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Tons of crushed (recycled) concrete for a driveway or pad base at a compacted depth, and the loose cubic yards that arrive on the truck.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Crushed concrete to order | 5.68 tons |
| Loose cubic yards delivered | 4.71 yd³ |
| Compacted cubic yards in place | 2.96 yd³ |
| Area | 240 sq ft |
| Compacted density (FHWA) | 129 lb/ft³ = 1.74 t/yd³ |
| Loose density (supplier) | 2,410 lb/yd³ = 1.21 t/yd³ |
| Extra | 10% |
Compacted density: FHWA-RD-97-148, Reclaimed Concrete Material, Table 14-3 (6-year Long Island, NY study of crushed concrete base: mean dry density 129.0 lb/ft³). Loose density: Gravelshop's crushed concrete road base, 1½ in minus, 2,410 lb/yd³. Recycled concrete varies with its source, so ask the supplier for theirs.
Crushed concrete — recycled concrete aggregate — is a cheaper base than virgin stone and compacts well. It is lighter than crushed rock, so a ton covers more ground. Enter the area and the finished compacted depth and the calculator returns tons using FHWA's measured compacted dry density of 129 lb per cubic foot, and the loose cubic yards that weight makes on delivery at a supplier's 2,410 lb per yard.
Multiply length × width × compacted depth (ft) for cubic feet, then × 129 lb ÷ 2,000 for tons. A 20 × 12 ft pad 4 in deep is 80 cu ft, about 5.16 tons, or 5.68 tons with 10% extra.
Loose, about 2,410 lb (1.21 tons) per cubic yard for 1½ in minus road base, per Gravelshop. Compacted in place it is denser: FHWA's Long Island study measured a mean dry density of 129 lb/ft³, about 1.74 tons per compacted yard.
About 0.83 loose cubic yards per ton (2,000 ÷ 2,410). Once compacted, a ton fills about 0.57 cubic yards.
Yes. FHWA notes recycled concrete has a lower specific gravity (about 2.0–2.5) than virgin aggregate and a lower compacted unit weight, so the same tonnage covers more area — one reason contractors like it for base.
The same depth your design calls for with a crushed stone base — crushed concrete is a like-for-like substitute. FHWA notes it is placed and compacted with the same methods and equipment as conventional aggregate, so enter the compacted depth you would have used for stone.
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