Asphalt Calculator
Tons of asphalt = area (yd²) × thickness (in) × 110 lb ÷ 2,000. A 40 × 12 ft driveway paved 2 in thick (compacted) is 53.33 yd² at 220 lb each: 5.87 tons. An Asphalt Institute brief puts an overlay at 1.5 to 2 in and a new driveway at 3.5 in, on 6 to 8 in of crushed stone.
Hot-mix asphalt
5.87 tons
US short tons (2,000 lb), compacted
- Spread rate
- 220 lb/yd²
- Weight
- 5.87 short tons · 5.32 t · 11,733 lb
- Area
- 480 ft² · 53.33 yd²
- Compacted volume
- 2.96 yd³ · 2.27 m³
Worked example
A 40 × 12 ft driveway, 2 in compacted
- 40 × 12 = 480 ft²; 480 ÷ 9 = 53.33 yd²
- 110 × 2 = 220 lb/yd²
- 53.33 × 220 = 11,733 lb ÷ 2,000 = 5.87 tons
Result: About 5.87 tons of hot-mix asphalt.
Checked by the automated test “asphalt — 40 × 12 ft driveway at 2 in = 53.33 yd² × 220 lb = 5.87 tons”.
How it works
Area (yd²) = length (ft) × width (ft) ÷ 9
Spread rate (lb/yd²) = 110 × compacted thickness (in)
Tons = area (yd²) × spread rate (lb/yd²) ÷ 2,000
Assumptions
- 110 lb per square yard per inch of compacted asphalt mixture is the value the Indiana DOT Design Manual uses for quantity estimates (1 in = 110 lb/yd², 2 in = 220 lb/yd²). It equals 146.7 lb/ft³ or 2.35 t/m³.
- The thickness is the compacted thickness. Your plant's mix may weigh a little more or less: enter its figure in the weight box.
- Tons are US short tons (2,000 lb). The base course under the asphalt is not included.
Reference table
| Compacted thickness | Per yd² | Tons per 100 ft² | One ton covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 165 lb | 0.92 | 109 ft² |
| 2 in | 220 lb | 1.22 | 82 ft² |
| 3 in | 330 lb | 1.83 | 55 ft² |
| 4 in | 440 lb | 2.44 | 41 ft² |
Before you order
- Overlay or new driveway. An overlay goes on a sound old surface: the Asphalt Institute brief has weak spots, holes and large cracks cut out and patched with hot mix first.
- Measure each section. For an L-shaped driveway, run the calculator for each rectangle and add the tons.
- Patches count too. A small patch still needs its full compacted thickness; enter the patch size and depth.
Common mistakes
- Entering the loose thickness The 110 lb rule is per inch of compacted pavement. Enter the finished thickness you want, not the depth of mix before rolling.
- Forgetting the base The Asphalt Institute brief puts 6 to 8 in of crushed aggregate under a residential driveway. Estimate that layer separately with the gravel calculator.
- Ordering overlay thickness for a new driveway The same brief gives 1.5 to 2 in for an overlay but 3.5 in (2 in bottom course, 1.5 in surface course) for a new driveway: 75 % more asphalt than 2 in.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should asphalt be for a driveway?
For a new residential driveway, the Asphalt Institute brief gives a 2 in bottom course and a 1.5 in surface course, 3.5 in compacted, on 6 to 8 in of crushed aggregate. At 3.5 in, the 40 × 12 ft driveway takes 10.27 tons.
How much asphalt do I need?
Divide the area in ft² by 9 for square yards, multiply by 110 lb per inch of compacted thickness, then divide by 2,000. A 10 × 10 ft patch 3 in thick: 11.11 yd² × 330 lb = 1.83 tons.
How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?
About 1.98 tons compacted. A cubic yard is a square yard 36 in thick, and 36 × 110 lb = 3,960 lb, using the Indiana DOT estimating rate.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
About 9.09 yd² (81.8 ft²) at 2 in compacted, and 54.5 ft² at 3 in: 2,000 lb divided by 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness.
Sources
Formula, examples and sources checked on by the Yardstick Math team. How we check our formulas.
- Design Manual, Chapter 17: Quantity Estimating – asphalt mixtures 110 lb/yd² per inch — Indiana Department of Transportation, accessed
- Best Practices for the Use of Asphalt Driveways, Technical Brief vol. 5 no. 2 (Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association) — Asphalt Institute, accessed
- Handbook 44, Appendix C – General Tables of Units of Measurement (1 yd² = 9 ft²; short ton = 2,000 lb) — NIST, accessed