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Asphalt Calculator

Area × thickness × density, converted to the tons asphalt is sold and delivered by.

Area (sq ft)

Thickness (in)

Density (lb/ft³)

Asphalt needed

9.667 tons

145 lb/ft³ is a typical compacted hot-mix asphalt density — check with your supplier for their specific mix.

What you entered

Area (sq ft): 800Thickness (in): 2Density (lb/ft³): 145

1
Volume in cubic feet
800 × (2/12)= 133.3333 ft³
2
Weight at the given density
133.3333 × 145 lb/ft³= 19333.3333 lb
3
Convert to tons
19333.3333 ÷ 2000= 9.6667 tons

Result

Asphalt needed: 9.667 tons

An 800 sq ft area at 2" thick needs about 9.666666666666666 tons of asphalt.

Asphalt tonnage by area and thickness

Tonnage is area times thickness in feet, times the compacted density, divided by 2,000. Rows use 145 lb per cubic foot, typical for hot-mix asphalt.

Area	Thickness	Tons needed
500 sq ft	2 in	6.04
500 sq ft	3 in	9.06
500 sq ft	4 in	12.08
1,000 sq ft	2 in	12.08
1,000 sq ft	3 in	18.13
2,000 sq ft	3 in	36.25

2 inches compacted suits a residential driveway over a sound base; 3 to 4 inches is for heavier traffic or weaker subgrade. Order about 5% extra: asphalt compacts as it is rolled, and a short load cannot be topped up once the first has cooled.

Asphalt is sold by weight, not volume

Unlike concrete (sold by volume) or gravel (also often by volume), asphalt is typically quoted and delivered by the ton — this calculator converts your area and thickness into an equivalent weight using a standard compacted density.

Two-layer driveways are common

Many asphalt driveways use a thicker base layer plus a thinner top (wear) layer, applied separately for better durability — for a two-layer job, run this calculator once per layer with its own thickness.

Frequently asked questions

My driveway is 12 ft x 50 ft with 3-inch asphalt — how many tons do I need?

About 5.4 tons. The area is 600 sq ft x 0.25 ft depth = 150 cu ft, times ~145 lb/cu ft compacted density = 21,750 lbs = about 10.9 tons. Actual tonnage depends on the specific mix density — ask your paving contractor.

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

Standard residential driveway: 2-3 inches of asphalt over a 6-8 inch compacted gravel base. Commercial or heavy-vehicle driveways: 3-4 inches. A two-layer application (2-inch base + 1.5-inch top coat) is more durable than a single layer.

How does this compare to the concrete calculator?

Different materials, different units. Concrete is sold by cubic yards (volume), asphalt by tons (weight). Asphalt is generally cheaper per square foot for driveways but needs resealing every 2-5 years. Concrete costs more upfront but lasts 30+ years with less maintenance.