Crushed Concrete Calculator
A crushed concrete calculator turns length × width × depth into cubic yards, then tons at 1.35 t/yd³. A 20 × 10 ft base 4 in deep needs 3.33 tons.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
2.47 yd³ · 3.3 tons
34 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
5 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
How much crushed concrete do I need?
A crushed concrete calculator converts the area and depth of your base into cubic yards, then into tons, because recycled concrete is sold by weight. Cubic yards = length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27, and tons = cubic yards × 1.35. A 20 × 10 ft pad laid 4 in deep is 2.47 yd³, or 3.33 tons. At $25 a ton that is $83.33, or $91.67 for 3.67 tons with 10% extra.
Recycled concrete is one of the cheapest base materials you can buy, which makes it popular under driveways, sheds, and temporary site roads. It is used for the same jobs as crusher run, and it is calculated the same way.
The formula, step by step
- Area = length × width, in square feet.
- Cubic feet = area × (depth in inches ÷ 12).
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- With waste = cubic yards × 1.10, if ticked.
- Tons = cubic yards × 1.35.
- Cost = tons × price per ton.
The 1.35 tons per yard figure is a loose, dry average. RCA from a wet stockpile weighs more. If your yard quotes a different weight per yard, use theirs.
Worked examples
- Shed pad: 20 × 10 ft, 4 in deep (calculator defaults)
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft
- Volume: 200 × 0.333 = 66.7 ft³ = 2.47 yd³
- Tons: 2.47 × 1.35 = 3.33 tons
- Cost: 3.33 × $25 = $83.33
- With 10% waste: 3.67 tons, $91.67
- Driveway base: 60 × 12 ft, 6 in deep
- Area: 60 × 12 = 720 sq ft
- Volume: 720 × 0.5 = 360 ft³ = 13.33 yd³
- Tons: 13.33 × 1.35 = 18.00 tons, $450.00 at $25
- With 10% waste: 19.80 tons, $495.00
Six inches should go down in two lifts of about 3 in, each compacted, rather than one thick layer that stays soft underneath.
Crushed concrete per 100 sq ft
| Compacted depth | Typical use | Tons per 100 sq ft | Sq ft per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | Top-up of an old base | 0.83 | 120 |
| 3 in | Walkway base on firm soil | 1.25 | 80 |
| 4 in | Patio, paver, or shed base | 1.67 | 60 |
| 6 in | Driveway base | 2.50 | 40 |
| 8 in | Driveway on soft ground | 3.33 | 30 |
Figures are net, before the 10% allowance, at 1.35 tons per yard.
Crushed concrete vs quarried base
Recycled concrete is sold in many of the same gradings as quarried stone. A “minus” product, such as ¾ in minus, includes everything from the top size down to dust. It compacts hard, like crusher run or road base. A clean, screened RCA has the fines washed or screened out and drains freely, but it does not lock up as tightly.
Recycled material varies more from load to load than quarried stone. Ask whether the yard screens for brick, asphalt, and wood, and look at the pile. A few stray bits are normal. Lots of soft debris means the base will settle unevenly.
How to measure your base
- Footprint: measure the area you will cover, plus about a foot beyond the edges of a shed or slab so the base supports the perimeter.
- Depth: use the compacted depth you want, not the loose depth you spread. The waste allowance covers the difference.
- Excavation: dig out the full depth first so the finished base sits at the right height.
- Irregular shapes: split them into rectangles and add the tons together.
Common mistakes
- Using it where water collects. Alkaline runoff can harm ponds and some plants.
- Skipping compaction. Loose RCA ruts under tires. Compact every lift with a plate compactor.
- Buying by the yard but entering tons. If the yard sells by volume, use the cubic yards line and the cubic yards to tons calculator to compare prices.
- Too thin on soft soil. A 4 in base over clay will pump up mud. Go deeper, or lay fabric first.
For layered driveway builds, the gravel driveway calculator handles base and top layers together. For a compacted pad under pavers or a slab, see the gravel base calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of crushed concrete do I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by depth in inches ÷ 12, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.35 tons per yard. A 20 × 10 ft pad at 4 in is 2.47 yd³ and 3.33 tons, or 3.67 tons with 10% extra. A 60 × 12 ft driveway base at 6 in is 18 tons.
What is crushed concrete made from?
It is old concrete from demolished slabs, sidewalks, curbs, and foundations, crushed and screened at a recycling yard. Magnets pull out most of the rebar. It is often called recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and is sold in graded sizes with fines, much like crusher run.
Is crushed concrete as good as crusher run for a base layer?
For driveways, shed pads, and paver bases it usually performs well, because the angular pieces and fines lock together when compacted. Old cement paste in the fines can also help it firm up over time. Quality depends on the source, so look at the pile for brick, asphalt, wood, or trash before buying.
Where should I avoid using crushed concrete?
Fresh concrete fines make runoff alkaline, so keep it away from ponds, streams, and acid-loving plants, and avoid it as the clean stone in a French drain, where fines can clog the pipe. It is also a poor top layer for a garden path, because its gray dust tracks indoors.
What depth of crushed concrete should I order for a base?
About 4 in compacted for a walkway, patio, or shed pad on firm soil, and 6 in or more for a driveway or soft ground. Place anything thicker than about 4 in in two lifts and compact each one. Each inch over 100 sq ft is about 0.42 tons.
Should I add waste when ordering crushed concrete?
Yes. Loose RCA loses height when you run a plate compactor over it, and trench edges are never exact. The 10% toggle covers normal settling; raise it to 15 to 20% if you are compacting a deep base over soft soil.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.