Asphalt Paving Cost Estimator

Estimate an asphalt driveway or lot: tons of hot mix from area, thickness and density, priced with your $/ton, labor, mobilization, markup and tax.

Residential driveways are commonly 2–3 in of compacted hot mix over a prepared base.
Assumed 145 lb/ft³ (≈2,320 kg/m³), close to the Asphalt Institute rule of thumb of 110 lb per yd² per inch. Use your mix design value if known.
%
$per ton
Plant price per US ton (2,000 lb). Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$per ft² or per ton (as chosen)
Crew, paver, roller and trucking. Example rate — enter your own. BLS (May 2025) reports a median wage of $28.66/h for construction equipment operators.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$per job
Moving the paver and roller to site. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Added to direct costs (materials + labor + fees) to cover overhead and profit. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Your combined state + local rate. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
Whether labor and services are taxable depends on your state. Check with your state revenue department.
Estimated TOTAL
$5,600.36
Asphalt needed (incl. waste)
19.03
Compacted volume (incl. waste)
9.72
Hot mix asphalt (19.03 tons)
$2,283.75
Labor & equipment
$1,750.00
Mobilization
$500.00
Direct cost (before markup)
$4,533.75
Overhead & profit (20%)
$906.75
Subtotal
$5,440.50
Sales tax (7% on materials at cost)
$159.86
Cost per ft²
$5.60
Cost per m²
$60.28

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/asphalt-paving-estimator/. 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

Hot mix is bought by weight, so the estimate converts area × compacted thickness to a volume, then to US tons using the mix density.

Tons = area (ft²) × thickness (ft) × density (lb/ft³) × (1 + waste%) ÷ 2000 Direct cost = tons × $/ton + labor & equipment + mobilization Subtotal = direct cost × (1 + markup%) TOTAL = subtotal + tax

Example (default example rates): 1,000 ft² at 3 in: 1,000 × 0.25 × 145 = 36,250 lb; +5% = 38,062.5 lb = 19.03 tons. Asphalt 19.03 × $120 = $2,283.75; labor 1,000 ft² × $1.75 = $1,750; mobilization $500. Direct cost $4,533.75; +20% = $5,440.50; 7% tax on asphalt = $159.86. TOTAL ≈ $5,600.36 (≈ $5.60/ft²).

Check: the Asphalt Institute’s rule of thumb of 110 lb per yd² per inch gives 111.1 yd² × 3 in × 110 = 36,667 lb (18.3 tons), within about 1% of the density method.

This is a planning estimate only. It does not include anything not entered above, such as permits, inspections, engineering, site preparation, demolition or disposal (unless entered), access or equipment problems, regional surcharges, contingency or price changes. Get written quotes before committing. For paving that includes removal of old pavement, excavation, aggregate base, drainage, tack coat, striping and sealcoating.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of asphalt per square foot?

At 145 lb/ft³, each inch of compacted thickness weighs about 12.1 lb per ft², so 1,000 ft² at 1 in is about 6 tons, and at 3 in about 18 tons (before waste).

Why charge a mobilization fee?

Hauling a paver, roller and crew to a small job costs nearly as much as to a large one. A flat mobilization fee keeps small jobs profitable.

Should I price labor per ton or per square foot?

Large jobs are often priced per ton placed; driveways are often priced per square foot. Pick whichever matches how you track your crew’s productivity.

What thickness does a driveway need?

Residential driveways are commonly 2–3 in of hot mix over a compacted aggregate base. Heavier traffic and poor soils need more; follow local practice or an engineer’s design.

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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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