How this asphalt calculator works
Asphalt sells by the ton but gets specified by the inch, so the math is volume × density — at the compacted thickness the roller leaves behind:
tons = volume × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000 · + waste, up to the ¼ ton
Worked example: asphalt for a 400 ft² driveway
A 40 × 10 ft driveway at 3 in compacted is 100 ft³ — 14,500 lb, or 7.25 tons exact. Add 5% waste and round up to the quarter ton and the order is 7.75 tons, about $775 at $100 a ton. One ton stretches roughly 55 ft² at this depth.
How many tons of asphalt per square foot?
| Depth | Tons | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2″ | 1.21 | 83 ft² |
| 3″ | 1.81 | 55 ft² |
| 4″ | 2.42 | 41 ft² |
| 6″ | 3.63 | 28 ft² |
| Driveway | Order | @ $100/t |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 pad | 4 t | $400 |
| 10 × 40 single | 7.75 t | $775 |
| 12 × 50 long single | 11.5 t | $1,150 |
| 24 × 40 double | 18.5 t | $1,850 |
Asphalt FAQ
How much asphalt do I need for a 400 square foot driveway?
7.75 tons at 3 in compacted depth — 100 ft³ of mat weighs 7.25 tons exact, and 5% waste rounded up to the quarter ton the plant sells lands at 7.75. At $100 a ton that is about $775 in hot mix.
How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?
Just under 2 — compacted hot mix runs about 145 lb/ft³, which is 3,915 lb or 1.96 tons per cubic yard. The calculator works in compacted volume, so its tonnage already reflects the rolled-out thickness, not the loose windrow.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
3 inches of compacted hot mix is the residential standard over a proper base; 2 inches only works as an overlay on sound existing pavement, and 4 inches or more belongs where trucks and RVs park. The base does the structural work — plan 4–8 inches of compacted stone under the mat.
How much area does a ton of asphalt cover?
About 55 ft² at 3 inches compacted. Thinner goes further — 83 ft² at 2 inches — and thicker eats it: 41 ft² at 4 inches. The coverage line under the drawing recomputes for whatever depth you set.
How much does asphalt cost?
Hot mix runs roughly $100–200 per ton from the plant in 2026, so the default 400 ft² driveway is about $775 in material. Paved, rolled and based by a crew, expect $7–13 per square foot installed — access, base repair and mobilization move the number more than the mix does.
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