Asphalt Calculator

How many tons of hot mix asphalt you need for a driveway or lot: area × compacted thickness × density, with waste and price per ton.

Residential driveways are commonly 2–3 in of compacted asphalt over a compacted aggregate base.
Dense-graded hot mix is typically 140–150 lb/ft³ (≈2.25–2.4 t/m³). Caltrans paving tables assume 111.15 lb of mix per yd² per inch (≈148 lb/ft³, 2.0 tons/yd³). Ask your plant for the exact mix.
%
Covers uneven base and edges.
$per ton
Your rate is remembered on this device.
Asphalt needed (incl. waste)
7.61
Net asphalt weight
7.25
Compacted volume
3.7037
Paved area
600
Estimated material cost
$837.37
Material only: excludes base, trucking, tack coat and paving labor.

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/asphalt-calculator/. For informational purposes only; verify before relying on it.

Estimate only. This tool is for informational and educational purposes. Results depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions, and are not a substitute for professional engineering, design or financial advice. Always verify with a qualified professional and applicable codes before purchasing, building or making decisions.

How it’s calculated

Asphalt is sold by weight, so convert the paved volume to tons using the compacted density of the mix.

Volume (ft³) = length × width × thickness (ft) Tons = volume × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000 × (1 + waste%)

Example: a 50 ft × 12 ft driveway, 2 in thick: 600 ft² × (2/12) ft = 100 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ that is 14,500 lb = 7.25 tons. Add 5% waste → 7.61 tons; at $110/ton about $837.

A handy check: at 145 lb/ft³ one square yard one inch thick weighs about 109 lb; Caltrans’ paving tables use 111.15 lb/yd² per inch.

Frequently asked questions

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

Multiply length × width (ft) × thickness (ft) to get cubic feet, multiply by about 145 lb/ft³ and divide by 2,000. A 600 ft² driveway at 2 in needs about 7.25 tons before waste.

How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?

Compacted hot mix weighs roughly 1.9–2.0 US tons per cubic yard (140–150 lb/ft³). Loose, uncompacted mix in the truck is lighter by volume.

How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

At 145 lb/ft³, one ton covers about 83 ft² at 2 in thick, 55 ft² at 3 in, and 41 ft² at 4 in.

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Sources

Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.

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