Dimension Diagram — updates as you type
Compacted thickness over a crushed-stone base. Every inch per square yard weighs about 110 lb.
1 Area & Thickness
Compacted depth: 2 in paths, 3 in driveways, 4 in heavy loads.
2 Pricing & Labour
Results
Material Quantities
Cost Breakdown
⚠️ Pre-Export Checklist
- Thickness is compacted depth, not loose
- 4–8 in compacted base confirmed underneath
- Thickness matched to heaviest vehicle
- 5% overage included for subgrade dips
How to Calculate Asphalt Tonnage
Show formula and worked example ▼
Formula
Cubic feet= Length × Width × (Thickness ÷ 12)
Tons= Cubic feet × 145 ÷ 2000 (≈110 lb per sq yd per inch)
Worked Example
20×40 ft driveway, 3 in thick:200 cu ft × 145 ÷ 2000 =14.5 tons→ order 15–16 tons.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Specifying loose instead of compacted thickness
- Paving over soil with no crushed base
- Ordering exact tons with no overage
- Too-thin mat for heavy vehicles
Drag to rotate — Scroll to zoom
Смежные калькуляторы
Frequently used together on the same project.
Client & Quote (prints on PDF & Excel)
Adjustments (applies to exports)
Contingency is added as a separate line on the exported cost summary. Waste % is printed as an advisory reminder.
Project notes (prints on PDF & Excel)
Result compare (A/B)
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Saved rates auto-apply from your Price Library. Advanced details stay in your browser — nothing is uploaded except inside your own PDF/Excel exports.
Asphalt is ordered by the ton, but driveways are measured in feet and inches — and the thickness you pave decides everything in between. Our free asphalt calculator converts length, width, and compacted thickness into tons of hot mix, cubic yards for base planning, and total cost. It uses the industry rule of about 110 pounds per square yard per inch of thickness, equivalent to roughly 145 pounds per cubic foot compacted.
Enter your driveway or pad dimensions, the compacted thickness (2 inches for paths, 3 for driveways, 4 for heavy loads), and your price per ton. Results show tonnage to order, volume, and cost — with the standard advice to round up, because pavers charge short-load fees when the mix runs out mid-lane.
📖 Как пользоваться калькулятором
Step 1: Measure the Area
Measure length and width in feet. For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and add them.
Step 2: Choose Thickness
Use 2 in for walkways, 3 in for residential driveways, 4 in for RV pads and commercial lots. Thickness is compacted depth.
Step 3: Enter Price per Ton
Call local plants for the per-ton price of your mix (typically base plus delivery). Enter it to get the budget.
Step 4: Order With Margin
Round tonnage up and add 5 percent. Running short means cold joints and a second mobilization fee.
📐 Как считается тоннаж
Volume in cubic feet is length × width × (thickness ÷ 12). Compacted hot mix weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, so tons = cubic feet × 145 ÷ 2000. Equivalently, each square yard at one inch thick weighs about 110 lb. A 20x40 ft driveway at 3 inches is 200 cubic feet — 14.5 tons. Plants batch in whole or half tons, so order 15 tons.
⚠️ Типичные ошибки
Specifying loose instead of compacted thickness
✓ Rollers compress the mat roughly 20 percent. Order for the final compacted depth, and let the paver set the screed higher.
Skipping the base
✓ Asphalt needs 4 to 8 inches of compacted crushed base. Paving over soil guarantees alligator cracking within two seasons.
Ordering exact tons
✓ Subgrade dips eat mix. Five percent over is standard; the leftover patches the apron.
Paving too thin for the load
✓ Garbage trucks and RVs destroy 2-inch residential mats. Match thickness to the heaviest axle that will ever cross it.
💡 Советы профи
Pave when the ground temperature is above 50°F and rising for proper compaction.
Seal driveway edges with a shoe to stop water undermining the mat.
Wait 6 to 12 months before sealcoating new asphalt so oils can cure out.
Schedule delivery so trucks arrive staggered — cold mix waiting in the truck segregates.
❓ Частые вопросы
At 3 inches thick: 20 × 40 × 0.25 = 200 cu ft × 145 lb = 29,000 lb, or 14.5 tons. Order 15 to 16 tons with waste.
3 inches compacted over 4 to 6 inches of crushed base handles cars and light trucks. Go 4 inches for RVs and heavy equipment.
Hot mix typically runs $80 to $150 per ton plus delivery, varying by region and oil prices. Installed driveways run $3 to $7 per square foot.
An overlay works if the base is sound and drainage is right — usually 1.5 to 2 inches over a tack coat. Alligator-cracked mats must be removed first.
🏗️ Реальные применения
Asphalt tonnage estimates cover residential driveways, parking pads, walkways, basketball courts, private lanes, and commercial lots. Homeowners use the tonnage to sanity-check paving bids — if a contractor quotes 10 tons where the math says 15, something is thin. Small mysterious patches and apron repairs are where bagged cold-patch versus hot-mix delivery decisions get made.
Our free asphalt calculator converts driveway dimensions and thickness into hot-mix tons, volume, and cost. Use it for residential driveways, parking pads, walkways, and courts with the 110-pound rule. Enter length, width, and compacted thickness for an instant order quantity.
✅Method, Sources & Review
Maintained by theBuildingCalc methods desk· Last reviewedSeptember 23, 2026. This calculator implements the standards and references below; every figure can be rechecked against the formulas and worked example on this page.
Results are estimates, not engineering advice. Verify against local codes and licensed professionals for structural, electrical, and gas work. See ourTerms. Spotted an error? Report it— corrections ship with the next review.