Asphalt Calculator
Enter your driveway or lot dimensions and the finished depth to find out how much hot mix asphalt to order — in tons and cubic yards.
Results
- Cubic yards
- 0.93 yd³
- Cubic feet
- 25.0 ft³
- Weight
- 1.81 tons
Assumed density: 3915 lb/yd³ (Hot Mix Asphalt)
How it works
Measure the area in feet and enter the finished (compacted) depth in inches.
The calculator converts to cubic feet, then to cubic yards (÷ 27).
Tons come from hot mix asphalt's compacted density of ~3,915 lb/yd³ (145 lb/ft³).
Reference chart
Hot mix asphalt coverage at common depths (1 ton ≈ 0.51 yd³)
| Depth (in) | Coverage per ton (sq ft) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 166 |
| 2 | 83 |
| 3 | 55 |
| 4 | 41 |
| 6 | 28 |
Enter the finished depth, not a loose depth
Asphalt shrinks 20–25% under the roller, which leads a lot of people to pad their depth before calculating. For tonnage that is the wrong move, and it is the most common way to over-order.
The reason is that asphalt is sold by weight, not by volume. A ton is a ton whether it is loose in the truck or compacted on the ground, so the tonnage you need is fixed by the finished depth alone. The compaction factor matters to the crew setting the screed, not to the number on your order.
So enter the depth you want when the job is done — 2 to 3 inches for a residential driveway. Then add a waste factor on top, not a compaction factor.
Hot mix tonnage by driveway size (finished depth)
| Driveway size | 2 in deep | 3 in deep |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft (single car) | 2.4 tons | 3.6 tons |
| 12 × 24 ft (two car) | 3.5 tons | 5.2 tons |
| 10 × 50 ft (long approach) | 6.0 tons | 9.1 tons |
| 12 × 60 ft | 8.7 tons | 13.1 tons |
Asphalt sits on a base — budget for that too
A driveway is two layers. The asphalt you calculate here is the wearing surface; underneath it belongs 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed aggregate. Laying asphalt straight onto soil is the standard way to get a driveway that cracks in its first winter.
The base layer is usually the larger material order of the two. A 10 × 20 ft driveway needs roughly 2.4 tons of asphalt at 2 inches — and about 5 tons of crushed gravel for a 4-inch base under it.
Cold climates want more of both: 3 inches of asphalt over a 6-inch base, since frost heave punishes anything thinner.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a 10×20 ft driveway at 3 inches?
10 × 20 × (3/12) = 50 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³ × 3,915 lb/yd³ = 7,250 lb ÷ 2,000 = 3.6 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 3,915 lb, or just under 2 tons. That comes from a compacted density of 145 lb per cubic foot × 27 cubic feet per yard.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a 4 to 6 inch compacted aggregate base for residential use. Cold climates should use 3 inches of asphalt over a 6 inch base.
How much area does one ton of asphalt cover?
About 83 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 55 sq ft at 3 inches. One ton of hot mix asphalt is roughly 0.51 cubic yards.
Should I add extra for compaction?
No — not to the tonnage. Asphalt is sold by weight, so the tonnage depends only on the finished depth. Add a waste factor of 5–10% for edges and spillage instead, and let the crew handle the compaction allowance when they set the screed.
Can I calculate cold patch asphalt with this?
The tonnage math is the same, but cold patch is a little lighter — closer to 140 lb per cubic foot. It is sold in 50 lb bags for pothole repair rather than by the ton, so divide the resulting pounds by 50 to get a bag count.
Link to this calculator
Contractors, teachers, and forum members are welcome to share this page. Copy the snippet below to credit the source.
<a href="https://diymaterialcalculators.com/asphalt/">Asphalt Calculator</a> — free online calculator