YardMath

Asphalt calculator

Form 24 · Materials estimateFigures checked 2026-09-04
US customary
Quantity · Amount
  1. 01Area to cover20 × 10 ft200 sq ft
  2. 02Hot-mix asphalt needed at 3 in deep52.5 cu ft including 5 % extra1.94 cu yd
  3. 03Weight1.96 tons per cu yd3.81 tons
  4. 04Bulk hot-mix asphalt$110 per ton3.81 tons$419
  5. 0550 lb cold patch bags0.5 cu ft per bag at $20105 bags$2,100
Total, bulk$419
  • Fits in one level full-size pickup load (about 2 cu yd) — check your truck's payload for heavy material.
Buy as
Bulk is priced per ton
Total, bulk1.94 cu yd of hot-mix asphalt$419
Where these figures come from
  • Density 145 lb per cu ft compacted hot-mix asphalt (the common design figure; mixes range 140–150).
  • Cold patch bags (50 lb ≈ 0.5 cu ft) are for repairs only.
  • Prices are typical US plant-gate figures at the date on this sheet; paving contractors quote per square foot installed.

Asphalt plants sell hot mix by the ton. Type the area and the compacted thickness (2 inches for an overlay, 3 for a residential driveway, 4 or more for heavy traffic) and the sheet shows tons, cubic yards and cost. Bags are cold patch for repairs, not for paving.

Worked examples

Driveway 12 × 50 ft, 3 in compacted
5.83 cu yd — hot-mix asphalt needed at 3 in deep, about $1,258 in bulk.
Overlay 20 × 60 ft at 2 in
7.78 cu yd — hot-mix asphalt needed at 2 in deep, about $1,677 in bulk.
Parking pad 20 × 20 ft, 4 in
5.19 cu yd — hot-mix asphalt needed at 4 in deep, about $1,118 in bulk.

How it is worked out

Area (length × width × number of areas) × depth in feet = cubic feet; add the settling allowance; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Weight = cubic yards × the density you see in the material fields. Bags = cubic feet ÷ the bag's cubic feet, rounded up. Cost = the bulk quantity × your bulk price, or bags × your bag price, whichever you marked.

The figures behind it

  • Density 145 lb per cu ft compacted hot-mix asphalt (the common design figure; mixes range 140–150).
  • Cold patch bags (50 lb ≈ 0.5 cu ft) are for repairs only.
  • Prices are typical US plant-gate figures at the date on this sheet; paving contractors quote per square foot installed.

Every figure here is an estimate. Materials vary with moisture, compaction and product; order a little extra and confirm quantities with your supplier.

Questions people ask

How many tons of asphalt per square foot?
At 3 inches compacted, about 0.018 tons (36 lb) per square foot; at 2 inches, 0.012 tons. A 600 sq ft driveway at 3 inches is about 11 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
Compacted hot mix weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, so 3,915 lb or 1.96 tons per cubic yard. Loose mix in the truck is lighter; order by compacted tons.
Does this include the base?
No. A driveway needs 4–8 inches of compacted crushed stone under the asphalt; use the crushed stone calculator for that layer.

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