic and load over months, creating ruts, dips, and uneven surfaces. For any load-bearing application — driveways, parking areas, sub-bases — compact with a vibratory plate compactor (for layers up to 4 inches) or a smooth drum roller (for thicker lifts). Compact in lifts no more than 4–6 inches thick. For non-load pathways and garden beds, hand-tamping is sufficient but a plate compactor still produces better results. Wet the material slightly before compacting for best density.
Yes, properly compacted RCA is widely accepted as a sub-base under new concrete slabs for residential and light commercial use. It provides adequate support, drains reasonably well, and is recognized in many state and municipal specifications. The key requirements are that the RCA is well-graded (¾" minus is the standard specification), compacted to 95% of maximum density, and free of oversized pieces, rebar fragments, or contaminants. If the project requires engineered documentation or is a structural slab, confirm RCA sub-base acceptance with your local building department or engineer.
For a driveway base course or surface, specify ¾" minus crushed concrete — meaning all particles pass a 3/4-inch screen, with a blend of fines down to dust. The fines fill voids between larger particles, which is what gives the material its ability to compact tightly and interlock. Avoid using oversized crushed concrete (1.5–2 inch with no fines) for driveways — it stays loose and shifts under vehicle tires. If using RCA as the actual driving surface (not under asphalt), ¾" minus compacts into a firm, relatively stable surface that performs well in dry climates.
For sub-base and base course applications, RCA and crushed limestone perform similarly in terms of bearing capacity and compaction behavior. RCA is typically 20–40% cheaper. The main differences: crushed limestone has more predictable, uniform quality; RCA varies based on the source concrete mix and may contain embedded rebar fragments or lightweight aggregate. RCA also has slightly higher water absorption. For a driveway base under asphalt or a new concrete slab, either material works well. For highly engineered applications (bridge approaches, structural fills), specify virgin aggregate unless the engineer has approved RCA for that spec.
Well-graded (¾" minus) RCA that includes fines has moderate permeability — better than clay but slower than open-graded crushed stone. For drainage applications like French drains or permeable base courses, use open-graded RCA (¾" clean, with fines removed) which drains freely. For sub-bases under impermeable surfaces like concrete slabs, moderate permeability of ¾" minus RCA is appropriate — it allows excess moisture to dissipate without washing fines out from under the slab. Excessive fines (more than 12% passing the No. 200 sieve) can reduce permeability and should be avoided in drainage contexts.
Yes, RCA is commonly used as structural fill and trench backfill where settlement must be minimized. It compacts predictably, achieves good density, and is less prone to long-term consolidation than granular soil fills. For utility trenches, specify ¾" minus RCA and compact in 6-inch lifts using a jumping jack or trench rammer to reach the required 95% Proctor density. Avoid using large unscreened crushed concrete (containing pieces over 3 inches) near pipes or conduits — irregular pieces can transmit point loads and damage utilities over time.

The people behind this calculator

Rachel Sousa · Written & maintained by

B.S. Civil Engineering, Purdue University. 10+ years turning construction and engineering standards into clear, usable calculator documentation; former documentation lead at a national ready-mix supplier.

Full profile →@rachelsousa101