Asphalt Calculator
Enter the driveway or lot and the compacted thickness. You get the tons to order, which is how asphalt is sold, plus the volume and a bag count if you are only patching.
Take this list to the store
We'll email the quantities above, what you typed in, and a link that reopens this calculator already filled in — so you can adjust it on your phone in the aisle.
How to work it out
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Measure the area
Length and width of the surface to be paved. A driveway with a parking apron is two rectangles — add a section for each.
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Set the compacted thickness
Residential driveways are usually 2 to 3 in of asphalt over a compacted stone base. Parking areas that take delivery trucks want 3 to 4 in. Thickness here means after rolling, not as laid.
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Order by the ton
Plants sell asphalt by the ton and it has to be laid hot, so the truck and the crew have to be ready together. Confirm the tonnage with your paver before ordering.
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Do not forget the base
Asphalt is only as good as what is under it. Most driveways need 4 to 8 in of compacted crushed stone first — the gravel calculator works that out.
Tons of asphalt by area and thickness
Hot mix at 145 lb per cubic foot compacted, no allowance added.
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 6.0 tons | 9.1 tons | 12.1 tons |
| 720 sq ft (12 × 60 ft drive) | 8.7 tons | 13.1 tons | 17.4 tons |
| 1,000 sq ft | 12.1 tons | 18.1 tons | 24.2 tons |
| 1,500 sq ft | 18.1 tons | 27.2 tons | 36.3 tons |
| 2,500 sq ft | 30.2 tons | 45.3 tons | 60.4 tons |
What one ton covers
Square feet covered by a single ton of hot mix, compacted.
| Thickness | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 1 in | about 165 sq ft |
| 2 in | about 83 sq ft |
| 3 in | about 55 sq ft |
| 4 in | about 41 sq ft |
How much asphalt for a driveway?
A typical two-car driveway of 12 × 60 ft is 720 square feet. At 2 in compacted that is about 8.7 tons, and at 3 in about 13.1 tons.
Asphalt is priced per ton and the plant will not split a load finely, so round up and agree the figure with your paving contractor before the truck is loaded.
How thick should it be?
- Overlay on sound asphalt: 1.5 to 2 in.
- New residential driveway: 2 to 3 in over 4 to 8 in of compacted stone.
- Drives that take heavy vehicles: 3 to 4 in, and a deeper base.
Thickness is measured after rolling. Loose mix is spread about a quarter thicker than the finished depth, so 2 in compacted goes down at roughly 2.5 in.
Why the tonnage moves
Asphalt is sold by weight but laid by volume, and the bridge between them is the mix density — typically 145 pounds per cubic foot for hot mix, though it runs from about 140 to 150 depending on the aggregate.
That spread is around 3% on a driveway, which is less than the allowance you should be adding anyway. Use your plant's figure if you have it.
Small repairs
For potholes and edges you do not need a truck. Cold patch comes in 50 lb bags, needs no heat, and is tamped in place. The bag count above is worked out for that — a pothole 2 ft square and 3 in deep takes about three bags.
How this is worked out
No black box — here is the arithmetic the calculator runs, so you can check it against your own numbers.
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area = length × width, summed over every sectionThe surface being paved. -
volume = area × thickness ÷ 12Thickness in inches becomes feet. -
pounds = volume × mix density145 lb per cubic foot for typical compacted hot mix. -
tons = pounds ÷ 2,000Asphalt is sold by the short ton. -
× (1 + extra %)The allowance for edges and the tail of the load.
Common questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the thickness in feet, then by 145 pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. A 720 sq ft driveway at 2 in works out at about 8.7 tons.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
About 83 square feet at 2 in thick, 55 at 3 in, and 165 at 1 in.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
2 to 3 in of compacted asphalt over 4 to 8 in of compacted stone base for a normal car driveway. Go to 3 to 4 in if trucks or RVs will use it.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 3,915 lb, or just under 2 tons, at 145 pounds per cubic foot.
Can I lay asphalt myself?
Hot mix, no — it arrives at around 300°F and has to be spread and rolled before it cools, which needs a crew and a roller. Cold patch for potholes and edges is a DIY job.
Do I need a base under asphalt?
Yes. Asphalt is flexible and takes its strength from what is under it. Laying it straight on soil is the commonest reason a driveway cracks and sinks within a couple of winters.
How much extra should I order?
About 5%. Edges, thickness variation and the last of the load in the truck all take a little more than the arithmetic says.
What is the difference between asphalt and blacktop?
Nothing meaningful for a driveway. Both are aggregate bound with bitumen; “blacktop” is the everyday word and “hot mix asphalt” is what the plant calls it.
Where these figures come from
Every figure below is traceable. How we check the numbers explains how they are verified, and the coverage reference collects them all in one place.
- National Asphalt Pavement Association — typical compacted density of hot mix asphalt
- Asphalt Institute — thickness guidance for residential and light commercial pavement
- State DOT pavement design manuals — base thickness under flexible pavement
Think a number here is wrong? Tell us — we check every report, correct the page, and date the change. Last checked September 27, 2026.