Asphalt Calculator

You enter the length, width, and thickness of the area you're paving, and it works out how much hot-mix asphalt you'll need by weight. It multiplies length by width by thickness to get the volume in cubic feet, then multiplies by the density of asphalt, about 145 pounds per cubic foot, and divides by 2,000 to turn pounds into tons. Add a price per ton and it'll total the cost too, so you've got a full estimate in one place.

It depends on the area and how thick you lay it. As a rough guide at the tool's 145-pound density, a standard 2-inch driveway layer needs about 1 ton for every 83 square feet, and a 3-inch layer about 1 ton for every 55 square feet. The calculator does the exact figure for your numbers, so you don't have to guess. Most driveways run 2 to 3 inches for the surface, with a thicker base underneath.

Multiply the cubic yards by about 1.96. One cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet, and at the standard 145-pound density that comes to 3,915 pounds a yard, close to 2 US tons. So 5 cubic yards is about 9.8 tons, and 10 cubic yards about 19.6 tons. Suppliers usually quote by the ton, so this helps when your own estimate came out in yards. Change the density in the tool if your mix runs heavier or lighter and the figure moves with it.

Multiply the square footage by the thickness in feet, which is the inches divided by 12, then multiply by the density and divide by 2,000. At the 145-pound default, a 3-inch layer lands near 1 ton per 55 square feet, and a 2-inch layer near 1 ton per 83. The calculator handles this from your length and width, so you only need the square footage when you're checking by hand.

For a residential driveway, 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a solid gravel base is typical, while parking lots and roads that carry heavier loads go thicker. Thicker asphalt lasts longer under weight, so a driveway that sees a heavy truck is worth building up. Enter the compacted thickness you're aiming for, since that's the depth the finished surface ends up at.

It can. Leave the price per ton blank for just the tonnage, or type in your local price and the calculator multiplies it by the tons to estimate the material cost. Asphalt prices move with oil, so use a recent quote from your supplier for the closest number. Keep in mind this covers the material only, not delivery, the base, labor, or compaction, which a paving contractor would quote separately.

Hot-mix asphalt weighs roughly 145 pounds per cubic foot, which works out to about 3,915 pounds, or just under 2 tons, per cubic yard. The exact weight varies a little with the mix and how tightly it's compacted, so the calculator uses 145 as a solid default. That density is why a thin-looking layer still adds up to several tons across a full driveway, and why asphalt is sold by the ton.

Yes, it's free, needs no sign-up, and runs right in your browser, so nothing you type leaves your device. Bookmark it for the next driveway, path, or lot, and you'll have tons, volume, and a cost estimate in a second. It's a planning tool, so treat the result as a close estimate and confirm the final quantity with your asphalt supplier or paving contractor before you order.