BYTETOOLS

Asphalt Calculator

Calculate asphalt tonnage for a driveway from area, compacted thickness and density, for rectangular, L-shaped and circular areas, with cubic yards and cost.

720.0
Area (sq ft)
66.89
Area (m²)
189.0
Volume (cu ft)
7.00
Volume (cu yd)
5.35
Volume (m³)
13.70
US tons (2,000 lb)
12.43
Metric tonnes
108.8
lb per sq yd per inch
$1,644.30
Cost at the tonnage price
$2,880.00
Cost at the installed area price

Tonnage = area × compacted thickness × density. At the usual 145 lb/ft³ for dense-graded hot mix that works out at about 109 lb per square yard per inch of thickness, matching the paving trade's "roughly 110 pounds per square yard-inch" rule. A 1,000 sq ft drive at 2 in therefore takes about 12 US tons. Real density depends on the mix design and how well it is compacted, and the sub-base underneath is a separate order. Estimates only — get a paving contractor's measured quote before committing.

What is the Asphalt Calculator?

The ByteTools Asphalt Calculator converts a driveway or car park into tons of hot mix. Enter the shape — a rectangle, an L made from two rectangles, or a circle — set the compacted thickness and the mix density, and it returns the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic metres alongside the tonnage in both US tons and metric tonnes.

  • Rectangular, L-shaped and circular areas in feet or metres
  • Tonnage in US tons and metric tonnes, volume in cubic feet, yards and metres
  • Editable density with presets for dense-graded, porous and cold-patch mixes
  • Shows pounds per square yard per inch so you can check it against the paving rule of thumb
  • Two cost lines: material by the ton and installed by the square foot
  • All calculated locally in your browser, nothing uploaded

How to use the Asphalt Calculator

  1. 1

    Pick imperial or metric and choose a rectangular, L-shaped or circular area.

  2. 2

    Enter the dimensions — both sections if you chose the L shape.

  3. 3

    Choose the asphalt mix to set a starting density, then edit the density to match your supplier's ticket.

  4. 4

    Set the compacted thickness and a waste allowance.

  5. 5

    Enter a price per ton and an installed price per square foot, then compare the two cost lines.

About the Asphalt Calculator

The ByteTools Asphalt Calculator converts a driveway or car park into tons of hot mix. Enter the shape — a rectangle, an L made from two rectangles, or a circle — set the compacted thickness and the mix density, and it returns the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic metres alongside the tonnage in both US tons and metric tonnes.

Density is the number that decides the answer. Dense-graded hot mix is usually taken at 145 lb per cubic foot, which works out at about 109 lb per square yard for every inch of thickness — the paving trade's familiar rule of roughly 110 pounds per square yard-inch. Porous and cold-patch mixes are lighter, and all the values here are editable.

Every calculation runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Sub-base stone is a separate order, real density depends on the mix design and how well it is compacted, and a contractor's price per square foot includes labour and plant that a tonnage figure does not. Use both cost lines here to sanity-check a quote rather than replace one.

Frequently asked questions

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

Multiply the area by the compacted thickness in feet, then by the density. A 1,000 sq ft driveway at 2 in thick is 166.7 cubic feet, which at 145 lb per cubic foot is about 24,200 lb — roughly 12 US tons before any waste allowance.

How much does asphalt weigh per cubic yard?

At the usual 145 lb per cubic foot, a cubic yard of compacted hot-mix asphalt weighs about 3,915 lb, or just under two US tons. Porous mixes are lighter at around 130 lb per cubic foot, and heavily bound mixes can reach 148.

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

Two to three inches of compacted surface course over a properly compacted stone base is typical for cars, and four inches or more where trucks will use it. Thickness is measured after compaction, so loose material is laid noticeably deeper than the finished figure.

How do I convert asphalt tonnage to square yards?

One square yard, one inch thick, at 145 lb per cubic foot weighs about 109 lb — so roughly 18 square yards per ton per inch of thickness. This calculator shows the lb-per-square-yard-per-inch figure directly so you can check it against a supplier's quote.

Is asphalt cheaper than concrete for a driveway?

Asphalt usually costs less to install and can be driven on sooner, while concrete lasts longer and needs less maintenance. The honest comparison depends on local material prices, your climate and how long you plan to stay — price both, using the installed square-foot line here for asphalt.

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