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Recycled Concrete Aggregate for a 12x40 Parking Pad

A 12 by 40 foot parking pad is 480 square feet. How much recycled concrete aggregate for a 12x40 parking pad 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.

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The math for a 12x40 parking pad

  1. Area: 12 × 40 = 480 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 480 × 0.333 = 160.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 5.93 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.3 = 7.7 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Recycled concrete aggregate needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
3 in4.445.86.4
4 in5.937.78.5
6 in8.8911.612.7

About recycled concrete aggregate

Recycled concrete aggregate is crushed old concrete. It compacts well and often costs less than virgin stone, which makes it a common driveway and pad base. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.

Preparing the parking pad

Dig out organic soil, compact the subgrade and set an edge so the stone does not migrate onto the lawn. A pad that holds parked weight for long periods benefits from a dense base under the surface stone. Since the parking pad carries parked vehicles, a little extra depth is cheap insurance.

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 parking pad 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

Think twice 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 4 inches takes about 6.3 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.3 tons per cubic yard.

Where estimates go wrong

  • Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
  • Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
  • Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
  • Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.

Questions people ask

How many tons of recycled concrete aggregate for a 12x40 parking pad?

About 7.7 tons at 4 inches deep, or 8.5 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 12x40 parking pad 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 parking pad?

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.

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