How many tons of asphalt do I need?

Multiply length × width in feet × thickness in inches ÷ 12 to get cubic feet, add 5–10% for waste, then multiply by about 145 lb per cubic foot and divide by 2,000. Example: a 50 × 12 ft driveway at 2.5 in is 125 cu ft, or 137.5 cu ft with 10% extra, which is about 9.97 tons, so order 10 tons.

How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?

About 1.96 tons (3,915 lb) compacted at 145 lb/ft³: 27 cu ft × 145 ÷ 2,000. The Asphalt Institute gives 142 to 148 lb/ft³ in place, so a cubic yard of finished pavement weighs about 1.92 to 2.0 tons. Loose mix in the truck takes more room than the same weight of finished pavement.

How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

At 145 lb/ft³, one ton covers about 83 sq ft at 2 in thick, 66 sq ft at 2.5 in, 55 sq ft at 3 in and 41 sq ft at 4 in, before waste. The math: 2,000 lb ÷ 145 lb/ft³ is 13.8 cu ft, divided by the thickness in feet. The tables on this page show tons per 1,000 sq ft.

What is the rule of thumb of 110 pounds per square yard per inch?

Asphalt magazine calls 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness the typical spread rate: tons = square yards × inches × 110 ÷ 2,000. It equals about 147 lb/ft³. Illinois DOT uses 112 and Tennessee DOT 106 for most dense-graded mixes. This calculator’s 145 lb/ft³ is 108.75, close to the rule; type a different density if your plant quotes one.

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

Trade guidance for a residential driveway is 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a compacted aggregate base, and 3 to 4 inches if heavy trucks or an RV will use it, often laid as two lifts. This is guidance, not a code rule: your climate, soil and local requirements decide. The thickness field takes the finished thickness after rolling.

Is thickness the loose depth or the compacted depth?

The compacted, finished thickness. Hot mix is placed thicker than the target and settles under the roller. The calculator uses the density of the finished mat (about 145 lb/ft³), so the thickness you enter should be the one you want after rolling, and the tons it gives already account for the compaction.

How much extra asphalt should I order?

Five to ten percent is a common planning allowance for edges, an uneven base and the mix left in the truck or the paver. It is an estimate, not a standard: use 10% for a hand-laid or irregular job and 5% for a straight, well-prepared area. Your contractor may quote by the truckload instead.

How much does asphalt cost per ton?

The price band here ($70 to $150 per ton, $100 expected) is a planning estimate for the mix at the plant or delivered. County bid tabulations in 2026 show about $66 to $110 per ton for agency orders; small residential loads, plant minimums, delivery and your region can push it above that. Type your quote in the price box to use it instead.

Do I need a base under asphalt?

For a driveway, yes: asphalt is a flexible surface that relies on a firm, compacted aggregate base and well-drained soil under it. Trade guidance is 4 to 8 inches of compacted crushed stone for a residential driveway, more over soft soil. The gravel calculator works out the stone for the base.

Can I pave a driveway myself with bagged cold patch?

Cold patch suits small repairs only. For a whole driveway the hot mix has to be delivered hot, spread and rolled with a heavy roller before it cools, which is why most driveways are paved by a contractor. Use this calculator to check the tonnage on a quote.

Asphalt Calculator: How Many Tons Do I Need?

A 50 × 12 ft driveway paved 2.5 inches thick (compacted) needs about 10 tons of hot-mix asphalt: 4.63 cu yd, or 5.09 cu yd with 10% extra, at about 145 lb per cubic foot compacted (9.97 tons exact). One ton covers roughly 66 sq ft at 2.5 in, about 109 lb per square yard per inch of thickness.

Figures based on the sources listed belowUpdated 2026-10-07How we calculate

Length

Width

Waste allowance

Standard (10%)Minimal (5%)Custom

Compacted thickness (in)

The finished thickness after rolling, not the loose depth. Typical residential driveway: 2–3 in over a compacted aggregate base, 3–4 in if heavy trucks use it (trade guidance, not a code requirement).

Compacted density (lb/ft³)

Weight of the finished mat per cubic foot. About 145 for dense-graded hot mix (142–148 in place). Ask the plant for its mix’s figure.

Price per ton (optional)

Buy 10 tons

4.63 cu yd + 10% waste = 5.09 cu yd

Weight to order (exact): 9.97 tons, at 145 lb/ft³ compacted, waste included
Volume with waste: 137.5 cu ft
Spread rate: 108.8 lb per sq yd per inch (272 lb per sq yd at 2.5 in)

Low

$700.00

Expected

$1,000.00

High

$1,500.00

Includes 0.46 cu yd waste

How this number is calculated

4.63 cu yd + 10% waste = 5.09 cu yd ÷ 0.511 cu yd per ton = 10 tons

Next step in your project

Gravel Calculator
The compacted aggregate base under the asphalt. Opens with your 50 × 12 ft filled in.

5.1 cu yd — ~51% of a standard truck load

Bagged vs. Ready-mix delivery

Bagged (80 lb bags)

230 bags

$1,035.00–$1,840.00 (typ. $1,380.00)

Ready-mix delivery

5.1 cu yd

$712.96–$1,018.52 (typ. $840.28)

For ~5.1 cu yd, ready-mix delivery is usually cheaper and far less labor.

Shopping list

Hand tamper
Asphalt lute / rake
Plate compactor
Driveway sealer
Chalk line and stakes
Tape measure (100 ft)

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Tons of asphalt per 1,000 sq ft by compacted thickness

At 145 lb/ft³ compacted, before waste. The last column is the weight of one square yard at that thickness (about 109 lb per inch).
Compacted thickness	Tons per 1,000 sq ft	Lb per sq yd
1.5 in	9.1	163
2 in	12.1	218
2.5 in	15.1	272
3 in	18.1	326
4 in	24.2	435

Spread rates and the density behind them

Pounds of compacted mix per square yard per inch of thickness, as agencies and the trade quote them, and the lb/ft³ each works out to (× 12 ÷ 9). The last column is tons per 1,000 sq ft at 2 in. The agency and rule-of-thumb rows are from the Asphalt magazine article; the default row is this calculator’s own 145 lb/ft³.
Source	Lb per sq yd per inch	Lb/ft³	Tons per 1,000 sq ft at 2 in
Tennessee DOT, most dense-graded mixes	106	141	11.8
This calculator’s default (145 lb/ft³)	108.75	145	12.1
Common field rule of thumb	110	147	12.2
Illinois DOT	112	149	12.4

Typical compacted thickness by use (guidance, not a specification)

Trade guidance for a residential job over a compacted aggregate base. Your local code, contractor or county may require more.
Use	Compacted thickness	Notes
Walking or bike path	1.5–2 in	Light loads only. Hand tamp or roll over a firm base.
Residential driveway (cars)	2–3 in	Over a compacted aggregate base, commonly 4–8 in. This calculator starts at 2.5 in.
Driveway with heavy trucks or an RV	3–4 in	Often laid as two lifts, each rolled before the next goes down.
Patch or pothole repair	Match the surrounding pavement	Cut square edges, tack the sides, and compact in lifts.

Methodology & assumptions

Volume is length × width × (compacted thickness in inches ÷ 12), in cubic feet, then ÷ 27 for cubic yards. A waste percentage is added for the edges, uneven base and the load left in the truck, and the cubic feet are multiplied by the compacted density in pounds per cubic foot and divided by 2,000 to give short tons. The default density, 145 lb/ft³, is a typical dense-graded hot mix in place: the Asphalt Institute gives 142 to 148 lb/ft³, and the common field rule of 110 lb per square yard per inch equals about 147. The order is rounded up to a whole ton, and the exact tons are shown too. Thickness means the finished, rolled thickness: loose mix is thicker and settles under the roller, but the plant sells by weight, so the density of the finished mat is what turns thickness into tons. Waste (5 or 10%) and the cost per ton are planning estimates, not published figures. Plants may set a minimum load, charge more for small orders and add delivery, so ask for a quote.

Asphalt magazine, “Five handy rules of thumb for successful asphalt pavement construction”: 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness as the typical spread rate, with Illinois DOT at 112 and Tennessee DOT at 106
Asphalt Institute, Engineering FAQs, “Asphalt pavement thickness and mix design”: asphalt mixture typically weighs 142 to 148 lb/ft³ in place, and the tons-from-cubic-feet worked example
Family Handyman, “How to Install a Durable Asphalt Driveway”: 2 to 3 in of asphalt over a prepared aggregate base (trade guidance, not a specification)
Grayson County, Texas, 2026-03 Asphalt Materials Bid Tabulation: hot mix bids of $91.00 to $110.25 per ton (agency orders, an indication only)
Kitsap County, Washington, 2026-002 bid tabulation: HMA Class 1/2-inch bids of $66.50 to $80.00 per ton
Waste of 5–10% and a base-to-delivered price of $70–$150 per ton are planning estimates, not published figures; small residential loads often cost more

How to calculate how much asphalt you need

Measure the area. Measure the length and width of the driveway, path or patch in feet. For a curved or L-shaped area, work it out in rectangles and add the results.
Set the compacted thickness. Enter the finished thickness after rolling in inches: 2 to 3 in is typical for a residential driveway over a compacted base, and 3 to 4 in for heavy vehicles.
Check the density. Leave 145 lb/ft³ for a typical dense-graded hot mix, or enter the figure your plant gives for its mix.
Add waste. Choose 10% for a standard job or 5% for a straight, well-prepared area.
Order by the ton. The result is the weight in tons, rounded up to a whole ton, with the exact figure, the volume and the cost per ton underneath. Compare it with the contractor’s quote.

Worked examples

Project	Result
50 × 12 ft driveway, 2.5 in compacted, 145 lb/ft³, standard waste	10 tons (9.97 tons exact), 4.63 cu yd + 10% = 5.09 cu yd
20 × 10 ft parking pad, 2 in compacted, standard waste	3 tons (2.66 tons exact), 1.23 cu yd + 10% = 1.36 cu yd
24 × 12 ft two-car driveway, 3 in compacted, standard waste	6 tons (5.74 tons exact), 2.67 cu yd + 10% = 2.93 cu yd
40 × 10 ft driveway for a truck, 3 in compacted, minimal waste	8 tons (7.61 tons exact), 3.70 cu yd + 5% = 3.89 cu yd
6 × 4 ft patch, 2 in compacted, standard waste (a bagged or minimum-load job)	1 ton (0.32 tons exact), 0.15 cu yd + 10% = 0.16 cu yd

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of asphalt do I need?: Multiply length × width in feet × thickness in inches ÷ 12 to get cubic feet, add 5–10% for waste, then multiply by about 145 lb per cubic foot and divide by 2,000. Example: a 50 × 12 ft driveway at 2.5 in is 125 cu ft, or 137.5 cu ft with 10% extra, which is about 9.97 tons, so order 10 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?: About 1.96 tons (3,915 lb) compacted at 145 lb/ft³: 27 cu ft × 145 ÷ 2,000. The Asphalt Institute gives 142 to 148 lb/ft³ in place, so a cubic yard of finished pavement weighs about 1.92 to 2.0 tons. Loose mix in the truck takes more room than the same weight of finished pavement.
How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?: At 145 lb/ft³, one ton covers about 83 sq ft at 2 in thick, 66 sq ft at 2.5 in, 55 sq ft at 3 in and 41 sq ft at 4 in, before waste. The math: 2,000 lb ÷ 145 lb/ft³ is 13.8 cu ft, divided by the thickness in feet. The tables on this page show tons per 1,000 sq ft.
What is the rule of thumb of 110 pounds per square yard per inch?: Asphalt magazine calls 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness the typical spread rate: tons = square yards × inches × 110 ÷ 2,000. It equals about 147 lb/ft³. Illinois DOT uses 112 and Tennessee DOT 106 for most dense-graded mixes. This calculator’s 145 lb/ft³ is 108.75, close to the rule; type a different density if your plant quotes one.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?: Trade guidance for a residential driveway is 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a compacted aggregate base, and 3 to 4 inches if heavy trucks or an RV will use it, often laid as two lifts. This is guidance, not a code rule: your climate, soil and local requirements decide. The thickness field takes the finished thickness after rolling.
Is thickness the loose depth or the compacted depth?: The compacted, finished thickness. Hot mix is placed thicker than the target and settles under the roller. The calculator uses the density of the finished mat (about 145 lb/ft³), so the thickness you enter should be the one you want after rolling, and the tons it gives already account for the compaction.
How much extra asphalt should I order?: Five to ten percent is a common planning allowance for edges, an uneven base and the mix left in the truck or the paver. It is an estimate, not a standard: use 10% for a hand-laid or irregular job and 5% for a straight, well-prepared area. Your contractor may quote by the truckload instead.
How much does asphalt cost per ton?: The price band here ($70 to $150 per ton, $100 expected) is a planning estimate for the mix at the plant or delivered. County bid tabulations in 2026 show about $66 to $110 per ton for agency orders; small residential loads, plant minimums, delivery and your region can push it above that. Type your quote in the price box to use it instead.
Do I need a base under asphalt?: For a driveway, yes: asphalt is a flexible surface that relies on a firm, compacted aggregate base and well-drained soil under it. Trade guidance is 4 to 8 inches of compacted crushed stone for a residential driveway, more over soft soil. The gravel calculator works out the stone for the base.
Can I pave a driveway myself with bagged cold patch?: Cold patch suits small repairs only. For a whole driveway the hot mix has to be delivered hot, spread and rolled with a heavy roller before it cools, which is why most driveways are paved by a contractor. Use this calculator to check the tonnage on a quote.

Handy tools

Feet and Inches Calculator: Add up a driveway’s measured lengths in feet and inches and get the decimal feet the fields above take.