Asphalt Calculator
Calculate tons of asphalt for driveways, parking lots, or roads from area and compacted thickness.
Returns hot mix tonnage at standard density of 145 lbs/ft3.
Asphalt projects — driveways, parking lots, path resurfacing — require accurate quantity estimates to avoid costly over-ordering or mid-project shortages.
Volume formula: Volume (cubic yards) = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27
Where length, width, and depth are all in feet. Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
Weight formula: Asphalt Weight (tons) = Volume (cubic yards) × Density
Standard hot-mix asphalt density: 145 lbs per cubic foot = approximately 1.96 tons per cubic yard
Simplified tons formula: Tons = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth ft × 145) ÷ 2000
Worked example: Driveway: 60 ft long × 12 ft wide × 0.33 ft deep (4 inches): Volume = (60 × 12 × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 237.6 ÷ 27 = 8.8 cubic yards Weight = 8.8 × 1.96 = 17.2 tons
At $80–$100 per ton delivered and laid, this driveway would cost approximately $1,376–$1,720 in asphalt material alone.
Typical asphalt depth by application:
- Residential driveway: 3–4 inches (new), 1.5–2 inches (overlay)
- Parking lot: 4–6 inches
- Road base course: 4–8 inches
- Road surface course: 1.5–3 inches
Important notes:
- Always add 10–15% waste factor to your order
- Compaction reduces volume by about 20–25% — what looks like 4 inches of loose asphalt compacts to roughly 3 inches
- Temperature matters: hot-mix asphalt must be laid at 275–325°F and compacted before it cools below 175°F