A Crushed Concrete Calculator is an essential tool for anyone planning a construction or landscaping project that involves recycled concrete aggregate.
Crushed Concrete Calculator
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Whether you’re building a driveway, laying a foundation base, or creating a drainage path, knowing how much crushed concrete you need helps you save time, avoid waste, and stay within budget. Estimating by eye or using rough guesses often leads to underordering, which delays the project, or overordering, which wastes money and storage space. That’s where a precise calculator makes a big difference.
Crushed concrete is increasingly popular as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to gravel or virgin stone. As more homeowners and contractors look for ways to recycle materials and reduce environmental impact, using reclaimed concrete is both an eco-conscious and budget-friendly choice. But because the material compacts when installed, and its weight varies slightly by moisture and composition, you’ll need to consider volume, density, and compaction factor when estimating your total requirements.
This article walks you through everything you need to know to get accurate results with a Crushed Concrete Calculator—from what crushed concrete is and how it’s used, to how much you’ll need and how much it weighs. We’ll also cover pricing, coverage charts, and step-by-step instructions to help you make the most informed decision for your project.
What Is Crushed Concrete and How Is It Made?
A Crushed Concrete Calculator is only as useful as your understanding of the material it’s designed to measure. Crushed concrete, also known as recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), is exactly what it sounds like: old concrete from demolished structures—such as sidewalks, driveways, and buildings—that’s processed into reusable aggregate. Rather than sending this concrete waste to a landfill, it’s broken down into smaller pieces, sorted, and cleaned to remove impurities like metal, wood, and asphalt.
The result is a versatile, gravel-like material that performs similarly to traditional crushed stone in many construction applications. It’s often used as a base layer for roads, driveways, patios, and retaining walls. The strength and composition of crushed concrete depend on the original concrete source, but in general, it offers solid compaction, good drainage, and durability for most foundational and surface-level uses.
The production process involves:
- Demolition – Concrete is removed from a job site.
- Crushing – Powerful machines break it into smaller, manageable chunks.
- Screening – The material is sorted by size.
- Magnet removal – Rebar and other metals are extracted using magnets.
- Washing (optional) – Some suppliers rinse the aggregate for cleaner use.
As demand for environmentally responsible building practices grows, so does the popularity of crushed concrete. It reduces landfill waste, saves on natural resource extraction, and typically costs less than virgin aggregate.
Understanding what crushed concrete is—and how its size and makeup can affect project outcomes—ensures you get more accurate results from your Crushed Concrete Calculator and choose the right product for the job.
Common Crushed Concrete Sizes
When using a Crushed Concrete Calculator, one important consideration is the size of the material being used. Crushed concrete is available in a variety of sizes, and choosing the right one affects everything from drainage and compaction to surface texture and structural stability.
Here are the most common sizes of crushed concrete and their typical uses:
🔹 21AA Crushed Concrete (1″ minus with fines)
- Use: Ideal for compacting under driveways, roadways, and parking lots.
- Features: Contains a mix of crushed concrete and fines (very small particles) for excellent compaction.
🔹 ¾” Crushed Concrete
- Use: Great for walkways, patios, and driveways where a firm base is needed.
- Features: Offers a stable surface while allowing some water drainage.
🔹 1½” Crushed Concrete
- Use: Commonly used as a base for larger construction projects or as a fill material.
- Features: Larger chunks provide strong support but may require a layer of smaller material on top for a smooth surface.
🔹 Crushed Concrete Fines
- Use: Used for leveling or filling shallow depressions.
- Features: Almost powder-like consistency; not ideal for structural loads but great for smooth finishes or top layers.
🔹 Riprap (3″ to 6″+)
- Use: Erosion control, shorelines, ditches, and drainage solutions.
- Features: Large, coarse chunks that resist water movement and prevent soil washout.
Choosing the correct size is essential. For example, a ¾” size is perfect for a stable driveway, while 21AA is preferred for road base compaction. Larger sizes like 1½” or riprap are used in structural or erosion-prone areas where bulk and stability matter more than fine finish.
By selecting the right size, your Crushed Concrete Calculator results will more closely match real-world coverage and weight, especially when factoring in compaction behavior of finer vs. coarser materials.
Using Crushed Concrete for a Driveway
A Crushed Concrete Calculator is particularly valuable when planning a driveway, one of the most common and cost-effective uses of recycled concrete aggregate. Crushed concrete provides a stable, long-lasting base material that supports vehicle weight, resists erosion, and allows for good drainage—all while being more affordable and sustainable than traditional gravel or stone.
Why Use Crushed Concrete for Driveways?
- Cost Savings: On average, crushed concrete costs 30–50% less than new gravel or limestone.
- Eco-Friendly: It’s a recycled material that reduces construction waste and conserves natural resources.
- Stability & Compaction: It compacts very well, providing a firm base for driving and parking.
- Drainage: Allows water to pass through, helping prevent puddling and runoff.
- Aesthetic: With proper compaction and edge control, crushed concrete can offer a clean, rustic appearance.
Installation Tips
- Excavation: Remove topsoil or soft layers to a depth of 4–6 inches (or more for heavy use).
- Geotextile Fabric (Optional): Prevents the material from sinking into soft soil.
- Layering: Use 21AA or similar compactable crushed concrete in 2–3 inch lifts.
- Compaction: Each layer should be compacted using a mechanical tamper or roller.
- Top Dressing (Optional): A thin layer of concrete fines can be added for a smoother finish.
How the Calculator Helps
When preparing a driveway, estimating how much material you’ll need can be tricky without a tool. A Crushed Concrete Calculator makes it simple: just enter your driveway’s length, width, and desired depth. The calculator factors in volume and compaction, giving you estimates in cubic yards, tons, and pounds—ready for ordering and delivery.
Example:
For a 2-car driveway (20 ft wide × 30 ft long) at 4 inches depth, you’d input:
- Length: 30 ft
- Width: 20 ft
- Depth: 4 in
With a 10% compression factor, the calculator would show: - Volume: ~7.4 cubic yards
- Weight: ~12,000 lbs (~6 tons)
Why Use a Crushed Concrete Calculator
A Crushed Concrete Calculator is more than a convenience—it’s a critical planning tool that helps ensure your project stays on time, on budget, and free of costly surprises. Whether you’re building a driveway, patio base, shed foundation, or landscaping feature, having an accurate estimate of how much crushed concrete you’ll need is the first step toward success.
Avoid Over- or Under-Ordering
Ordering too little material means running short mid-project, requiring extra deliveries and potential delays. Ordering too much means overspending and dealing with excess product. A calculator eliminates guesswork by basing estimates on exact project dimensions.
Saves Time and Effort
Manual calculations require converting inches to feet, feet to cubic yards, and then factoring in compaction and weight. A good Crushed Concrete Calculator handles all of that in one step—input your measurements, and it returns results in cubic yards, pounds, and tons instantly.
Accounts for Real-World Factors
The best calculators also let you adjust for:
- Density of the material (usually ~120 lb/ft³, but can vary)
- Compaction factor (usually 5–15%, depending on installation method)
- Unit flexibility, supporting both imperial and (optionally) metric systems
This flexibility helps tailor estimates to your specific project conditions.
Better Communication With Suppliers
Knowing exactly how many cubic yards or tons of crushed concrete you need helps streamline discussions with your material supplier. You can place accurate orders, confirm truck load capacities, and compare pricing options with confidence.
Example:
A 10 ft × 10 ft patio area at 6″ depth = 5 cubic yards before compaction. Adding a 10% compaction factor brings the requirement closer to 5.5–5.6 cubic yards. Without the calculator, this detail is easy to overlook—but critical to prevent underordering.
By using a Crushed Concrete Calculator, you’re not just crunching numbers—you’re making informed decisions, reducing waste, and ensuring your project is built on a strong foundation.
How Much Crushed Concrete Do I Need?
One of the most common questions DIYers and contractors ask before starting a project is: How much crushed concrete do I need? A Crushed Concrete Calculator is designed specifically to answer this question with speed and accuracy, helping you avoid the pitfalls of guessing or oversimplified math.
Volume Calculation Basics
To determine the amount of crushed concrete needed, you need three key measurements:
- Length (in feet)
- Width (in feet)
- Depth (in inches or feet)
These dimensions define the volume of the area you want to fill, which the calculator converts into:
- Cubic feet
- Cubic yards (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet)
- Weight (in pounds and tons, based on density)
Manual Formula (for reference)
If you’d like to understand what the calculator is doing behind the scenes:
Volume (ft³) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic Yards = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27
Weight (lbs) = Volume (ft³) × Density (lb/ft³)
Weight (tons) = Weight (lbs) ÷ 2000
💡 Most crushed concrete has a density around 120 lb/ft³, but moisture, fines, and compaction can change that slightly.
Add a Compaction Allowance
Crushed concrete settles when compacted. It’s best practice to add 5–15% extra to your raw volume. Most calculators—including the one on this page—include a compression factor input to make this easy.
For example:
- Raw calculated volume: 10.0 yd³
- With 10% compaction: 11.0 yd³
This ensures that after tamping or machine compaction, your project area is filled to the desired level.
Common Project Examples
| Project Type | Area (ft) | Depth (in) | Volume (yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio | 10 × 10 | 4″ | ~1.2 |
| Driveway (2 cars) | 20 × 30 | 6″ | ~11.1 |
| Parking Pad (RV) | 12 × 30 | 8″ | ~8.9 |
| Shed Base | 12 × 12 | 4″ | ~1.8 |
These figures are before compression. Always round up slightly when ordering.
How the Crushed Concrete Calculator Works
A Crushed Concrete Calculator is a user-friendly tool that converts your project’s surface dimensions and depth into real-world estimates of how much recycled concrete material you’ll need. It simplifies complex math into just a few clicks—making it perfect for homeowners, contractors, landscapers, or DIYers who need reliable numbers without having to crunch formulas by hand.
Step-by-Step Input Guide
- Length and Width – Enter the dimensions of your project area. Most calculators allow for feet and inches separately for better precision.
- Depth – This is typically entered in inches, and represents how thick the layer of crushed concrete will be.
- Density – The default is often set to 120 lb/ft³, which is the average for crushed concrete. You can adjust this if your supplier gives you a specific value.
- Compression Factor (Optional) – Many calculators allow you to enter a compaction percentage (commonly 5–15%). This accounts for how much the material will settle after installation and compacting.
What It Calculates
- Cubic Feet (ft³) – The raw volume based on your inputs.
- Cubic Yards (yd³) – The standard unit used by most suppliers (1 yd³ = 27 ft³).
- Weight in Pounds (lbs) – Useful for small projects or when ordering by weight.
- Weight in Tons – Most bulk orders are priced and delivered in tons.
The calculator also typically shows:
- Loose volume vs. compacted volume
- Loose weight vs. compacted weight
This ensures you know exactly how much to order for delivery and how much area the material will cover once installed.
Example Calculation
For a 20 ft × 10 ft driveway base at 6 inches deep, the calculator will output:
- Cubic Yards (loose): ~3.7 yd³
- Tons (loose): ~6.6 tons
- Cubic Yards (with 10% compaction): ~4.1 yd³
- Tons (with compaction): ~7.3 tons
These numbers help you place accurate orders, reducing the risk of over- or under-buying.
How Much Does Crushed Concrete Weigh?
When using a Crushed Concrete Calculator, understanding the weight of the material is just as important as knowing the volume. Crushed concrete, like most aggregates, is heavy—and weight determines not just how much you’ll pay for materials, but also how they’ll be delivered and spread at the job site.
Average Weight of Crushed Concrete
The typical density of crushed concrete is about 120 pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³). This means:
- 1 cubic foot ≈ 120 lbs
- 1 cubic yard (27 ft³) ≈ 3,240 lbs
- 1 cubic yard ≈ 1.62 tons
This is a general estimate. The actual weight can vary slightly depending on:
- Moisture content (wet concrete weighs more)
- Particle size and fines
- Presence of steel or rebar fragments
Weight Conversion Table
| Unit | Estimate (Avg. Density: 120 lb/ft³) |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic foot | 120 lbs |
| 1 cubic yard | 3,240 lbs |
| 1 ton | ≈ 0.62 cubic yards |
| 5 tons | ≈ 3.1 cubic yards |
| 10 tons (1 truckload) | ≈ 6.2 cubic yards |
Why Weight Matters
- Delivery logistics: Most dump trucks carry 10–14 tons. Knowing your total weight helps determine how many loads you’ll need.
- Structural design: For projects involving foundations or support pads, total weight affects load calculations.
- Compaction considerations: Heavier material means more effective compaction, which influences the final layer thickness.
How Much Is a Load of Crushed Concrete?
A common question among homeowners and contractors is: How much is a load of crushed concrete? The answer depends on a few variables—including your location, the amount you’re ordering, and how it’s delivered—but a Crushed Concrete Calculator helps you get a clear idea of the quantity you need, which then allows you to estimate total cost per load.
Average Cost per Unit
Here’s a general pricing breakdown:
| Unit | Price Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Per ton | $15 – $30 |
| Per cubic yard | $25 – $50 |
| Full dump truck (10–14T) | $300 – $600 (delivered) |
These are rough estimates. Costs vary significantly by:
- Region (urban areas tend to be higher)
- Availability of recycled concrete
- Supplier distance and delivery fees
What Is Considered a “Load”?
In most cases, suppliers deliver crushed concrete in 10 to 14-ton dump trucks. A typical truckload will contain approximately:
- 10 tons = ~6.2 cubic yards
- 14 tons = ~8.7 cubic yards
So, if your Crushed Concrete Calculator result shows you need 9 cubic yards, you’ll likely need a full 14-ton load.
How Many Yards Is 5 Tons of Crushed Concrete?
When using a Crushed Concrete Calculator, you’ll often need to convert between weight (in tons) and volume (in cubic yards)—especially when your supplier quotes one and your project measurements are in the other. One of the most frequently asked questions is: How many yards is 5 tons of crushed concrete?
The Quick Answer
If the average density of crushed concrete is around 3,240 pounds per cubic yard, and 1 ton = 2,000 pounds, then:
- 5 tons = 10,000 pounds
- 10,000 ÷ 3,240 ≈ 3.09 cubic yards
So, 5 tons of crushed concrete is approximately 3.1 cubic yards.
Formula for Conversion
You can use this formula for any conversion from tons to yards:
Cubic Yards = (Tons × 2000) ÷ Density (lb/yd³)
For most projects, the calculator assumes a density of 3,240 lb/yd³, which corresponds to about 120 lb/ft³.
Example Conversion Table
| Tons | Cubic Yards (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.62 yd³ |
| 2 | 1.23 yd³ |
| 5 | 3.09 yd³ |
| 10 | 6.17 yd³ |
| 14 | 8.64 yd³ |
This table assumes a standard density and no compaction adjustment. If you’re accounting for compression (e.g., a 10% compaction factor), the required yardage increases accordingly.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Crushed Concrete Calculator
Using a Crushed Concrete Calculator is the fastest and most reliable way to estimate how much recycled concrete aggregate your project will require. Whether you’re laying a new driveway, creating a foundation base, or leveling a landscape, the calculator takes the guesswork out of ordering the right amount of material.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using it effectively:
Step 1: Measure Your Project Area
Start by measuring the length and width of the area where you’ll be placing the crushed concrete. Use a tape measure and record the dimensions in feet and inches.
Example:
- Length = 25 ft
- Width = 12 ft
Step 2: Decide on Your Desired Depth
Depth is usually entered in inches. The most common depths for crushed concrete are:
- 3–4 inches for walkways and patios
- 4–6 inches for driveways
- 6–8+ inches for heavy vehicle or structural support
Example:
- Depth = 6 inches
Step 3: Input Measurements Into the Calculator
Most Crushed Concrete Calculators allow inputs like:
- Length in feet + inches
- Width in feet + inches
- Depth in inches
- Optional: compression factor (e.g., 10%)
The calculator will automatically:
- Convert dimensions to cubic feet
- Convert volume to cubic yards
- Estimate weight in pounds and tons
Step 4: Adjust the Density (If Applicable)
While most calculators default to 120 lb/ft³, some crushed concrete mixes may differ slightly in density. If your supplier gives a specific value, update the field to reflect it.
Step 5: Include a Compression Factor
To account for settling during installation, you can include a compression percentage (typically 5–15%). This ensures you’re ordering enough material to achieve the desired compacted depth.
Example:
- Raw volume: 6.9 yd³
- Compression factor: 10%
- Adjusted total: 7.6 yd³
Step 6: Review the Output
Your calculator should now display:
- Volume in cubic yards (loose and compacted)
- Weight in pounds and tons
- A clear summary to help you place an accurate order
Conclusion
A Crushed Concrete Calculator is one of the most valuable tools you can use when planning a project that involves recycled concrete aggregate. From driveways and patios to structural bases and landscaping layers, accurate material estimates ensure your project runs smoothly, efficiently, and without unexpected costs or delays.
By understanding how crushed concrete is measured, how much it weighs, and how compression affects volume, you can confidently order the exact amount needed. The calculator simplifies complex conversions—like feet and inches to cubic yards, or tons to square footage—and provides fast answers tailored to your specific measurements.
Incorporating recycled concrete into your project is not only cost-effective but also environmentally responsible. And with the help of a well-designed Crushed Concrete Calculator, you’ll avoid overbuying, underordering, and last-minute changes—so your job stays on track from start to finish.