Asphalt Calculator
Asphalt is ordered by the ton. Enter the area and how thick you're paving, and this estimates the tons of hot-mix asphalt — and the cubic yards — you'll need.
Hot-mix asphalt
12.1tons
- Cubic yards (info only)
- 6.17
- Area
- 1,000 sq ft
How these numbers are worked out
The formula
Tons = area × thickness × density ÷ 2,000. Area is length × width (sq ft); thickness in feet is inches ÷ 12; density is the compacted unit weight of the mix (hot-mix asphalt runs about 145 lb/ft³). Multiplying gives pounds, and dividing by 2,000 converts to US tons.
Constants and sources
- Tonnage = area × thickness × density ÷ 2,000. Compacted hot-mix asphalt density ≈ 145 lb/ft³ (typical range 140–150; varies with mix and compaction — confirm with the supplier).
How it was checked
Last reviewed . Before this calculator was published, its formula, constants and worked example were checked in a separate, AI-assisted review that redid the arithmetic and tested the factual claims; the site owner then approved it for publishing. No engineer or tradesperson reviews these pages. Where a figure depends on the product (a density, a coverage rate, a bag size), it is either an input you can change above or a fixed planning value stated on this page, so check it against your product's label or your supplier.
Spot a wrong number or an outdated figure? Send a correction.
Worked example
A 50 ft × 20 ft driveway, 2 inches thick at 145 lb/ft³: 1,000 sq ft × (2 ÷ 12) × 145 = 24,167 lb ÷ 2,000 ≈ 12.1 tons.
FAQs
- How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
- Residential driveways are typically 2–3 inches of compacted hot-mix over a compacted aggregate base; heavier traffic or weak soils call for more. Your contractor sizes this to the use and subgrade.
- Why does asphalt sell by the ton, not the yard?
- Asphalt plants weigh and price by the ton, so tonnage is what you order. The cubic-yard figure here is for reference only — converting between them depends on the mix density, which varies.
- Does this include the gravel base?
- No — this is the asphalt layer only. The compacted aggregate base underneath is a separate material; estimate it with a gravel or crushed-stone calculator.