Crushed Concrete
from $56.00 /ton
Material varies by demolition source; may contain minor embedded materials (rebar, wire, masonry fragments). Not recommended for finished surfaces requiring uniform appearance. Test drainage in specific site conditions before large-scale use.
What is Crushed Concrete?
The broken faces lock and the fines fill the gaps between them, so it packs down into a firm driving surface.
Crushed concrete comes off demolition work. Old slabs, curbs, and structures get run through a crusher and screened back down to a usable size. Because the fines stay in the mix, it behaves like a graded base rather than a clean drainage stone. It keeps a lot of material out of the landfill, which is a real part of why contractors reach for it.
Best uses for Crushed Concrete, ranked
- Driveway base and driving surface
- Parking lot and pad subbase
- Access road and pathway base
- Trench and utility backfill
- Site grading and leveling
- Stabilizing soft or muddy ground
When not to use Crushed Concrete
Crushed Concrete packs firm and keeps its fines, so it is the wrong choice where water must pass or looks matter. Use these instead.
- French drains, drain-pipe envelopes, any drainage layer. Its fines clog; recycled concrete deposits can clog drains and fabric. Use #57 Limestone instead.
- The drainage zone right behind a retaining wall. Wall drainage stone must be clean. Use #57 Limestone right behind the wall instead; Crushed Concrete can fill beyond it.
- Planting areas, beds, next to ponds or ditches. Runoff from fresh crushed concrete is strongly alkaline. Use Premium Garden Soil or Hardwood Mulch instead.
- The bedding layer directly under pavers. Pavers sit on a 1 in screeded sand bed. Use Concrete Sand for the bed, over a Crushed Concrete base.
- Finished or decorative surfaces that need an even look. Recycled material varies. Top a driveway with #57 Limestone; use Pea Gravel for paths.
Crushed Concrete pros and cons
Pros
- Recycled/eco
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Color varies
- Dust generation
- Contains debris
Tips for working with Crushed Concrete
DIY tips
- Spread with wheeled loader or wheelbarrow for even 4-6" base
- Compact every 2-3 inches using plate tamper or vibratory compactor
- Wet material slightly before compacting to reduce dust and improve binding
- Wear respirator when spreading to minimize concrete dust inhalation
- Screen material beforehand if large debris pieces are visible
Pro tips
- Verify demolition source documentation to confirm absence of hazardous materials before delivery
- Use geotextile fabric between crushed concrete and subgrade in wet areas
Crushed Concrete specs at a glance
Angular, dense graded, compacts firm. Color varies with the source material. Sold by the ton.
- Coverage
- About 64 sq ft per ton at 4 in deep
- Material
- Recycled concrete
- Size
- 0-2" minus
- Texture
- Angular
- Color
- Gray
- Also called
- Recycled concrete, Crushed concrete aggregate, RCA
Crushed Concrete load size and minimum order
Measure the base before you order: depth adds up quickly over a whole driveway. Today's sale terms for Crushed Concrete, from our price list:
- Sold by
- the ton
- Minimum order
- 3 tons
How much Crushed Concrete do I need?
Measure the driveway or pad and enter the depth of the base. The calculator gives the Crushed Concrete to order, in the unit we sell it in.
How Crushed Concrete delivery works
A base job runs on schedule when the material arrives first. These are the steps for a Crushed Concrete order.
Have it dropped where the base will go, on ground the truck can reach safely. A loaded truck is heavy, so keep it off soft ground, pipes and septic lines.
- See your price. Enter your address for the exact delivered price. No surprise fees: delivery and taxes are shown before checkout.
- Pick your day. Pick your day at checkout. Anytime gives you the best chance; Morning and Afternoon are requests, not guarantees. If a crew or equipment will be waiting on the material, have it delivered the day before.
- Tell the driver where. Put gate codes and where to dump in the driver notes, and make sure there's clear access for a dump truck.
- Delivery. Our own drivers place the material where you want it. Once it's on the ground it's yours to spread and pack.
Until your truck is on its way, an order can still be changed or canceled. Just call us.
Materials that work with Crushed Concrete
- #57 Limestone: #57 Limestone is the stone for drains and the top layer of a driveway over a Crushed Concrete base.
- Concrete Washout
- Pea Gravel: Pea Gravel is the finish for paths, where recycled material would look uneven.
Crushed Concrete guides and tools
Questions about Crushed Concrete
How much does Crushed Concrete cost?
Crushed Concrete is from $56.00/ton. Material only. Delivery and sales tax added in cart. Enter your address for a quote.
How is Crushed Concrete sold?
By the ton.
What is the minimum order for Crushed Concrete?
The minimum order is 3 tons.
How much Crushed Concrete do I need for a driveway base?
Multiply length × width × base depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards; the calculator on this page does it for you. Measure the depth you plan to compact, not just the surface.
Does Crushed Concrete compact well?
Yes. The fines left in it fill the gaps between the larger pieces, so it packs firm when you spread it in layers and run a compactor over each one.
Does Crushed Concrete drain?
Not well, and it is not meant to. The fines that make it pack firm also slow water down, and runoff from fresh crushed concrete is strongly alkaline. For French drains and the zone behind a wall, use #57 Limestone instead.
Can I use Crushed Concrete as the base for a slab, patio or pavers?
Yes, as the packed base. Under pavers, screed a bed of Concrete Sand about 1 inch deep on top of it; pavers never sit right on the base.
Is Crushed Concrete good as a driveway surface?
It works as a budget driving surface, and it is the base under a gravel driveway. For a more even top, spread #57 Limestone over it.
How is Crushed Concrete delivered?
By dump truck, as a loose pile at the spot you choose. Keep the truck off soft ground and septic lines: a loaded truck is heavy.