Use this free asphalt calculator to find out how much hot-mix asphalt your driveway or paving project may need. Enter the length, width, and finished compacted thickness to get your asphalt tonnage in US tons and cubic yards. Add a local material price per ton to estimate the cost.
Enter the area that will actually be paved. Your estimate appears as you type.
Using 148 lb/ft³; typical in-place range: 142–148 lb/ft³. Actual mix density varies. See the calculation
A US ton is 2,000 lb. This is a planning estimate, not an installed paving quote.
A reliable estimate starts with the paved surface, not the size of the entire lot.
Measure the length and width of the area that will receive asphalt. For a rectangular driveway, enter those measurements in feet and use the finished asphalt thickness from your plan or contractor’s quote.
Measure from one edge of the paved surface to the other, and from the street or curb to where the asphalt ends. Include the apron or widened sections if they will be paved in the same layer.
For an irregular area, divide it into smaller rectangles. Calculate each section separately and add the estimated tons.
The result uses the finished, compacted volume of asphalt. No extra compaction multiplier is added.
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12
US tons = cubic feet × 148 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
That is 200 cubic feet at 148 lb/ft³.
The Asphalt Institute states that in-place asphalt mix typically ranges from 142 to 148 lb/ft³ and uses 148 lb/ft³ in its tonnage estimate. Actual density varies by mix.
Enter the finished, compacted thickness from your paving plan or contractor’s quote. Do not include the aggregate base or enter the loose thickness before compaction.
The right thickness depends on the soil, base, expected traffic, and pavement design. This calculator does not prescribe one thickness for every project. If your plan has different asphalt layers or mixes, estimate them separately.
Enter a local material price per US ton. The calculator multiplies that price by the estimated tonnage to show an asphalt material estimate.
Ask your supplier what the quoted price includes. Labor, removal, base preparation, delivery, and taxes may be quoted separately. Confirm the final quantity and price before ordering.
Quick answers to help you use the estimate with confidence.
Enter the length, width, and finished compacted thickness of the area you plan to pave. The calculator estimates the amount in US tons and cubic yards. For an irregular area, calculate smaller rectangular sections and add the results.
Use the finished, compacted thickness in your paving plan or contractor’s quote. Do not include the gravel base. The appropriate thickness depends on the project, so the calculator does not assume one depth for every driveway.
Coverage depends on compacted thickness and density. At this calculator’s planning density of 148 lb/ft³, one US ton covers about 81 sq ft at 2 in thick, or 54 sq ft at 3 in thick.
There is no single price that applies across the United States. Prices vary by supplier, mix, location, and what the quote includes. Enter a current local material price per US ton to estimate your material cost.
Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) combines aggregate and asphalt binder. The mix is placed while hot and compacted to the specified finished thickness. This calculator estimates the in-place amount after compaction.
The supplier may use a different mix density, site measurement, finished thickness, or ordering allowance. Compare those assumptions with the values used here before ordering.
Yes, as an approximation. Divide the paving area into smaller rectangles, calculate each one, and add the estimated tons.
No. It multiplies the estimated tonnage by the material price per US ton you enter. It does not calculate a complete installed paving quote.
Change any measurement above and the estimate updates immediately.
