Asphalt calculator
This asphalt calculator turns a driveway or parking area’s size and compacted thickness into tons of hot-mix asphalt, using a density you can change to match your plant’s mix.
- Tons from square feet and thickness
- Editable density, 145 lb per cubic foot to start
- Optional price per ton for a material cost
Last updated
How to use the asphalt calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet. For an odd shape, total it in the square footage calculator first and enter it as a length with a width of 1.
- Enter the compacted thickness in inches: the finished depth after rolling, not the loose depth.
- Leave the density at 145 lb per cubic foot, or enter the figure your asphalt plant gives for its mix.
- Add a few percent extra for edges and an uneven base, and a price per ton if you want a material cost.
How to calculate asphalt tonnage
Asphalt is sold by weight, so find the volume and multiply by how much a cubic foot of compacted mix weighs.
tons = length (ft) × width (ft) × thickness (in ÷ 12) × density (lb/cu ft) ÷ 2,000
The Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association’s calculator assumes compacted asphalt weighs 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness. A square yard one inch thick is 0.75 cubic feet, so that equals about 147 lb per cubic foot. The 145 lb default here is a round starting point just under it. Mixes differ, so the plant’s own figure is the one to use.
A quick check: at 145 lb per cubic foot, each inch of thickness over a square yard weighs 145 × 0.75 = 108.75 lb, or 0.054 tons.
Worked example
A 50 × 12 ft driveway paved 3 inches thick, with 5% extra.
- Area: 50 × 12 = 600 sq ft (66.7 sq yd).
- Volume: 600 × (3 ÷ 12) = 150 cubic feet.
- Weight: 150 × 145 = 21,750 lb, and 21,750 ÷ 2,000 = 10.88 tons.
- With 5% extra: 10.88 × 1.05 = 11.42 tons.
Using the association’s 110 lb per square yard per inch instead gives 66.7 × 3 × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 11.0 tons before the extra, close to the same answer.
Asphalt tons by area and thickness
Tons of compacted hot mix at 145 lb per cubic foot, before any extra.
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft (20 × 20) | 4.8 | 7.3 | 9.7 |
| 600 sq ft | 7.3 | 10.9 | 14.5 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 12.1 | 18.1 | 24.2 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 18.1 | 27.2 | 36.3 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 24.2 | 36.3 | 48.3 |
Before you order
- Compacted, not loose. Thickness here is the finished depth after rolling. A paver spreads the mix thicker than that and rolls it down.
- Base first. Asphalt goes on a compacted gravel base. Use the gravel calculator for the base stone.
- Thickness is a design choice. The right thickness depends on traffic, base and soil, so ask the paving contractor or your local agency rather than relying on a rule of thumb.
Common questions
How do I calculate asphalt tonnage?
Multiply square feet by the thickness in feet, then by the density in pounds per cubic foot, and divide by 2,000. 1,000 sq ft at 2 inches is 166.7 cubic feet × 145 lb ÷ 2,000 = 12.1 tons.
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a 20x20 driveway?
At 3 inches compacted, a 20 × 20 ft (400 sq ft) pad needs 100 cubic feet × 145 lb ÷ 2,000 = 7.25 tons, or about 7.6 tons with 5% extra.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
At 145 lb per cubic foot, a ton is 13.8 cubic feet. That covers about 83 square feet at 2 inches thick or 55 square feet at 3 inches.
How much does asphalt weigh per cubic foot?
Compacted hot mix weighs roughly 145 to 147 lb per cubic foot. The Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association uses 110 lb per square yard per inch, which works out to about 147 lb per cubic foot.
How do I estimate the cost of asphalt?
Multiply the tons by the price per ton your plant or paver quotes. Prices change with oil costs and region, so enter a current local price in the calculator rather than a national average.
Sources
- Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association asphalt calculator. Assumes compacted asphalt pavement unit weight of 110 lb per square yard per inch. Last checked 28 October 2026
See the methodology page for how YardageHQ builds and checks its calculators.