Asphalt Calculator (Tons of Hot Mix)
Enter the area and the compacted thickness. Asphalt plants sell hot mix by the ton, so the calculator turns the area into tons using a spread rate you can change.
How it works
Square yards = area (sq ft) ÷ 9. Pounds = square yards × compacted thickness (in) × spread rate (lb per sq yd per inch). Tons = pounds ÷ 2,000, then × (1 + allowance). Metric tonnes = tons × 0.90718474 (NIST). 110 lb per sq yd per inch equals 146.7 lb/ft³ (one sq yd at 1 in is 0.75 ft³), about 2,350 kg/m³.
Worked examples
- Driveway 60 × 12 ft at 2 in compacted: 720 sq ft ÷ 9 = 80 sq yd. 80 × 2 × 110 = 17,600 lb = 8.8 tons; with 5% about 9.24 tons (8.38 tonnes). At your own estimate of $100 per ton that is about $924 of mix.
- Patch: a 4 × 3 ft pothole patched 2 in deep (compacted): 12 sq ft = 1.33 sq yd × 2 × 110 = 293 lb, about 0.15 tons. Many plants have minimum loads, so ask before you order a small amount.
- PAPA's parking-lot example: 150 × 300 ft = 5,000 sq yd at 3 in: 5,000 × 3 × 110 = 1,650,000 lb = 825 tons. Its lane example: a 12 ft lane 1 mile long at 1.5 in is about 581 tons.
How to measure
- Measure the length and width of the area to pave. Split curves, flares and aprons into rectangles and triangles and add them as extra area.
- For a patch, cut the patch area square and measure it after cutting, not the visible crack.
- Use the compacted thickness the contractor plans (or the depth of the cut-out for a patch), in inches or centimeters.
- Ask the plant or contractor for the mix's weight per square yard per inch, and enter it if it differs from 110.
Common mistakes
- Entering the loose (uncompacted) thickness. The spread rate is for compacted mix.
- Mixing up US tons (2,000 lb) and metric tonnes (1,000 kg). This page shows both.
- Forgetting edges, aprons and flares, which add area.
- Using one density for every mix. Compacted mixes weigh about 108-120 lb per sq yd per inch, depending on the mix (PAPA booklet).
- Treating the tons as a design or a price quote. Base, thickness and price are for your paving contractor to confirm.
Assumptions
- Density default 110 lb per sq yd per inch: Florida DOT estimates bid quantities at this spread rate, Michigan DOT's manual uses 110 lb/syd = 1 in, and the Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association booklet uses it in its examples (about 147 lb/ft³).
- The same booklet says compacted mix typically weighs 108-120 lb per sq yd per inch (144-160 lb/ft³), depending on the aggregate, asphalt content and in-place density. Ask your plant or contractor for the figure for your mix and enter it.
- Thickness is the compacted (finished) thickness. Loose mix is laid thicker and rolled down.
- Uniform thickness over the area. Low spots, edges and tapers use more. The waste allowance is an editable JobsiteCalc default, not an industry standard. Ask your supplier what extra they suggest for your job.
- The price is your own estimate, not a quote. Base stone, tack coat, labor, delivery and minimum-load charges are not included.
- This is a material estimate only, not a pavement design. The right thickness and base depend on soil, drainage and traffic. Check with a local paving contractor and check local codes.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Multiply square yards by the compacted thickness in inches and by about 110 lb, then divide by 2,000. The Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association's example: a 150 × 300 ft lot (5,000 sq yd) at 3 in needs 5,000 × 3 × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 825 tons.
How much does a cubic foot of asphalt weigh?
Compacted hot mix typically weighs about 144-160 lb per cubic foot (108-120 lb per sq yd per inch), per the same booklet. The 110 lb per sq yd per inch default is about 147 lb/ft³.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
It depends on the soil, base and traffic, and this page does not set a thickness. Check with a local paving contractor and check local codes.
Related calculators
- Gravel calculator – for the stone base under the asphalt
- Concrete slab calculator – to compare with a concrete driveway or pad
- Concrete calculator – for footings, posts and small pours
- Paver calculator – for a paver driveway or patio instead
- Square footage calculator – for odd-shaped areas
Sources
Formulas and reference values are from these sources. Page content last updated 2026-10-19.
- Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association / Penn State: Constructing Quality Asphalt Pavements checklist booklet (2025): 110 lb/sy/in, 825-ton example, 108-120 lb/sy/in range
- Florida DOT Flexible Pavement Design Manual (2018): quantities estimated at 110 lb per sq yd-inch
- Michigan DOT Construction Manual, 501 Plant Produced Hot Mix Asphalt: 110 lb/syd = 1 in; yield example
- NIST Guide to the SI (SP 811), Appendix B.9: conversion factors (foot = 0.3048 m, ton, pound)