Asphalt Calculator
Use this asphalt calculator to estimate the tons and cubic yards of hot mix asphalt for a driveway, parking pad or patch. Enter a rectangle, circle, several sections or a known area, plus the compacted thickness. It adds an allowance for compaction and waste, then uses an adjustable density to give US tons, metric tonnes, cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, optional cold patch bags and cost.
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Typical for compacted hot mix is about 145 lb per cu ft. Mixes vary, so use your supplier's figure if you have it.
US short tons
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Metric tonnes
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Cubic yards (cu yd)
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Cubic feet (cu ft)
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Cubic meters (m³)
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US tons per cu yd at this density
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Weight per sq yd per inch of thickness
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Cold patch bags (rounded up)
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Estimated cost
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Volume = area × thickness, plus the extra percentage for compaction and waste. Tons = cubic feet × density ÷ 2,000. At 145 lb per cu ft, one cu yd (27 cu ft) weighs 3,915 lb = 1.96 US tons, and one sq yd at 1 in weighs about 109 lb (the common 110 lb rule of thumb). 2–3 in of compacted asphalt is a typical residential driveway thickness and 10% extra is a typical starting allowance; both are adjustable. Mixes, lift thicknesses and delivered tonnage vary, so confirm quantities with your paving contractor or asphalt plant.
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- Concrete Calculator Bags Bags of concrete for a slab from L × W × thickness.
How it works
- How much asphalt do I need for a driveway?
- Multiply length × width × compacted thickness (in feet) to get cubic feet, add your extra, then multiply by the density. A 20 ft × 12 ft driveway at 3 in is 240 × 0.25 = 60 cu ft. With 10% extra that is 66 cu ft, or 2.44 cu yd, which at 145 lb per cu ft is about 4.8 US tons (66 × 145 ÷ 2,000).
- How many tons are in a cubic yard of asphalt?
- At a typical compacted density of 145 lb per cu ft, a cubic yard (27 cu ft) weighs 3,915 lb, or about 1.96 US tons. Another common way to say it is about 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness (145 × 0.75 = 108.75). Mixes are often quoted at roughly 140 to 150 lb per cu ft, so ask your plant and change the density field.
- How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
- For a residential driveway, 2 to 3 inches of compacted hot mix asphalt over a compacted aggregate base is commonly quoted. 2 in is a typical minimum for cars and 3 in suits heavier or more frequent traffic. Soil, drainage, frost and vehicle weight can call for more, and thick layers are often placed in more than one lift, so follow your paving contractor and local requirements.
- Should I order extra asphalt for compaction?
- Hot mix is spread loose and rolled down, and the thickness you enter is the finished compacted thickness. Edges, an uneven base and leftover material add up, so about 10% extra is a typical starting allowance. This calculator defaults to 10% and you can change it. At 10%, the 60 cu ft example becomes 66 cu ft.
- Hot mix asphalt or cold patch bags: which do I need?
- Hot mix is delivered hot by the ton for new paving and larger repairs. Cold patch comes in bags for small potholes and repairs. Bag yield varies by product: one manufacturer's data sheet lists a 50 lb bag as about 0.5 cu ft compacted, covering about 6 sq ft at 1 in. Enter the yield printed on your bag to get a bag count. A 3 ft × 3 ft hole 2 in deep is 9 × 2 ÷ 12 = 1.5 cu ft, or 3 bags at 0.5 cu ft.