Free Calculator
Recycled Materials Calculator — How Much Do I Need?
Tons of asphalt millings or crushed concrete with delivered Florida pricing.
3. Enter Dimensions
Your order summary lands here
As soon as the dimensions are valid, you will see the recommended quantity, truckload count, and the ZIP pricing step.
Recycled aggregates — asphalt millings and crushed concrete — are a cheaper, more sustainable substitute for virgin stone on driveways, road bases, and paver foundations. Use this calculator to size tons for the recycled product you want, with live Florida delivered pricing.
How to use this recycled materials calculator
- 1
Pick the recycled product
Asphalt millings for self-binding driveway and parking surfaces. Crushed concrete road base for compacted structural bases. Paver base for under-paver bedding. #57 crushed concrete for drainage and driveway top.
- 2
Measure the area
Length × width in feet. For driveways, measure the actual run including any turnaround or parking apron.
- 3
Pick a depth
4 inches for driveway top course or under pavers. 4–6 inches for a compacted structural base. 6 inches for heavy-vehicle pads.
- 4
Enter your ZIP
Florida ZIPs return delivered pricing per ton. Recycled aggregates ship in 22-ton tri-axle loads.
How the math works
Volume in cubic yards equals Length × Width × Depth ÷ 27, with depth converted from inches by dividing by 12. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
Recycled aggregates have densities close to their virgin equivalents — about 1.30–1.50 tons per cubic yard. Crushed concrete road base packs at the high end of that range; clean #57 crushed concrete is lighter.
Compaction matters. Road base loses roughly 20–25% from loose to compacted thickness. The calculator buffer accounts for this so the rounded recommendation reflects what you actually need on the ground.
How much does recycled materials cover?
Quick reference for how much area one ton and one cubic yard cover at common depths.
| Depth | 1 ton covers | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2" | 120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3" | 80 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4" | 60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6" | 40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| 12" | 20 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
Assumes a density of about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, typical for #57 limerock and most washed gravels. Denser crushed stone covers slightly less per ton.
Typical quantities by project
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural driveway 200 ft × 12 ft millings | 4" | 2,400 sq ft | ~45 tons millings |
| Residential driveway base 100 ft × 12 ft | 4" | 1,200 sq ft | ~22 tons crushed concrete road base |
| Paver patio base 400 sq ft | 4" | 400 sq ft | ~8 tons paver base |
| Equipment pad 30 ft × 50 ft | 6" | 1,500 sq ft | ~45 tons road base |
| Driveway top course 1,200 sq ft | 3" | 1,200 sq ft | ~15 tons #57 crushed concrete |
Which size should you use?
Each recycled product fills a different role. Pick the one that matches the use, not the one that looks closest.
Recycled asphalt millings
Driveway and parking top course. Self-binding under traffic and Florida sun for a semi-firm asphalt-like surface.
Crushed concrete road base
FDOT-equivalent compactable base under driveways, pads, and slabs. Cheapest hard base option.
Crushed concrete paver base
3/8" minus recycled fines for paver and flagstone setting beds — screeds flat and compacts firm.
#57 crushed concrete
Clean 1" recycled aggregate for driveway top, drainage, and structural fill. Substitute for virgin #57 stone at lower cost.
Common ordering mistakes
From real deliveries, these are the mistakes we see most often. Avoiding any one of them saves a callback order.
Skipping the base layer
A single layer of millings or #57 concrete on bare soil ruts and washes within a season. Build a compacted road-base layer first, then the wear course on top.
Asphalt millings without traffic
Millings need traffic and warm Florida weather to bind and harden. A driveway that sits idle never sets up. Drive it and roll it once a week for the first month.
Crushed concrete in a French drain
#57 crushed concrete works for general drainage, but the bits of rebar and slight fines make it less ideal around perforated pipe in critical drains. Use virgin #57 stone there.
No fabric under the base
Without geotextile fabric between the subgrade and the road base, fines pump up into the recycled aggregate within a couple seasons. Always lay fabric on Florida sand subgrade.
Wrong recycled product for the job
Paver base is fine, screedable material; road base is coarse and structural. Substituting one for the other gives you a lumpy paver bed or a base that will not compact.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to see delivered pricing?
Jump back to the calculator to price the exact quantity for your ZIP, or request a manual quote if the project needs special handling.