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Asphalt Calculator

Enter the length, width and compacted thickness of a driveway, path or parking pad to get the tons of hot-mix asphalt to order, the volume and the material cost. The density is adjustable to match your supplier’s mix.

Quick examples
%

Extra for compaction, spillage and uneven ground.

lb/ft³

Compacted hot-mix asphalt is about 145 lb/ft³ (roughly 2 tons per cubic yard).

$

Optional. Set to 0 to skip the cost.

Your numbers stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Estimated weight9.13 ton
Volume needed
4.67 yd³
Volume in cubic feet
126 cu ft
Area covered
480 ft²
Estimated cost
$1,004.85

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Save a set of inputs you reuse — your usual rate, your loan, your room sizes — and load it back in one tap.

    Your recent calculations

    Results you calculate here are kept on this device so you can come back to them.

      Formula

      Volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %)
      Weight (lb) = cubic feet × density (145 lb/ft³ by default)
      Tons = pounds ÷ 2,000

      How to use it

      1. Choose the shape and enter the dimensions of the paved area.
      2. Enter the compacted thickness in inches.
      3. Keep 145 lb/ft³ unless your asphalt plant quotes a different density.
      4. Enter the price per ton to estimate material cost.

      Worked examples

      A 40 × 12 ft driveway paved 3 inches thick at $110 a ton, no waste

      Volume in cubic feet
      120 cu ft
      Volume needed
      4.44 yd³
      Estimated weight
      8.7 ton
      Estimated cost
      $957.00

      A 20 × 20 ft pad, 4 inches thick, with 5% extra

      Volume in cubic feet
      140 cu ft
      Volume needed
      5.19 yd³
      Estimated weight
      10.15 ton
      Estimated cost
      $1,116.50

      Typical thickness

      Residential driveways are commonly paved 2–3 in thick over a compacted gravel base, or 4 in or more as full-depth asphalt. Paths and overlays on sound existing pavement run 1.5–2 in. Areas carrying trucks need more.

      The thickness you enter is the compacted thickness. Asphalt is laid roughly 20–25% thicker and rolled down, but it is ordered by weight, so the tonnage is the same.

      A quick rule of thumb

      At 145 lb per cubic foot, one ton of asphalt covers about 80 sq ft at 2 in thick, 55 sq ft at 3 in or 41 sq ft at 4 in. The material price is only part of a paving quote; base preparation, labor and equipment usually cost more than the asphalt itself.

      Questions people ask

      How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?

      A 40 × 12 ft driveway paved 3 in thick is 120 cubic feet, which at 145 lb per cubic foot is 8.7 tons. Add about 5% for waste and uneven base.

      How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?

      About 3,900 lb, or just under 2 tons, at 145 lb per cubic foot.

      How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

      About 80 sq ft at 2 in thick and about 55 sq ft at 3 in thick.

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