Asphalt Calculator
Work out how many tons of hot-mix asphalt your driveway needs — plus the volume in cubic yards and the estimated material cost.
Reviewed by the CalcCafe editorial team · Last updated 1 July 2026 · How we test our tools
Example
A 40 ft × 12 ft driveway paved 2 in thick is 40 × 12 × (2 ÷ 12) = 80 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ that weighs 80 × 145 ÷ 2000 = 5.8 tons, or about 2.96 cubic yards. At $120 per ton the material runs roughly $696.
How it works
Volume (ft³) = length × width × (thickness ÷ 12). Tons = volume × density ÷ 2000 (2,000 lb per US ton). Cubic yards = volume ÷ 27. Estimated cost = tons × price per ton.
Good to know
Paving is priced by weight, not area, so the number that actually matters when you call a supplier is tonnage. This tool takes the driveway footprint — length and width in feet — plus the compacted thickness in inches and turns it into the tons of hot-mix asphalt you need to order, the volume in cubic yards for cross-checking, and a rough material cost. It suits homeowners resurfacing a drive, contractors sizing a small lot, or anyone comparing a bid against back-of-envelope math.
Thickness is the input people underestimate. A residential driveway is commonly laid around 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a compacted gravel base; heavier traffic or poor subgrade calls for more. Because tonnage scales directly with thickness, adding an inch is not a rounding error — it moves the order and the price meaningfully, so use the compacted depth your paver specifies rather than a loose guess.
Density varies with the mix. Typical hot-mix asphalt runs about 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot, and the 145 default sits in the middle. If your supplier quotes a specific mix density, plug it in for a tighter estimate. Keep in mind that quoted material weight assumes full compaction; loose, uncompacted asphalt takes up more volume for the same tonnage.
Treat the cost figure as material only. It does not include delivery, tack coat, base preparation, grading, labor, equipment mobilization, or minimum-load charges, all of which can rival or exceed the asphalt itself on a small job. Add a small waste allowance for edges and irregular shapes, and always get an itemized quote before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × (thickness in inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, times density (about 145 lb/ft³), divided by 2,000. A 40×12 ft drive at 2 in works out to roughly 5.8 tons.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
Residential driveways are commonly paved 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a solid gravel base. Heavier vehicles or weak subgrade call for more depth — check your paver's recommendation and local practice.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser. Your inputs never leave your device, and it works offline once loaded.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limits.
People also ask
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
At 145 lb/ft³ and a 2-inch depth, one ton covers about 82 square feet. Coverage drops as thickness rises, so thicker paving means fewer square feet per ton.
How do you calculate asphalt tonnage?
Find the volume in cubic feet (length × width × thickness ÷ 12), multiply by the mix density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000 to convert pounds to US tons.
What is the density of asphalt?
Compacted hot-mix asphalt typically weighs 140 to 150 pounds per cubic foot, or roughly 2 tons per cubic yard. The exact figure depends on the aggregate and mix design.
How much would a 20x20 asphalt driveway cost?
A 20 x 20 ft driveway paved 2 inches thick needs 20 x 20 x (2 / 12) = 66.7 cubic feet of asphalt, which at 145 lb per cubic foot is 66.7 x 145 / 2,000 = 4.8 tons. At the $120 per ton used in the page example, that is about $580 in material; at 3 inches thick it is 7.25 tons, or about $870. Installed prices add base preparation, labor and equipment and vary a lot by region, so use a local per-ton quote in the price field.
How much is 2,000 sq ft of asphalt?
At 2 inches thick, 2,000 sq ft is 2,000 x (2 / 12) = 333 cubic feet, which weighs 333 x 145 / 2,000 = 24.2 tons of hot-mix asphalt; at 3 inches it is 36.3 tons. Using the example price of $120 per ton, material alone runs roughly $2,900 for 2 inches or $4,350 for 3 inches. Real quotes include grading, base stone, labor and delivery, so treat these as material-only figures and enter your local price per ton.
How much would a 100 ft asphalt driveway cost?
Assuming a typical 12 ft width and 2 inches of compacted asphalt, a 100 ft driveway needs 100 x 12 x (2 / 12) = 200 cubic feet, or 200 x 145 / 2,000 = 14.5 tons. At the $120 per ton in the page example that is about $1,740 in material, and about $2,610 for a 3-inch layer (21.75 tons). Width and thickness change the total quickly, so enter your actual dimensions and a local price per ton.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete or asphalt?
Asphalt usually costs less to install than concrete for a driveway, which is one reason it is so common, while concrete typically lasts longer and needs less frequent sealing and resurfacing. Over the life of the surface the gap narrows, because asphalt needs sealcoating every few years and tends to be replaced sooner. Prices for both depend on local material and labor costs, so compare quotes for the same square footage and thickness.
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Sources & references
These tools follow our methodology and provide educational estimates only — verify important figures with a qualified professional.