Daily Figures Edition No Sign-Up No Tracking Free Forever Vol. XII — No. 204
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Asphalt Calculator

Enter the length, width and depth of your paving to get the tons of hot-mix asphalt needed — with volume and an optional cost.

Asphalt needed
Hot-mix, at ~145 lb per cubic foot.
Estimate
Volume cubic feet
Volume cubic yards
Estimated cost
Show our math
Enter your figures above to see the step-by-step working.
An estimate — order a little extra for compaction and edgesEverything computed client-side — nothing leaves this page

How the Asphalt Calculator Works

Asphalt is ordered by weight, so the calculator first finds the volume of your paved area — length times width times depth — then converts it to tons using the density of compacted hot-mix asphalt, about 145 pounds per cubic foot. Enter the area and thickness and, optionally, a price per ton for a cost estimate.

Because the depth is entered in inches, it is divided by twelve to get feet before multiplying. Order a little extra for compaction and edges; most driveways use two to three inches of asphalt over a compacted base.

tons = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) × 145 ÷ 2000

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons of asphalt do I need?

Multiply the length, width and depth (in feet) to get cubic feet, then multiply by 145 pounds per cubic foot and divide by 2,000. A 40 by 20 foot area at 3 inches deep needs about 14.5 tons.

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

A residential driveway typically uses 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a 4 to 8 inch gravel base. Heavier loads call for more. Adjust the depth field to match your plan.

Should I order extra?

Yes, a little. Asphalt compacts and you lose some at the edges and to the wheelbarrow. Ordering about 5 to 10 percent extra avoids coming up short mid-pour.

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