Asphalt Calculator
Estimate the tons of asphalt you need for a driveway, parking lot or path.
- Asphalt needed11.85 tons
- Volume5.93 cubic yards
- Volume160 cubic feet
- Approx. weight23,704 lb
How to use
- Enter the length and width of the area in feet.
- Enter the asphalt depth in inches (2–3" for a top coat; 4" for a full driveway).
- Read the cubic yards and tons of hot-mix asphalt to order.
About this calculator
This asphalt calculator works out the volume of your paved area and converts it to tons of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). Asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, or roughly 2.0 tons per cubic yard — slightly heavier than gravel. For a typical residential driveway, use a 4-inch depth over a compacted gravel base. For a resurfacing overlay (top coat only), 2 inches is common. Suppliers sell asphalt by the ton, so that figure is what you will give them when ordering.
🧮 How it's calculated
- 1Step 1 — Convert depth to feet: Depth (ft) = Depth (in) ÷ 12
- 2Step 2 — Volume in cubic feet: Volume (ft³) = Length × Width × Depth (ft)
- 3Step 3 — Convert to cubic yards: Cubic yards = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27
- 4Step 4 — Weight in tons: Tons = Cubic yards × 2.0 (HMA ≈ 145 lb/ft³ ≈ 2.0 t/yd³)
Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Depth ft) / 27; Tons = Cubic yards × 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should a residential driveway be?+
A new residential driveway typically uses 4 inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt over a 6-inch compacted gravel base. Resurface overlays are usually 2 inches.
How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?+
Hot-mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, which is approximately 2.0 tons per cubic yard. This is denser than gravel (1.4 t/yd³).
What is the difference between asphalt and blacktop?+
They are essentially the same material. 'Blacktop' is the common residential term; 'asphalt' or 'hot-mix asphalt (HMA)' is the industry term.