How Much Recycled Concrete Aggregate for a 12x40 Driveway?
A 12 by 40 foot driveway is 480 square feet. How much recycled concrete aggregate for a 12x40 driveway depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 5.93 cubic yards or 7.7 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 12x40 driveway
- Area: 12 × 40 = 480 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 480 × 0.333 = 160.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 5.93 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.3 = 7.7 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Recycled concrete aggregate needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 4.44 | 5.8 | 6.4 |
| 4 in | 5.93 | 7.7 | 8.5 |
| 6 in | 8.89 | 11.6 | 12.7 |
About recycled concrete aggregate
Ask whether the recycled concrete has been screened for rebar and debris. Fresh-crushed concrete can also be alkaline, so keep it away from sensitive plantings and streams. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
Preparing the driveway
Strip sod and soft topsoil, grade for drainage and compact the subgrade before any stone goes down. Gravel drives last longer with a compacted base layer under the top stone and a slight crown so water runs off. For car and truck traffic, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 8.5 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the driveway as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for recycled concrete aggregate
Good uses:
- Driveway and pad bases
- Temporary construction entrances
- Fill under slabs when compacted in lifts
Poor fit for:
- Near ponds, streams or sensitive plants, since fresh crush can raise pH
- Decorative top layers
- Drainage layers, unless the product is clean and screened
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.40 tons of recycled concrete aggregate (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.0 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 14x28 area at 2 inches takes about 3.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.3 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Questions people ask
How many tons of recycled concrete aggregate for a 12x40 driveway?
About 7.7 tons at 4 inches deep, or 8.5 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 12x40 driveway at 4 inches?
About 5.93 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of recycled concrete aggregate weigh?
Usually around 1.2 to 1.4 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should recycled concrete aggregate be for a driveway?
The table above shows 3 to 6 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 12x40?
480 square feet.
Related guides
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Recycled Concrete Aggregate for a 12x30 Driveway?
- How Much Recycled Concrete Aggregate for a 12x35 Driveway?
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