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Asphalt Calculator: Tons of Hot Mix for a Driveway
Estimate how many tons of asphalt a driveway, parking pad or patch needs from its size and compacted thickness, plus truckloads, material cost and an installed price.
How asphalt tonnage is calculated
Asphalt plants sell hot mix by the ton. Multiply the area by the compacted thickness to get volume, then by the density of compacted asphalt, which is about 145 lb per cubic foot (roughly 2 tons per cubic yard):
tons = length (ft) × width (ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12 × 145 ÷ 2,000
A handy shortcut: each inch of compacted asphalt over 100 sq ft weighs about 0.6 tons.
Worked example
A 50 × 12 ft single-car driveway with 3 in of compacted asphalt is 150 cu ft. At 145 lb per cu ft, that is 21,750 lb, or 10.9 tons: one truckload. At $120 a ton the mix costs about $1,300, while a typical installed price of $5 per sq ft (including the gravel base, grading and paving) comes to $3,000.
How thick should a driveway be?
| Use | Asphalt | Gravel base |
|---|---|---|
| Walkways, paths | 2 in | 4 in |
| Residential driveway | 2 to 3 in | 6 to 8 in |
| Driveway with RVs or trucks | 3 to 4 in, in two lifts | 8 to 12 in |
| Commercial parking | 3 to 4 in | 8 to 12 in |
Most failures come from a weak base, not thin asphalt. A well-compacted crushed stone base on firm soil matters more than an extra inch on top. Use the gravel calculator for the base.
Asphalt or concrete?
- Asphalt costs less up front, handles freeze-thaw well and can be driven on within a few days, but needs sealcoating every 2 to 3 years and lasts 15 to 25 years.
- Concrete costs more but lasts 30 years or more with little maintenance. Compare with the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Multiply length × width × thickness in inches ÷ 12 to get cubic feet, then × 145 ÷ 2,000. A 50 × 12 ft driveway 3 in thick needs about 10.9 tons.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
2 to 3 in of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 in of compacted gravel base is standard for homes. Use 3 to 4 in for heavy vehicles.
How much does an asphalt driveway cost?
Roughly $3 to $7 per sq ft installed in the US, depending on base work, thickness and region. Hot mix itself costs about $100 to $200 a ton.