Asphalt Calculator
Enter your area and thickness to get the tons of hot mix asphalt you need.
What you'll need to order
- hot mix asphalt
- tack coat
- crushed aggregate base
Prices vary by region and haul distance. Get quotes from at least two local suppliers.
How this calculator works
tons = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) × 145 ÷ 2000
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot. Dividing depth by 12 converts inches to feet; dividing by 2000 converts pounds to US tons.
Worked example
With length 20 ft, width 24 ft, depth 3 in, this calculator returns 9.14 tons.
Waste allowance
The headline figure includes a 5% allowance for waste and over-ordering. The exact requirement is shown alongside it.
Asphalt tonnage by thickness
Figures below assume length 10 ft × width 10 ft. Change any measurement in the calculator to get your own numbers.
| Depth | Asphalt needed (tons) | Volume (cu ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.63 | 8.33 |
| 1.5 in | 0.95 | 12.50 |
| 2 in | 1.27 | 16.67 |
| 2.5 in | 1.59 | 20.83 |
| 3 in | 1.90 | 25.00 |
| 4 in | 2.54 | 33.33 |
| 6 in | 3.81 | 50.00 |
Per 100 square feet, including the 5% waste allowance. A 1,000 sq ft driveway needs ten times these figures.
How much asphalt for a driveway or parking lot?
| Job | Size | Asphalt needed | Material cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway | 50 ft × 10 ft × 2 in | 6.34 tons | $634 – $1,269 |
| Two-car driveway | 24 ft × 20 ft × 3 in | 9.13 tons | $914 – $1,827 |
| Long rural driveway | 300 ft × 12 ft × 3 in | 68.51 tons | $6,851 – $13,703 |
| Small parking lot (20 spaces) | 120 ft × 60 ft × 3 in | 137.0 tons | $13,703 – $27,405 |
| Overlay on sound existing asphalt resurfacing only |
24 ft × 20 ft × 1.5 in | 4.57 tons | $457 – $914 |
Depths are compacted thickness. Hot mix loses roughly 20% of its loose depth under the roller, which the tonnage already accounts for.
Cost range uses $100–$200 per ton for material only.
What does asphalt cost per ton?
Material typically runs $100 to $200 per ton. Material only, at the plant. Installed cost including base preparation, laying and compaction usually runs $3 to $7 per square foot.
What moves the price:
- Crude oil price — asphalt binder tracks it closely and quotes rarely hold beyond 30 days
- Distance from the plant, since hot mix must be laid before it cools
- Mix type — a fine surface course costs more than a coarse base course
- Job size: small residential jobs carry a minimum load charge
Prices are US averages and move with fuel, season and haul distance. Always get two local quotes before budgeting.
Asphalt mix types and their densities
| Type | Weight (lb per cu ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dense-graded surface course | 145.0 | The default for driveways and lots |
| Base course | 142.0 | Coarser, laid under the surface course |
| Porous asphalt | 125.0 | Drains through; used where runoff is regulated |
| Recycled asphalt (RAP) | 130.0 | Cheapest option, compacts well on rural drives |
| Stone matrix asphalt | 150.0 | Heavy-duty, for high-traffic commercial |
This calculator uses 145 lb per cubic foot. Scale the result if your supplier quotes a different mix density.
Asphalt quantity questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need per square foot?
At a 2-inch compacted depth, one square foot needs about 0.0121 tons — roughly 24 lb. At 3 inches it is about 0.0181 tons, and at 4 inches about 0.0242 tons. Multiply your total square footage by these figures for a quick estimate.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
A residential driveway carrying cars and light trucks needs 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a 4 to 8 inch aggregate base. Commercial lots and anywhere heavy vehicles turn should be 3 to 4 inches over a deeper base.
How much area does a ton of asphalt cover?
One ton covers about 82 square feet at 2 inches deep, 55 square feet at 3 inches, and 41 square feet at 4 inches. These figures assume compacted hot mix at roughly 145 lb per cubic foot.
What does asphalt cost per ton?
Hot mix asphalt typically runs $100 to $200 per ton for material alone, varying with oil prices and how far you are from the plant. Installed cost including base preparation, laying and compaction usually falls between $3 and $7 per square foot.
How much asphalt do I need for a 2-car driveway?
A typical 20 by 24 foot two-car driveway at 3 inches deep needs about 8.7 tons, or roughly 9.1 tons once you allow 5% for waste and compaction loss.
How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?
About 82 square feet at 2 inches compacted, 55 sq ft at 3 inches and 41 sq ft at 4 inches. Divide 165 by your depth in inches for a quick coverage figure.
How do I convert asphalt tons to cubic yards?
One cubic yard of compacted hot mix weighs about 1.96 tons, since it runs 145 lb per cubic foot. Divide your tonnage by 1.96 to get cubic yards, though plants almost always quote by weight.
Can I lay asphalt over an existing driveway?
Yes, if the base is sound and drains properly. An overlay is typically 1.5 to 2 inches. Where the old surface is cracked through to the base or holds water, an overlay just fails in the same places.
What is the minimum asphalt order?
Most plants have a minimum load of 1 to 3 tons, and hot mix cannot be stored, so anything left over is wasted. For patches under a ton, cold patch material sold in bags is the practical option.
Why does the calculator add 5%?
Material is lost to compaction, uneven subgrade, edge spillage and the tail end of a truckload. A 5% allowance is standard for paving. On small or irregular jobs, consider 10%.