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Asphalt Calculator: Tons and Cubic Yards for a Driveway

Enter the driveway size and compacted thickness to see how much hot mix asphalt to order, in cubic yards and tons, rounded up so you do not run short. After switching units, re-enter your measurements.

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Formula

  • Volume: length × width × thickness (thickness converted to the same unit as the area)
  • Order volume: volume × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)
  • Cubic yards: cubic feet ÷ 27
  • Weight: cubic feet × density (lb/ft³), then ÷ 2000 for US tons

Worked example

A driveway 40 ft long, 12 ft wide and 2 in thick: 40 × 12 × (2 ÷ 12) = 80 ft³. With 10% waste that is 88 ft³, or 88 ÷ 27 = 3.259 yd³, shown rounded up as 3.26 yd³. At 145 lb/ft³ the weight is 88 × 145 = 12,760 lb = 6.38 US tons, shown rounded up as 6.4 tons.

Assumptions

  • Thickness is the compacted thickness, not the loose thickness as laid.
  • Density defaults to 145 lb/ft³ for compacted hot mix. Ask your supplier for theirs.
  • Tons are US short tons of 2000 lb. Metric tonnes are shown as well.
  • Cubic yards are rounded up to 0.01 and tons to 0.1.
  • The base layer under the asphalt is not included. Use the sand or cubic yard calculator for that.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?

Multiply the area by the thickness to get volume, add your waste allowance, then multiply by the density. A 40 ft by 12 ft driveway, 2 in thick, is 80 ft3. With 10% waste that is 88 ft3, and at 145 lb/ft3 it weighs 12,760 lb, or about 6.4 US tons.

What density should I use for asphalt?

Compacted hot mix asphalt is commonly about 140 to 150 lb/ft3, so 145 is a sensible default. Your supplier knows the exact figure for their mix, so ask for it.

How thick should a driveway be?

Many residential driveways are laid 2 to 3 in thick after compaction, over a prepared stone base. Heavier vehicles need more. Follow the advice of your contractor and local practice.

How much extra asphalt should I order?

Ten percent is a common allowance for uneven ground, edges and spillage. With 88 ft3 needed in the example above, 10% waste adds 8 ft3 to the 80 ft3 of pure volume.

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