Asphalt Calculator
Estimate tons of hot mix asphalt for a driveway or parking pad from length, width and compacted thickness, with an optional cost per ton.
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How to Calculate
Volume in cubic feet = length × width × thickness (in inches ÷ 12). Multiply by the density and divide by 2,000 to get short tons.
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb/ft³, so one ton covers roughly 80 ft² at 2 in or 55 ft² at 3 in. Use the compacted thickness, not the loose thickness out of the paver.
Plants sell by the ton and many have a minimum load. Paving crews usually add 5 to 10% to cover the edges and low spots in the base.
See our methodology for how every calculator on this site is built.
Worked Example: A Two-Car Driveway Section
A driveway 60 ft long and 10 ft wide, paved at 2.5 in compacted thickness, with hot mix at 145 lb/ft³ and a plant price of $110 per ton.
- Area: 60 × 10 = 600 ft²
- Thickness in feet: 2.5 ÷ 12 = 0.208 ft
- Volume: 600 × 0.208 = 125 ft³
- Weight: 125 × 145 = 18,125 lb
- Tons: 18,125 ÷ 2,000 = 9.06 tons
- Material cost: 9.06 × $110 = $997
That is one triaxle load. A paving contractor would likely order 10 tons, because the edges get feathered, the base is never perfectly flat, and running out means a cold seam. The material cost here is only the mix. Trucking, the paver, rollers and the crew are where most of the money goes on a residential job.
Coverage per Ton
At 145 lb/ft³ compacted:
| Compacted thickness | ft² per ton | Tons per 1,000 ft² | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 110 | 9.1 | Overlay on sound old asphalt |
| 2 in | 83 | 12.1 | Residential driveway surface |
| 3 in | 55 | 18.1 | Driveway with heavier vehicles |
| 4 in | 41 | 24.2 | Parking pads, RVs, light commercial |
Where Asphalt Estimates Go Wrong
Loose vs compacted thickness
Hot mix comes off the paver about 25% thicker than it ends up after rolling. A crew laying 3 in loose gets roughly 2.25 in finished. When a quote says "3 inches", ask whether that is compacted. This calculator assumes compacted.
Ignoring the base
Asphalt is only as good as the stone under it. A residential driveway wants 6 to 8 in of compacted crushed stone. If the old gravel driveway has ruts and mud holes, that base needs work before any blacktop goes down.
Density assumptions
Most dense-graded mixes land between 140 and 150 lb/ft³. Some plants quote 2 tons per cubic yard, which is about 148 lb/ft³. Ask your supplier for the number they use and enter it.
Measuring the wrong shape
Driveways flare at the street, curve around the house and widen into parking pads. Break the layout into rectangles, run each one through the calculator and add the tons together. A flared apron at the road is easy to miss and can add half a ton on its own.
Practical Tips
- Pave when the air is above 50°F and rising. Mix cools fast in cold weather and won't compact properly.
- Crown or slope the surface at least 2% (1/4 in per foot) so water runs off.
- Let new asphalt cure 6 to 12 months before sealcoating.
- Keep heavy trucks and jack stands off it for the first few weeks.
Rough Cost
Hot mix asphalt at the plant usually runs about $100 to $200 per ton depending on region and oil prices. A new residential asphalt driveway typically costs around $4 to $8 per square foot installed, more if the base needs to be built from scratch.
Sources
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
2 to 3 in of compacted surface mix over 6 to 8 in of compacted gravel base for a residential driveway. Go to 4 in if you park trucks or RVs.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
At 145 lb/ft³, about 83 ft² at 2 in thick, 55 ft² at 3 in and 41 ft² at 4 in.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 3,900 lb, or close to 2 tons, once compacted.
Can I pave asphalt over an old asphalt driveway?
Yes, as an overlay of 1.5 to 2 in, if the old surface is sound. Alligator cracking and soft spots mean the base has failed and should be dug out first.
When can I drive on new asphalt?
Usually after 2 to 3 days, longer in hot weather. Avoid turning the wheels while parked for the first few weeks, since the surface scuffs easily.