Asphalt Calculator
Enter the area and compacted thickness to estimate the tons of hot-mix asphalt to order — the way paving companies and plants price it.
Enter the size of the area and the depth.
On this page
How to use the asphalt calculator
- Measure the area to be paved. For a driveway with a turnaround, calculate the rectangle and the turnaround separately and add them up.
- Enter the compacted thickness — the finished depth after rolling, which is how thickness is specified.
- Read the tonnage. Asphalt plants sell hot mix by the ton, so tons are the number to compare quotes with.
How to calculate asphalt tonnage
Compacted hot-mix asphalt weighs about 145 pounds per cubic foot — close to 1.96 tons per cubic yard — which is the figure most estimators use. The exact density depends on the mix, so a paving company may use a slightly different number.
Worked example: a 12 × 40 ft driveway, 2 inches compacted
- Area: 480 sq ft
- Volume: 480 × 2 ÷ 12 = 80 ft³ (2.96 yd³)
- Tons: 80 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 5.8 tons; plus 5% ≈ 6.1 tons
How far does a ton of asphalt go?
| Compacted thickness | 1 ton covers | Tons per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 110 sq ft | 0.91 |
| 2 in | 83 sq ft | 1.21 |
| 3 in | 55 sq ft | 1.81 |
| 4 in | 41 sq ft | 2.42 |
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
- Passenger cars: about 2 inches of compacted asphalt over a compacted gravel base.
- Trucks, RVs, boats and trailers: about 3 inches of asphalt, and a thicker base.
- Base: the gravel base carries the load; asphalt is the wearing surface. A 4 to 8 inch compacted aggregate base is common for driveways, more on soft or clay soils. Size it with the gravel calculator.
- Overlays: resurfacing an existing driveway usually adds 1.5 to 2 inches over a sound, cleaned and tack-coated surface.
Hot mix is a contractor job. It has to be placed and rolled while hot, with a paver and roller. For small repairs and potholes, bagged cold-patch asphalt is the DIY option — check the coverage printed on the bag.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a 2-car driveway?
A typical 20 × 24 ft two-car pad (480 sq ft) at 2 inches compacted needs about 5.8 tons; at 3 inches, about 8.7 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 3,900 lb, or 1.96 tons, when compacted at 145 lb/ft³.
Why do paving quotes use tons?
Asphalt plants sell hot mix by weight, and crews track how many tons they lay. Comparing tonnage between quotes shows whether contractors are pricing the same thickness.
Should I add extra?
A few percent covers edges and an uneven base. Large variations in base level change the tonnage much more, so grade the base carefully first.
Sources
145 lb/ft³ is the density commonly used for compacted hot-mix asphalt estimates; the exact value depends on the mix. How we calculate.