Asphalt Calculator: Tons, Weight, Cubic Yards & Cost
Enter the paved area or dimensions and the compacted asphalt thickness. Use the stated planning density and ordering allowance, or enter your supplier's values. Add a price per ton if you need material cost.
Asphalt Calculator
Asphalt Calculator
How much asphalt do I need?
The amount of asphalt you need depends on paved area, compacted thickness, and mix density. Calculate the finished layer quantity first, then account for an ordering allowance. This method applies to hot mix asphalt and blacktop when the thickness and density match the mix.
In Single layer mode, US tons to order and Order volume include the selected allowance. The note below the results shows the compacted layer before allowance. The worked example below shows both quantities.
Asphalt calculator input methods
Choose the method that matches the measurements or material quantity you already have.
How to calculate asphalt tons from length and width
- Choose Single layer, then Dimensions.
- Enter Width, Length, and Compacted asphalt thickness.
- Check the stated density and ordering allowance. Open Density & ordering allowance and choose Use mix or supplier details if you have project values.
- Leave Asphalt price per US ton blank for quantities only, then click View results.
How to calculate asphalt tons from square feet or square yards
- Choose Single layer, then Enter area under Paved area from.
- Enter Paved area, choose sq ft or sq yd, and enter Compacted asphalt thickness.
- Check the density and ordering allowance. To enter your own, open Density & ordering allowance and choose Use mix or supplier details.
- Click View results.
Use the unit on your plan or takeoff: enter 100 sq yd for 100 square yards, or 900 sq ft for the same area.
How to estimate a layered pavement section
- Choose Layered section and enter the project area.
- Enter the compacted thickness, density, and allowance for the Surface course.
- Add the Binder course, Upper road base, or Lower road base only where they belong to your project.
- Click View results and read each material quantity separately.
Keep asphalt and stone base as separate materials when planning the order.
How to find asphalt coverage from available tons
- Choose Known tons or volume, then Known tons.
- Enter the available asphalt mass, Compacted thickness, and Asphalt density.
- Click View results to see coverage area and compacted volume.
This mode uses the available material directly, with no ordering allowance added.
How to convert cubic yards of asphalt to tons
- Choose Known tons or volume, then Known volume.
- Enter Asphalt volume in cubic yards and the matching Asphalt density.
- Click View results. No length, width, thickness, or ordering allowance is needed.
Use a volume and density for the same material state. A loose truck volume needs a matching loose density.
Asphalt quantity examples
These examples use US short tons: 1 ton = 2,000 lb. Follow the input notes to reproduce each calculation.
Example: 1,000 sq ft at 3 inches thick
At a 3 in compacted thickness, 1,000 sq ft has a finished volume of 250 cu ft, or about 9.26 cu yd. At 145 lb/ft³, the finished layer weighs 18.13 US tons before allowance.
- Compacted volume
- 1,000 × (3 / 12) = 250 cu ft = 9.26 cu yd
- Compacted mass
- 250 × 145 / 2,000 = 18.125 US tons
- With an 8% allowance
- 18.125 × 1.08 = 19.575 ≈ 19.58 tons to order
Try this in the calculator: choose Single layer, then Enter area. Enter 1,000 sq ft and 3 in, and use the stated 145 lb/ft³ density with an 8% allowance. Click View results. The US tons to order result includes the allowance.
Example: 100 square yards
This is 900 sq ft. At 3 in and 145 lb/ft³, the finished layer contains 16.31 US tons before allowance. With an 8% allowance, the order estimate is 17.62 US tons.
Try this: choose Single layer, then Enter area. Select sq yd and enter 100. Enter 3 in and use 145 lb/ft³ with an 8% allowance.
Example: coverage from 10 tons of asphalt
At 145 lb/ft³, 10 US tons correspond to about 137.93 cu ft of compacted asphalt. At a 2 in thickness, that covers about 827.6 sq ft.
Try this: choose Known tons or volume, then Known tons. Enter 10 US tons, Compacted thickness = 2 in, and Asphalt density = 145 lb/ft³, then click View results.
Example: 5 cubic yards of compacted asphalt
At 145 lb/ft³, 5 cu yd contain 5 × 27 × 145 = 19,575 lb, or 9.79 US tons. No ordering allowance is added.
Try this: choose Known tons or volume, then Known volume. Enter Asphalt volume = 5 cu yd and Asphalt density = 145 lb/ft³, then click View results.
Quick reference: asphalt order estimates
The table shows the amount to order, including an 8% allowance. Use your mix or supplier values for a project estimate. The 2 in and 3 in columns compare quantities, not pavement designs.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns.
| Project size | Area | 2 in · order tons | 3 in · order tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 20 ft driveway | 400 sq ft | 5.22 tons | 7.83 tons |
| 800 sq ft driveway | 800 sq ft | 10.44 tons | 15.66 tons |
| 1,000 sq ft driveway | 1,000 sq ft | 13.05 tons | 19.58 tons |
| 1,500 sq ft driveway | 1,500 sq ft | 19.58 tons | 29.36 tons |
For the 20 × 20 ft row, choose Single layer, then Dimensions. Enter Width = 20 ft and Length = 20 ft. At 2 in, 145 lb/ft³, and an 8% allowance, the order estimate is 5.22 US tons.
Asphalt weight: density, cubic yards, and tons
Asphalt weight is compacted volume multiplied by the density of the mix. At the 145 lb/ft³ planning value used in these examples, 1 cu yd weighs 3,915 lb, or about 1.96 US tons. Replace this density with the supplier, mix-design, or test value when you have it.
2 in compacted layer
24.17 lb/sq ft
3 in compacted layer
36.25 lb/sq ft
Both weights use 145 lb/ft³, before ordering allowance. For your own quantity, follow the known-volume method or the known-tons method.
Asphalt material cost from price per ton
Enter a price per ton from your local asphalt supplier to estimate material cost. In Single layer mode, the calculation uses the tonnage including the selected ordering allowance. Leave the price blank if you only need quantities.
Example: material cost at $100 per ton
For the 1,000 sq ft example above, a hypothetical material price of $100 per US ton gives 19.575 × $100 = $1,957.50. The result card rounds this to $1,958. Cost uses the unrounded order estimate, so multiplying the displayed 19.58 tons by the price may differ slightly.
Try this: use the same 1,000 sq ft inputs and enter 100 in Asphalt price per US ton.
Add base, delivery, or equipment costs
Open Add truck loads & project costs if you also need a stone-base estimate or extra costs. Enter Compacted stone base depth and Compacted base density for the base quantity. Add its price, delivery, or equipment rental only where those costs apply. Enter Truck payload to estimate whole delivery loads using your vehicle's legal capacity.
Material cost is one part of a paving quote. For an asphalt driveway cost per square foot that includes site work and labor, use the asphalt driveway cost calculator.
Which compacted thickness should I enter?
Enter the compacted thickness specified for the layer on your drawing, specification, or contractor quote. Ask the contractor to confirm it if the quote only lists a price per square foot. A surface layer, an overlay, and a full new pavement section can require different designs.
The 2 in and 3 in examples show how thickness changes material quantity. They do not choose a suitable pavement structure for your soil, drainage, or traffic.
Use Layered section when your design has separate surface, binder, or base layers. Keep each layer's compacted thickness and matching density with its own material.
Asphalt tonnage formulas
The asphalt tonnage calculator uses area × compacted thickness × mix density. Keep the units compatible and add any ordering allowance after calculating the finished layer.
US units: square feet to tons
- Compacted volume (cu yd)
- area (sq ft) × thickness (in) / 324
- Compacted mass (US tons)
- area (sq ft) × thickness (in) × density (lb/ft³) / 24,000
- Square yards to square feet
- area (sq yd) × 9
Metric units: square meters to tonnes
- Compacted volume (m³)
- area (m²) × thickness (cm) / 100
- Compacted mass (t)
- compacted volume (m³) × density (kg/m³) / 1,000
- Mass unit
- 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg
- Order estimate
- compacted mass × (1 + allowance % / 100)
- Material cost
- order estimate × price per ton or tonne
The formulas start with compacted volume. The Single layer result named Order volume includes the selected allowance.
Compaction and ordering allowance
Use compacted thickness with compacted mix density. If your supplier specifies an ordering allowance, check whether it already covers the overage you are entering here. Avoid adding the same allowance twice. For density compaction or loose-to-compacted lift calculations, use the Asphalt Compaction Calculator.
FAQ
How much does asphalt weigh per cubic yard?
At 145 lb/ft³, 1 cu yd of compacted asphalt weighs 3,915 lb, or about 1.96 US short tons. Use the density of your actual mix if it is available.
What asphalt density should I use?
Use the compacted density from your supplier, mix design, or test report. If you do not have it, the calculator's stated planning value can support an early estimate; confirm it with the supplier before ordering.
How much asphalt do I need for 1,000 square feet?
At 145 lb/ft³, a 1,000 sq ft area contains 18.13 US tons at a 3 in compacted thickness, or 12.08 US tons at 2 in, before allowance. With an 8% allowance, the order estimates are 19.58 and 13.05 US tons respectively. See the worked example above for the steps.
How many square feet does one ton of asphalt cover?
At 145 lb/ft³, 1 US short ton covers about 83 sq ft at 2 in, 55 sq ft at 3 in, or 41 sq ft at 4 in, after compaction. Use Known tons or volume, then Known tons, for your thickness and density. No ordering allowance is added in this mode.
What is the formula for cubic yards of asphalt to tons?
US short tons = compacted cubic yards × 27 × density in lb/ft³ / 2,000. At 145 lb/ft³, multiply cubic yards by 1.9575. Use a volume and density for the same material state.
Does the ordering allowance change the compacted volume?
No. The allowance increases the order estimate; it does not change the designed compacted volume or thickness. In Single layer results, US tons to order and Order volume include the allowance. The note below the results shows the compacted layer before allowance.
Should I add a separate compaction factor?
Calculate the finished layer from compacted thickness and compacted density first. Add a separate factor only if your project or supplier requires it, and check that it does not duplicate the ordering allowance. Use the Asphalt Compaction Calculator for density or lift-thickness calculations.
Can I estimate the stone base too?
Yes. Open Add truck loads & project costs and enter Compacted stone base depth and Compacted base density. The base is estimated for the same project area and kept separate from the asphalt quantity.
Does the estimate include installation?
The asphalt cost uses the price per ton you enter. You can add base, delivery, and equipment costs, but the calculator does not supply labor or a complete installation quote. Use the asphalt driveway cost calculator or a local quote for the full project budget.
Sources and estimating notes
FHWA's estimating table lists hot asphalt mix at 145.2 lb/ft³ (2,325 kg/m³). This page uses 145 lb/ft³ for its US examples. These are estimating values; use the density for your actual mix when available.
The 8% allowance and example thicknesses are calculation assumptions. Confirm the pavement design, supplier density, minimum order, delivery arrangements, and vehicle payload for your project.
For driveway thickness, the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association's technical brief considers site conditions, subgrade, drainage, and loads, and distinguishes new construction from overlays. The calculator estimates quantities for a given design; it does not design the pavement.
Sources checked September 30, 2026: