Asphalt Calculator
How much asphalt do I need?
An asphalt calculator converts your project dimensions into the quantity to order. Hot mix asphalt is sold by the ton, so the result is given in tons first, with cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres alongside it. A ton is a US short ton, 2,000 lb. The calculator also gives the number of truckloads, so you can plan the delivery. Add a waste allowance before you order: running short on a driveway pour is hard to fix, and a cold joint in the mat is a weak spot. If you know your price per ton, enter it and the calculator gives a material cost. Leave it blank and no cost is shown.
Calculate asphalt
Enter a length greater than 0.
Enter a width greater than 0.
Enter a thickness greater than 0.
Enter a density from 100 to 160 lb per cubic foot.
Enter a quantity of 1 or more, as a whole number.
Enter a waste allowance from 0 to 20 percent.
Enter a truck capacity of 1 ton or more, as a whole number.
Enter a price of 0 or more, or leave it blank.
Enter your dimensions and click Calculate.
No result yet. Enter your dimensions and click Calculate.
Prices vary by supplier and location. Confirm the price per ton with your supplier before you order.
What is asphalt?
Asphalt is a mixture of stone, sand and bitumen, also called bituminous concrete, used for driveways, roads, parking lots and paths. The stone and sand give it strength, the bitumen binds the aggregate together. Hot mix asphalt is laid and compacted while it is hot, then cools to a hard, waterproof surface. When it is cold, it is hard and stiff; when it is hot, it softens, so very thick asphalt can rut under heavy loads.
Hot mix asphalt is sold by weight, in US short tons of 2,000 lb. Its compacted density is usually 145 lb per cubic foot. That is the figure used here, and it matches AASHTO T 209, the standard test for the theoretical maximum density of asphalt mixtures. Recycled asphalt pavement is lighter, about 140 lb per cubic foot, and porous asphalt is lighter still. Cold patch is a different product, sold in bags for small repairs, and this page does not cover it.
Asphalt is not the same as tarmac. Tarmac, or tarmacadam, is a tar-based surfacing that is rarely used now; asphalt uses bitumen, a petroleum product. Asphalt is also different from concrete, which is a mixture of cement, water and aggregate and is sold by the cubic yard.
How to calculate asphalt
To work out how many tons of asphalt you need, measure the area, choose a thickness, and convert the volume to weight.
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet. For a rectangular driveway, measure both sides. For an irregular area, measure the total square footage instead.
- Choose the thickness in inches. A residential driveway is usually 3 in thick. An overlay on sound pavement is usually 1.5 to 2 in. A parking lot is usually 3 to 5 in. A truck area is usually 4 to 6 in, laid in two lifts.
- Convert the thickness to feet by dividing the inches by 12. 3 in is 0.25 ft.
- Multiply length x width x thickness in feet to get the volume in cubic feet.
- Convert the volume to cubic yards by dividing the cubic feet by 27, if you want it in yards.
- Multiply the volume in cubic feet by the density to get the weight in pounds. The density used here is 145 lb per cubic foot.
- Divide the weight in pounds by 2,000 to get tons. Add a waste allowance, usually 5 percent for a clean rectangle, before you order.
Typical thicknesses
- Residential driveway: 3 in (minimum 2 to 3 in) over 4 to 8 in of compacted aggregate base
- Overlay on sound pavement: 1.5 to 2 in
- Parking lot: 3 to 5 in
- Truck area: 4 to 6 in, laid in two lifts
- Cold climate driveway: 4 to 6 in full-depth
- Private road: 4 to 6 in in two lifts over 8 to 12 in of base
Asphalt formula and worked example
Area: Area (ft2) = length (ft) x width (ft).
Thickness in feet: Thickness (ft) = thickness (in) / 12.
Volume in cubic feet: Volume (ft3) = length (ft) x width (ft) x thickness (ft).
Volume in cubic yards: Volume (yd3) = volume (ft3) / 27.
Volume in cubic metres: Volume (m3) = volume (ft3) / 35.3147.
Weight: Weight (lb) = volume (ft3) x density (lb/ft3).
Tons: Tons = weight (lb) / 2,000.
Tonnes: Tonnes = tons x 0.907185.
Order tons with waste: Order (tons) = Tons x (1 + waste percent / 100).
Truckloads: Truckloads = order tons / truck capacity, rounded up.
Material cost: Cost = order tons x price per ton.
Worked example
A 40 x 10 ft driveway, 3 in thick, with a density of 145 lb per cubic foot and 5 percent waste.
Area: 40 x 10 = 400 sq ft.
Thickness: 3 / 12 ft = 0.25 ft.
Volume: 40 x 10 x (3 / 12) = 100 cubic feet.
Volume in cubic yards: 100 / 27 = 3.70 cubic yards.
Volume in cubic metres: 100 / 35.3147 = 2.83 cubic metres.
Weight: 100 x 145 = 14,500 lb.
Tons: 14,500 / 2,000 = 7.25 tons (6.58 tonnes).
Waste: 5 percent gives 7.61 tons, 10 percent gives 7.98 tons.
Order: 7.6 to 8.0 tons.
Truckloads: 7.61 / 20 = 1.
Coverage check: One ton covers 55.2 sq ft at 3 in, so 400 / 55.2 = 7.25 tons. The two routes agree.
Shortcut: 400 x 3 x 0.00604 = 7.25 tons.
Asphalt calculators
Asphalt Driveway Calculator
Tonnage, truckloads and cost for a new driveway.
Bitumen Calculator
Bitumen weight and volume for a mix design.
Gravel Driveway Calculator
Gravel volume, tonnage and cost for a driveway.
Crushed Stone Calculator
Crushed stone volume, tonnage and cost.
Paver Calculator
Paver count, base and sand for patios and paths.
Road Base Calculator
Road base volume, tonnage and cost for a sub-base.
Asphalt Sealer Calculator
Sealer gallons and coverage for a driveway.
Paver Base Calculator
Base depth, volume and tonnage under pavers.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Multiply length x width x thickness in feet, then multiply by the density and divide by 2,000. In short: Tons = Length x Width x (Thickness in inches / 12) x 145 / 2,000. For example, a 40 x 10 ft driveway, 3 in thick, needs 40 x 10 x 0.25 x 145 / 2,000 = 7.25 tons. Add waste before you order: 5 percent waste gives 7.61 tons and 10 percent waste gives 7.98 tons, so order 7.6 to 8.0 tons. The calculator on this page does the same sum.
How much area does one ton of asphalt cover?
One ton of asphalt covers about 165 square feet at 1 in thick, 110 square feet at 1.5 in, 83 square feet at 2 in, 55 square feet at 3 in, 41 square feet at 4 in, and 28 square feet at 6 in. These figures use a compacted density of 145 lb per cubic foot. Using the exact figure of 55.2 square feet per ton at 3 in, a 400 square foot driveway at 3 in needs 400 / 55.2 = 7.25 tons.
How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard of asphalt weighs 3,915 lb at a compacted density of 145 lb per cubic foot (27 cubic feet x 145 lb per cubic foot), which is 1.96 short tons. One cubic metre weighs about 2.32 tonnes at the same density.
How thick should asphalt be?
A residential driveway needs 3 in of asphalt as a minimum (2 to 3 in) over 4 to 8 in of compacted aggregate base: 4 in of base over sand, 8 in over clay. An overlay on sound pavement is usually 1.5 to 2 in. A parking lot is usually 3 to 5 in, and a truck area 4 to 6 in laid in two lifts. A cold climate driveway is usually 4 to 6 in full-depth. A private road is usually 4 to 6 in in two lifts over 8 to 12 in of base. These are typical values, not a specification. The thickness your job needs depends on the load, the ground and local practice, so confirm it before you order.
How much extra asphalt should I order?
Order 5 percent extra for a clean rectangular area. Order 10 percent extra for irregular shapes or an overlay. The calculator on this page uses a 5 percent waste allowance by default, and you can change it from 0 to 20 percent.
How much does an asphalt driveway cost?
There is no single price for an asphalt driveway. The cost depends on the size of the area, the thickness, the base work and local prices, and no reliable published price is used on this page. Enter your price per ton in the calculator for a material cost based on your own price, and confirm the installed price with a local contractor before you order.