Finished depth after rolling.
From your supplier.
Area 1
The wider turning area.
Advanced options
5–10% for spread, joints, cleanout.
Compacted, not loose delivered.
Typical load 20–25 tons.
0 to skip. Usually $3–7.
Our asphalt calculator works out how many tons of hot mix you need for a driveway, parking area or path. Enter your dimensions and compacted depth, and it gives you the tonnage, the crushed stone base underneath, and the number of truck loads.
The short answer
Asphalt is sold by the ton, not the cubic yard. The formula is area × depth ÷ 12 × 145 ÷ 2,000, using the finished compacted depth.
A 50 × 20 ft driveway at 3 inches needs 18.1 tons, or about 19.6 with waste — plus 37 tons of base stone, which is the larger order.
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How to use this asphalt calculator
Enter your area. There’s a driveway + apron mode for the common case of a narrow drive opening into a wider turning area, plus rectangles, circles and a known square footage. Add as many areas as you need.
Then set:
- Compacted depth — the finished thickness after rolling, which is what a contractor specifies
- Mix type — density varies about 14% between mixes, and you’re buying by weight
- Base depth — the crushed stone underneath, or none for an overlay
The header toggle switches between US tons and metric tonnes.
The formula
Tons = Area (ft²) × Depth (in) ÷ 12 × Density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000
Or as a shortcut at 145 lb/ft³: Tons = Area × Depth × 0.00604
Worked example — 50 × 20 ft driveway, 3 in asphalt, 6 in base
The compaction double-count
Several asphalt calculators tell you to add 10–25% “for compaction”. That is wrong, and it costs you money.
Asphalt is sold by the ton. Rolling the mat squeezes air out and reduces its thickness — but not one pound of material leaves the driveway. The same tonnage sits there before and after.
So if you calculate tons from compacted depth × compacted density, you already have the right answer. Adding a compaction factor on top counts the same material twice.
| On a 1,000 ft² driveway at 3 in | Tons ordered | Surplus at $130/ton |
|---|---|---|
| Correct — compacted depth, 8% waste | 19.6 | — |
| Plus a 10% “compaction factor” | 21.5 | $254 |
| Plus 20% | 23.5 | $509 |
| Plus 25% | 24.5 | $636 |
And surplus asphalt is worse than surplus concrete or gravel — it arrives hot, it can’t be stored, and it can’t be returned. Whatever you over-order gets dumped.
What the crew actually does is lay a thicker loose lift. Loose hot mix runs about 110 lb/ft³ against 145 compacted, so it loses roughly 24% of its depth under the roller. To finish at 3 inches they spread about 3.95 inches loose — same tonnage, more depth on the way in.
What you do add is a waste allowance of 5–10%. That’s a different thing: spread variation, joints, edges, and material left in the truck. It isn’t compaction.
Density by mix
| Mix | Density | Tons per yd³ | 1,000 ft² at 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dense-graded, heavy | 148 lb/ft³ | 2.00 | 18.50 tons |
| Standard hot mix (HMA) | 145 lb/ft³ | 1.96 | 18.12 tons |
| Compacted millings (RAP) | 140 lb/ft³ | 1.89 | 17.50 tons |
| Cold mix, repairs | 135 lb/ft³ | 1.82 | 16.88 tons |
| Open-graded, porous | 130 lb/ft³ | 1.75 | 16.25 tons |
The spread from porous to heavy dense-graded is 14% on the same job. Since you’re buying by weight, that’s 14% on the bill.
Your supplier’s mix design sheet states the exact density. Ask for it — plants commonly quote anywhere from 142 to 148, which alone shifts tonnage by about 2%.
How thick should the asphalt be?
| Application | Compacted depth | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay on sound existing pavement | 1.5–2 in | None |
| Footpath, light residential | 2 in | 4 in |
| Standard residential driveway | 3 in | 6 in |
| Driveway with trucks or RVs | 4 in | 8 in |
| Commercial lot or road | 4–6 in | 8–12 in |
A roller cannot compact a mat much thicker than 3 inches. The top achieves density and the bottom stays loose, which is exactly where rutting and premature failure start.
So a 6 inch driveway is two 3 inch lifts, each rolled before the next goes on. That means two passes of the crew, and it should be stated in the quote. A contractor proposing 6 inches in one lift is cutting a corner you’ll pay for later.
The base underneath
The base is usually the larger order, and it’s the one people forget to budget for.
| Job | Asphalt | Base stone | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 ft², 2 in over 4 in | 7.2 tons | 13.7 tons | 1.9× |
| 1,000 ft², 3 in over 6 in | 18.1 tons | 34.3 tons | 1.9× |
| 2,000 ft², 4 in over 8 in | 48.3 tons | 91.4 tons | 1.9× |
Crushed stone weighs about 1.85 tons per cubic yard compacted but only around 1.40 loose as delivered. Your base depth is a compacted depth, so it needs the compacted figure.
Use 1.40 against a compacted depth and you under-order by about a third — you’ll be short before you’ve even started paving.
The base matters as much as the asphalt. A poorly compacted base causes cracking and rutting no thickness of asphalt on top will fix, because the failure is underneath.
Coverage per ton
| Compacted depth | One ton covers |
|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 110 ft² |
| 2 in | 83 ft² |
| 3 in | 55 ft² |
| 4 in | 41 ft² |
| 6 in | 28 ft² |
At 145 lb/ft³ standard hot mix.
Useful for a quick sanity check on a quote: divide your area by the coverage figure and you should land close to the tonnage you were given.
Ordering and delivery
Asphalt trucks carry 20–25 tons, so small jobs round up to a full load and you pay for the trip regardless. A 1,000 ft² driveway at 3 inches is one truck with room to spare.
Two practical points that follow from asphalt arriving hot:
- It has to go down the day it arrives. There’s no storing it, no coming back tomorrow with the rest
- Running short mid-job is expensive. A second delivery means a second trip charge, and a cold joint where the two pours meet
That asymmetry is why a sensible 5–10% waste allowance is worth having — while a 25% “compaction factor” is just money in the ground.
Cost
Hot mix material typically runs $100–200 per ton at the plant, moving with fuel prices, season and haul distance. Crushed stone base is far cheaper per ton, usually $20–40.
Installed cost — including excavation, base preparation, laying and compaction — generally runs $3–7 per square foot for residential work. The calculator accepts an installed rate if you’d rather work that way.
Always get two local quotes. Haul distance from the nearest plant affects asphalt pricing more than almost any other material, because it has to arrive hot.
Asphalt ordering mistakes to avoid
- Adding a compaction factor. It double-counts. Mass is conserved.
- Entering loose depth instead of compacted. Specify the finished thickness.
- Using loose density for the base. Under-orders by about a third.
- Forgetting the base entirely. It’s usually 1.9× the asphalt tonnage.
- Assuming 145 lb/ft³ for every mix. The range is 130 to 148.
- Laying more than 3 inches in one lift. The bottom never compacts.
- Ordering by cubic yard. In the US, asphalt is sold by the ton.
- Over-ordering to be safe. Surplus asphalt is hot and unreturnable.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 × 145 ÷ 2,000. A 1,000 ft² driveway at 3 inches needs 18.1 tons before waste, or about 19.6 with an 8% allowance. Use the compacted depth — the finished thickness after rolling.
Do I need to add extra for compaction?
No. Compaction changes volume, not mass, and asphalt is sold by the ton — so tonnage worked out from compacted depth and compacted density is already correct. Adding 10–25% “for compaction” double-counts and can cost several hundred dollars in surplus that can’t be returned.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 1.96 tons at the standard 145 lb/ft³, commonly rounded to 2 tons per cubic yard. Heavier dense-graded mixes reach 2.00, while open-graded porous asphalt is nearer 1.75. Your supplier’s mix design sheet gives the exact figure.
How much area does one ton of asphalt cover?
About 55 square feet at 3 inches compacted, 83 at 2 inches, and 41 at 4 inches. Useful for checking a quote — divide your area by the coverage figure and it should land close to the tonnage you’ve been given.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
Three inches of compacted asphalt over a 6 inch crushed stone base is standard for residential use. Two inches suits light traffic over a 4 inch base, and driveways taking trucks or RVs want 4 inches over 8. Anything over 3 inches must go down in multiple lifts.
How much base do I need under asphalt?
Typically 6 inches of compacted crushed stone for a residential driveway, which works out to roughly 1.9 times the asphalt tonnage. Use the compacted density of about 1.85 tons per cubic yard, not the 1.40 a loose delivered yard weighs — that mistake under-orders by around a third.
Why is asphalt sold by the ton and not the yard?
Because its volume changes between the truck and the finished mat, while its weight doesn’t. Loose hot mix runs about 110 lb/ft³ and compacts to 145, so a cubic yard means something different at each stage. Weight is the only stable measure, which is why plants quote and bill by the ton.
How much thicker is the loose lift?
About 32% thicker, since loose mix at 110 lb/ft³ compacts to 145. To finish at 3 inches the crew spreads roughly 3.95 inches loose — the same tonnage, just more depth going down. That’s the crew’s job to manage, not something you add to your order.
How much waste should I allow?
5–10% covers spread variation, joints, edges and material left in the truck. Lean toward the higher end on small or irregular jobs. This is separate from compaction — it’s real material that doesn’t end up in the finished mat.
Can I lay asphalt myself?
Not realistically for a full driveway. Hot mix arrives at around 300°F, has to be spread and compacted before it cools, and needs a plate compactor or roller to reach density. Cold patch is fine for small repairs and potholes, but a whole driveway is a crew job.
How many truck loads will I need?
Asphalt trucks carry 20–25 tons, so a typical residential driveway is one load. Small jobs round up to a full truck and pay for the trip either way. Since asphalt has to be laid the day it’s delivered, running short means a second trip charge and a cold joint where the pours meet.
Can I use this asphalt calculator in metric?
Yes — the header toggle switches results to tonnes and cubic metres. Standard hot mix at 145 lb/ft³ is about 2,323 kg/m³, and one US ton is 0.907 tonnes. Dimensions are entered in feet and inches; multiply metres by 3.281 and millimetres by 0.03937.
Sources and method
- Standard dense-graded hot mix asphalt taken at 145 lb/ft³ compacted, the common planning value; plants typically quote 142–148
- Loose hot mix at approximately 110 lb/ft³, giving the 24% depth loss under compaction
- Crushed stone base at 1.85 tons per cubic yard compacted; loose delivered weight is around 1.40 and must not be used against compacted depths
- Tonnage is computed from compacted volume and compacted density, so no compaction factor is applied — mass is conserved when the mat is rolled
- Densities vary by aggregate type, binder content and mix design. Confirm with your supplier’s mix design sheet before ordering
- Prices are US averages and move with fuel, season and haul distance from the plant. Get local quotes
Related calculators
How this asphalt calculator works out its numbers
Volume is area times compacted depth. Tonnage is that volume times the compacted density of your mix, divided by 2,000. The waste allowance is applied last and covers spread variation, joints and truck cleanout.
No compaction factor is applied at any point, and that is deliberate. Compaction reduces volume while leaving mass unchanged, so a tonnage derived from compacted depth and compacted density is already the amount you need. The loose lift depth is shown separately so you can see what the crew will actually spread, but it does not change the order.
Base stone uses the compacted density of 1.85 tons per cubic yard by default, because your base depth is a compacted depth. The loose delivered weight of around 1.40 belongs to a different question — how much space it takes in the truck — and using it here would under-order by roughly a third.
Confirm the density with your supplier before ordering. Mix designs vary by aggregate, binder content and plant, and since asphalt is sold by weight, density goes straight to the bill. Get two local quotes: haul distance from the nearest plant affects asphalt pricing more than most materials, because it has to arrive hot enough to lay.