Calculators

Asphalt Calculator

Tons of hot-mix asphalt for a driveway, path or parking area, with waste and delivered cost.

How it works

Asphalt is sold by weight, but a job is measured by area and depth, so the calculation goes through volume. Area times compacted thickness in feet gives cubic feet. Multiplying by the density of compacted hot mix, typically 145 pounds per cubic foot, gives pounds, and dividing by 2,000 gives US tons. A small waste allowance covers uneven base, edges, and what stays stuck in the truck bed.

tons = length × width × (thickness ÷ 12) × density × (1 + waste) ÷ 2,000
thickness
Compacted depth in inches
density
About 145 lb/ft³ for compacted hot-mix asphalt
2,000
Pounds in a US short ton
waste
Typically 5–10%

Worked example

A 60 × 12 ft driveway at 3 inches compacted, with 5% waste, at $110 a ton.

  1. 1Area: 60 × 12 = 720 sq ft
  2. 2Volume: 720 × (3 ÷ 12) × 1.05 = 189 cu ft
  3. 3Weight: 189 × 145 = 27,405 lb
  4. 4Tons: 27,405 ÷ 2,000 = 13.7 tons

Order about 13.7 tons, roughly $1,510 of material and a single tri-axle load.

Frequently asked questions

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

Two to three inches of compacted asphalt over four to eight inches of compacted gravel base is standard for a residential driveway with car traffic. Use three to four inches if RVs, delivery trucks or heavy pickups use it. Commercial lots are often laid in two lifts: a thicker binder course topped with a finer surface course.

How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

At 145 lb/ft³, a ton covers about 80 sq ft at 2 inches, 55 sq ft at 3 inches and 41 sq ft at 4 inches. That is before waste. Quick rule: square feet ÷ (thickness in inches × 12) ≈ tons, which is close enough to check a quote.

Why is the base more important than the asphalt?

Asphalt is flexible; it takes its strength from the layer beneath. A poorly compacted or undrained base lets water soften the ground, and the surface cracks and potholes within a few years regardless of how thick it is. Most failed driveways fail from the bottom up, so budget for proper excavation and a well-compacted crushed stone base.

What does asphalt cost per ton?

Hot-mix asphalt at the plant commonly runs $80–$150 a ton in the US, varying with oil prices and region, plus delivery. Installed, including base work and labour, a residential driveway usually lands at $4–$8 per square foot. Asphalt plants often shut or raise prices in winter, since it must be laid hot and in dry weather.

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