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Asphalt Calculator

Measure the area to pave (or type it), set the compacted thickness, and get the asphalt to order in US tons and tonnes, with a waste allowance, the volume, how far a ton goes, and the cost at your supplier's price.

Area to pave
ft
ft

The compacted depth on the plans

Hot mix is about 145 lb/ft³ (2,323 kg/m³). Use your supplier's figure if you have it.

%

Estimators commonly add 5–10% for waste and an uneven base

Asphalt to order
9.14 US tons
In metric tonnes
8.29 tonnes
Weight without the extra
8.7 US tons (17,400 lb)
Volume
120 ft³ · 4.44 yd³
One ton covers
55.2 sq ft

480 sq ft × 0.25 ft × 145 lb/ft³ = 17,400 lb ÷ 2,000 = 8.7 tons, plus 5% = 9.14 tons.

Cost

$

From your supplier or contractor

Cost of the asphalt to order
$913.50

How to use the asphalt calculator

  1. Measure the driveway, path or lot: pick its shape and enter the sizes, or type the area if you already know it.
  2. Enter the compacted thickness from the plans, and your supplier's density if it differs from 145 lb/ft³.
  3. Read the tons to order, then add the price per ton (or per square foot installed) for the cost.

Worked example

A driveway 40 ft long and 12 ft wide is 480 sq ft. At 3 inches (0.25 ft) thick that's 120 ft³ (4.44 yd³). At 145 lb/ft³ it weighs 17,400 lb, which is 8.7 tons; with 5% extra, order 9.14 tons. In metric, 100 m² at 50 mm is 5 m³, which at 2,323 kg/m³ is 11.61 tonnes.

Formulas

  • Volume = area × thickness
  • Weight = volume × density; US tons = pounds ÷ 2,000; tonnes = kilograms ÷ 1,000
  • To order = weight × (1 + waste %); coverage per ton = 2,000 lb ÷ (density × thickness)

Planning figures only: a paving contractor or the job's mix design sets the real quantity, along with the base, tack coat and any milling. Density source: FHWA Central Federal Lands estimating table.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how many tons of asphalt I need?

Multiply the area in square feet by the thickness in feet to get cubic feet, multiply by the density (about 145 lb per cubic foot for compacted hot mix) and divide by 2,000 for US tons. A 40 × 12 ft driveway at 3 inches is 480 × 0.25 = 120 ft³, × 145 = 17,400 lb, or 8.7 tons.

How much does asphalt weigh?

Compacted dense-graded hot mix weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, or 2,323 kg per cubic metre; the US Federal Highway Administration's estimating table uses 2,325 kg/m³ (145.2 lb/ft³). Dense mixes run from about 140 to 150 lb/ft³ and open-graded mixes are lighter, so use the density from your supplier's mix design when you have it.

How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

At 145 lb/ft³, a ton covers about 165.5 sq ft at 1 inch thick, 82.8 sq ft at 2 inches and 55.2 sq ft at 3 inches. The calculator shows the coverage for the thickness you enter.

How much extra asphalt should I order?

Estimators commonly add 5 to 10% for waste, material left in the truck and an uneven base. The calculator starts at 5%; set it to 0 to see the bare quantity.

What's the difference between tons and tonnes?

A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb, or 907.2 kg. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, or 2,204.6 lb, so a tonne is about 10% heavier. US plants usually sell by the ton; most other countries by the tonne. The calculator gives both.

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