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Asphalt Calculator

Estimate asphalt volume and tonnage for rectangular, circular, or known-area paving projects, including density, waste, truck loads, and material cost.

ExampleSample values — edit any field to see your result.

Results update as you type.

Asphalt required

19.03short tons

Estimated result

Tonnage before allowance
18.125short tons
Metric tonnes
17.26t
Weight
38,063lb
Paved area
1,000.00ft²
Compacted volume
9.259yd³
Compacted volume
7.079m³
Truck loads
0.95

Coverage per short ton

Compacted depth1 short ton covers
1 in165.52
2 in82.76
3 in55.17
4 in41.38
6 in27.59
Asphalt required19.03 short tons

Estimate asphalt tonnage for a rectangular, circular, or known-area paving project. Select the compacted density and depth, add an ordering allowance, and calculate truck loads and optional material cost.

Formula

volume(ft³) = area(ft²) × compacted thickness(ft)
base tons   = volume × density(lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000
order tons  = base tons × (1 + allowance% ÷ 100)
cost        = order tons × price per ton
Plant tickets are sold by actual scale weight. This result is a planning estimate; final density depends on the mix design and achieved compaction.

Examples

50 × 20 foot driveway at 3 inches

The compacted volume is 250 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ that is 18.125 short tons before allowance, or 19.03 tons with 5% added.

One ton at 3 inches

At the default density, one short ton covers approximately 44.1 ft² at a 3-inch compacted depth.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much asphalt I need?
Multiply paved area by compacted thickness to get volume, multiply by the compacted asphalt density, and divide pounds by 2,000 for US short tons. Then add the selected waste and compaction allowance.
What density does the calculator use?
The default hot-mix and warm-mix estimate is 145 pounds per cubic foot. Cold mix uses 142 and porous asphalt 135. Use the density from the plant or project specification whenever available.
How many square feet does one ton of asphalt cover?
At 145 lb per cubic foot, one short ton covers about 66.2 square feet at 2 inches compacted depth, 44.1 square feet at 3 inches, or 33.1 square feet at 4 inches.
Should asphalt thickness be compacted or loose?
Enter the required compacted thickness. Loose hot mix is thicker before rolling, and the waste or compaction allowance helps plan the order.
Does the cost include labor and delivery?
No. The optional price calculates asphalt material only. Tack coat, aggregate base, excavation, labor, equipment, delivery, and tax are not included.

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