Concrete Demolition Cost Calculator
2.47 yd³ (66.67 ft³)
≈ 2.96-3.7 tons (Crushed concrete (recycled base) density band, confirm at the scale).
Typical crew rate for this trade: $34-$56/hr (modeled from BLS median wage × published burden/markup band). How we model costs.
- Volume: yd³ = sq ft × depth(in) ÷ 324 (1 yd³ covers 324 sf at 1"). Definitional geometry (Texas AgriLife Extension).
- Tonnage is a band: Crushed concrete (recycled base) ≈ 1.2-1.5 t/yd³ (recycled-aggregate trade band, labeled convention). Moisture alone moves this ±15%, so confirm with your supplier's scale.
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Why This One Is Different
Demolition math runs backward from every other calculator on this site: instead of sizing concrete you're about to pour, this one sizes the debris from concrete that's already there. A 4-inch slab over your footprint converts to cubic yards the same way fresh concrete does (area times depth divided by 324), but the number that matters here is tonnage for the hauler, and broken concrete's density runs 1.2 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on how it fractures. Labor is the bigger cost driver than any material line, since a crew is billing hours to break, load, and haul debris away, not to place a mix.
Where the Numbers Come From
- Volume converts from area and depth the same way for debris as for fresh material: yd³ = sq ft × depth(in) ÷ 324, the slab being removed still occupies a definable volume before it's broken up. Source: Texas AgriLife Extension, 'How Much Compost, Soil or Mulch Do I Need to Purchase?' (applied to slab-removal geometry)
- Broken/crushed concrete runs approximately 1.2-1.5 tons per cubic yard, a labeled recycled-aggregate density band; moisture and fracture size move it, so the hauler's scale ticket is the real number. Source: recycled-aggregate trade band, labeled convention (construction-estimating canon)
- A unit labor cost decomposes into bare labor plus an O&P add-on (workers' comp, overhead, profit) rather than a single flat hourly rate, the same convention applies to a demolition laborer crew's bill. Source: Wiley, How to Estimate with RSMeans Data (4th ed.)
More Questions
Can crushed concrete debris be recycled instead of dumped?
Often yes: many municipalities and aggregate yards accept broken concrete for crushing into recycled base material, which can be cheaper than landfill tipping fees. Ask your hauler whether a recycling facility is an option before defaulting to disposal.
Related Calculators
Formulas, waste factors, and cost models on this page follow the sourced conventions on our methodology page. Estimates only; verify with your supplier and local code.