How it works
The calculator works out the area, multiplies it by the compacted thickness to get the volume, adds any extra you enter and multiplies by the density of compacted mix to get the weight.
Area = Length × Width
Volume = Area × Compacted thickness × (1 + Extra ÷ 100)
Weight = Volume × Density
Tons = Square yards × Inches × 110 lb ÷ 2,000
The last line is the same calculation in the units paving specifications use: 110 lb per square yard per inch is about 146.7 lb per cubic foot or 2.35 t/m³. Units are converted internally, so you can enter lengths in feet or meters, the thickness in inches or centimeters and the density in any of the listed units. A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg.
Worked example
Inputs
- Measure by
- Dimensions
- Length
- 40 ft
- Width
- 12 ft
- Compacted thickness
- 2 in
- Compacted mix density
- 110 lb/sq yd/in
- Extra
- 0 %
Result
- Asphalt to order
- 5.87 short tons (11,733 lb)
- Same weight in the other ton unit
- 5.32 t
- Compacted volume
- 2.96 cu yd (80 cu ft)
- Paved area
- 480 sq ft
Common mistakes
- Using the loose thickness behind the paver. Asphalt is laid thicker and rolled down; the tonnage follows the compacted thickness.
- Confusing US short tons with metric tonnes. A short ton is 2,000 lb, a metric tonne is 1,000 kg – check which one your plant invoices.
- Entering the thickness in feet instead of inches. A 2 in mat is one-sixth of a foot; typing “2 ft” makes the order twelve times too large.
- Forgetting the edges and low spots. A base that is not graded flat takes more mix than the nominal thickness suggests.
- Treating this as a pavement design. How thick a driveway must be depends on the base, soil and traffic – ask your contractor or follow local requirements.
Assumptions and limits
- The area is a rectangle, or you have entered its total area, and the compacted thickness is the same everywhere.
- Weight = area × compacted thickness × the density you enter (110 lb per square yard per inch by default), plus any extra you enter.
- The density is for dense-graded hot mix after compaction; porous or open-graded mixes weigh less.
- Nothing is rounded; plants sell asphalt by the ton in their own increments.
- Quantity only – not a pavement design. The thickness and base are up to your contractor and local requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
Multiply the area in square yards by the compacted thickness in inches and by about 110 lb, then divide by 2,000. A 40 × 12 ft driveway is 53.3 square yards; at 2 in that is 53.3 × 2 × 110 = 11,733 lb, or about 5.9 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
At 110 lb per square yard per inch, compacted hot mix weighs about 147 lb per cubic foot, which is roughly 3,960 lb or 1.98 short tons per cubic yard. The Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association gives 144–160 lb per cubic foot for typical mixes.
How far does one ton of asphalt go?
At 110 lb per square yard per inch, one ton covers about 18.2 square yards (164 sq ft) at 1 in, or about 82 sq ft at 2 in. Divide by the thickness in inches for other depths.
Why does my contractor’s figure differ?
Mixes differ in aggregate and binder, and contractors add for edges, waste and base irregularities. Use the density from the plant’s mix design and enter their allowance as extra.
Can I use this for asphalt millings or gravel?
For the volume, yes. For the weight, replace the density with your supplier’s figure for that material – millings and gravel weigh less than compacted hot mix.
Sources
- Constructing Quality Asphalt Pavements in Pennsylvania Check List, 4th edition (2025) — Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association (hosted by the Penn State Northeast Center of Excellence for Pavement Technology). A typical compacted asphalt mix weighs 108–120 lb per square yard per inch of thickness (144–160 lb/cu ft); its tonnage examples assume 110 lb/sy/in (147 lb/cu ft): 5,000 sq yd × 3 in × 110 lb = 825 tons. Default density 110 lb/sq yd/in.
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C – General Tables of Units of Measurement — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Exact unit definitions: 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 yd³ = 27 ft³, 1 US gal = 231 in³, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
Method reviewed November 5, 2026