Asphalt Calculator
How many tons of hot-mix asphalt to order, from the area and the finished (compacted) thickness.
Amount
- Weight
- 18,480 lb
- Compacted volume
- 4.67 cu yd
- Compacted volume
- 126 cu ft
Area
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Area
- 53.3 sq yd
- Tons before extra
- 8.80 tons
Cost
- Estimated material cost
- –
How much asphalt do I need?
Divide the area in square feet by 9 to get square yards. Multiply by the compacted thickness in inches and by about 110 lb (the weight of one square yard of hot-mix asphalt, one inch thick), then divide by 2,000 for tons. A 40 × 12 ft driveway at 3 inches needs 8.80 tons, or 9.24 tons with 5% extra.
Worked example: a 40 × 12 ft driveway, 3 inches thick
- Area: 40 × 12 = 480 sq ft. ÷ 9 = 53.3 sq yd.
- Weight: 53.3 sq yd × 3 in × 110 lb = 17,600 lb.
- Tons: 17,600 ÷ 2,000 = 8.80 tons.
- Extra: add 5% for edges and an uneven base: 9.24 tons.
Asphalt is sold and laid by the ton, so tons is the number your paving contractor or plant will quote against.
Tons of asphalt per 100 and 1,000 sq ft
At 110 lb per square yard per inch, with no extra allowance.
| Compacted thickness | Per 100 sq ft | Per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.61 tons | 6.1 tons |
| 1.5 in | 0.92 tons | 9.2 tons |
| 2 in | 1.22 tons | 12.2 tons |
| 3 in | 1.83 tons | 18.3 tons |
| 4 in | 2.44 tons | 24.4 tons |
| 6 in | 3.67 tons | 36.7 tons |
100 sq ft is 11.1 sq yd; × 110 lb × 1 in = 1,222 lb = 0.61 tons per inch.
Why "pounds per square yard per inch"?
Road builders estimate asphalt by how much one square yard weighs at one inch thick, after it has been rolled. State transportation departments use this method for their tonnage estimates. Tennessee DOT, for example, uses 105 lb per square yard per inch for tonnage, and its standard surface mix works out to about 106.
The calculator uses 110 lb by default, which leaves a small margin so you don't run short. If your paving plant gives you a figure for its mix, enter it.
Compacted vs loose thickness
Hot asphalt is spread loose and then rolled, which squeezes it thinner. Always enter the finished, compacted thickness. The weight-per-square-yard method already accounts for compaction, so you don't need to add extra for it.
Before you order
- Base first. Asphalt is laid over a compacted stone base. Use the gravel calculator for the base layer.
- Ask for the plant's figure for pounds per square yard per inch, and its price per ton.
- Small patches: under about a ton, bagged cold-patch asphalt is often more practical than a hot-mix delivery.
- Get the thickness from your contractor. The right thickness depends on the base, the soil and the traffic the surface will carry.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
How much does one square yard of asphalt weigh?
How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?
How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?
Does the cost estimate include paving?
Guides
Related calculators
Sources and method
- Tennessee DOT Pavement Office, Appendix E — Additional Information — tonnage calculated at 105 lb/yd²/in; Grading D surface mix 132.5 lb/yd² at 1¼ in
Last checked October 12, 2026. How we build and test every calculator: methodology.