How Much Does Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) Weigh?
Crushed recycled concrete used as a cost-effective road base or fill.
Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is exactly what it sounds like: demolished concrete — from sidewalks, slabs, foundations — crushed down and screened into gravel-sized fragments for reuse. It looks similar to crushed limestone at a glance, gray and angular, but often contains small flecks of old aggregate or occasional rebar fragments that get screened out before sale.
The appeal is mostly practical: it diverts demolition waste from landfills and typically costs less than freshly quarried stone of similar size. Once crushed and graded, RCA performs a lot like crushed limestone for compaction and drainage purposes.
What Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) Is Used For
- Road base and sub-base for driveways
- Fill material for grading projects
- Base layer under sheds, patios, and walkways
- Erosion control and slope stabilization
- General backfill where appearance doesn't matter
Weight Facts
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,410 lbs
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,410 lbs
- Weight per cubic foot
- 89 lbs
- Weight per ton (yards)
- 0.83 cu yd
- Category
- Aggregate & Gravel
How Much Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) Can Each Truck Carry?
| Truck | Payload | Safe max (cubic yards) | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lbs | 0.62 | 2,972 lbs ⚠ |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,500 lbs | 0.62 | 3,026 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.58 | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen) | 1,500 lbs | 0.62 | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.58 | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) | 1,450 lbs | 0.60 | 3,740 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford Ranger | 1,560 lbs | 0.65 | 3,865 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,160 lbs | 0.48 | 3,579 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1,100 lbs | 0.46 | 3,071 lbs ⚠ |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,200 lbs | 0.50 | 3,169 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-150 | 1,525 lbs | 0.63 | 5,561 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,600 lbs | 0.66 | 6,400 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 1,500 lbs | 0.62 | 6,400 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 1500 | 1,240 lbs | 0.51 | 5,489 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,485 lbs | 0.62 | 5,855 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Titan | 1,460 lbs | 0.61 | 5,320 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 3,000 lbs | 1.24 | 7,007 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (SRW) | 4,000 lbs | 1.66 | 7,007 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (DRW) | 5,500 lbs | 2.28 | 7,007 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.33 | 7,453 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.33 | 7,453 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.37 | 7,453 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.37 | 7,453 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 2500 | 1,950 lbs | 0.81 | 6,668 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 3500 (DRW) | 6,280 lbs | 2.61 | 6,668 lbs ⚠ |
⚠ = full bed weight exceeds truck payload. Safe max is by payload rating, not bed volume.
Hauling Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA): What to Know
RCA weighs in around 2,410 lbs per cubic yard, similar to clean crushed stone, so a full yard is still over a ton and worth weighing against your truck's rated payload before you load up for a big base-material job. Because it's a recycled product, quality can vary batch to batch depending on the source demolition, so a load may compact slightly differently than the last one even at the same yard depth.
Buying & Ordering Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA)
RCA is sold by the cubic yard or ton, generally at a lower price point than virgin quarried stone, which is the main reason contractors reach for it on base and fill jobs where looks don't matter. When ordering, ask what percentage of fines it's been screened to and whether the source material was inspected for contaminants — reputable suppliers screen out rebar, wood, and other demolition debris before it goes on the lot.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
⚠ Overloaded — 910 lbs over capacity
This load exceeds the published payload rating and may damage the truck's suspension, frame, tires, and brakes. Reduce quantity or use a higher-rated truck.
Standard AWD EcoBoost payload. Tremor drops to ~1,140 lbs; the 2025+ Lobo off-road trim is lower still (~1,045 lbs). Check door-jamb sticker.
2 trips needed with your Ford Maverick
Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) — Frequently Asked Questions
- Is recycled concrete as strong as regular crushed stone for a base?
- Yes, in most applications. Once crushed and compacted, RCA performs comparably to crushed limestone for driveway and road base use, which is why it's a standard substitute in many regions.
- Can recycled concrete contain rebar or debris?
- Reputable suppliers screen and magnet-sort it to remove rebar, wire, and other contaminants before selling it, but it's worth asking directly if you're using it somewhere that debris would be a problem.
- How much does Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) weigh per cubic yard?
- Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) weighs approximately 2,410 lbs per cubic yard. Crushed recycled concrete used as a cost-effective road base or fill.
- How much Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) can a half-ton truck carry?
- A typical half-ton truck with a 1,500 lb payload can safely carry about 0.62 cubic yards of Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA).
- How many cubic yards per ton of Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA)?
- Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) weighs 2,410 lbs per cubic yard, so one ton (2,000 lbs) equals approximately 0.83 cubic yards.
Related Material Weights
- Gravel, pea (washed) — 2,500 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, crushed stone (#57) — 2,410 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, river rock — 2,600 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, limestone — 2,610 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, crusher run (DGA) — 2,700 lbs/yd³
- Decomposed granite (DG) — 2,500 lbs/yd³
- Lava rock / scoria — 1,650 lbs/yd³
- Riprap (2"–6") — 2,650 lbs/yd³
Helpful Guides
- How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Driveway?
Calculate how many cubic yards and tons of gravel a driveway needs, how many truckloads that is, and which base and top layers to use.
- Cubic Yards, Tons, and Bags: A Material Conversion Guide
How to convert between cubic yards, tons, and bags for gravel, sand, soil, and mulch — with the density figures and formulas that make the math work.
- What Happens If You Overload Your Truck?
Overloading a pickup risks tickets, tire blowouts, brake failure, frame damage, and a voided warranty. Here is what actually happens and how to stay legal and safe.