How to calculate asphalt tons
Multiply the area in square yards by the compacted thickness in inches and by 110 lb, then divide by 2,000 for US tons. The Florida DOT bases its plan quantities on a spread rate of 110 lb per square yard per inch.[1]
- Area: 12 × 50 ft = 600 sq ft ÷ 9 = 66.7 sq yd.
- Pounds: 66.7 × 3 in × 110 = 22,000 lb.
- Tons: 22,000 ÷ 2,000 = 11 US tons.
tons = square yards × inches × 110 ÷ 2,000
The calculator works from volume instead: area × thickness, times the weight of compacted asphalt. The Asphalt Institute gives 142–148 lb per cubic foot in place and suggests 148 for estimates,[2] so the result is a range, 1.92–2 US tons per cubic yard. The 110 lb factor sits inside that range.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
About 3 to 3½ inches of asphalt over 6–8 inches of crushed aggregate base is a common residential design; full-depth asphalt without a stone base is thicker.
| Design | Asphalt | Base | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-course driveway | 2 in bottom course + 1.5 in surface | 6–8 in crushed aggregate | [3] |
| Thin driveway | 3 in | 6–8 in aggregate | [4] |
| Full-depth asphalt | 4 in may be adequate, 5–6 in better | none | [4] |
| Overlay on old pavement | 1.5–2 in | existing pavement | [3] |
Soil, climate and traffic change the design, so use your contractor's or engineer's thickness. Size the stone base with the driveway gravel calculator, or see the stone calculator for crusher run.
Asphalt tons for common areas
Every 100 sq ft of asphalt 1 inch thick weighs about 1,222 lb, or 0.61 US tons, at 110 lb per square yard per inch.[1]
| Area | At 1½ in | At 2 in | At 3 in | At 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 4.9 |
| 12 × 50 ft | 5.5 | 7.3 | 11 | 14.7 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 3.7 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 9.8 |
| 20 × 40 ft | 7.3 | 9.8 | 14.7 | 19.6 |
| 24 × 24 ft | 5.3 | 7 | 10.6 | 14.1 |
| 50 × 100 ft | 45.8 | 61.1 | 91.7 | 122.2 |
Asphalt in cubic yards and metric tonnes
One cubic yard of compacted asphalt weighs about 1.92–2 US tons; one cubic meter weighs about 2.28–2.37 tonnes.[2] Switch the calculator to Meters & cm for square meters, cubic meters and tonnes. One square yard is 0.836 m² and one inch is 2.54 cm.[5]
Common asphalt estimating mistakes
The most common mistake is entering the loose thickness instead of the compacted thickness the plans call for.
- Mixing square feet and square yards: the 110 lb factor is per square yard; 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft.
- Forgetting the base: asphalt tons do not include the stone underneath.
- Thin edges and patches: irregular areas take more than the neat volume; add 5–10% with the "Add extra" option.
Concrete instead?For a concrete driveway or pad, the concrete calculator gives cubic yards and bags, and the slab cost calculator prices it.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
Square yards × thickness in inches × 110 ÷ 2,000. A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 3 inches needs about 11 US tons.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
At 110 lb per square yard per inch, a ton covers about 18.2 sq yd (164 sq ft) at 1 inch, 82 sq ft at 2 inches and 55 sq ft at 3 inches.[1]
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 1.92–2 US tons compacted, from the Asphalt Institute's 142–148 lb per cubic foot in place.[2]
How thick should asphalt be for a driveway?
A common residential design is 2 inches of base course plus 1.5 inches of surface over 6–8 inches of crushed aggregate.[3]