CALCULATION METHOD
How much asphalt do I need?
Measure the paved area, choose the compacted asphalt thickness, and use the density of the mix you plan to buy. The calculator first finds volume, then converts that volume to weight.
Volume = length × width × thickness
Weight = volume × compacted density
Order amount = weight × (1 + waste percentage)
Asphalt tonnage example
A 60 ft × 12 ft driveway with 3 inches of compacted asphalt has a volume of 180 cubic feet, or 6.67 cubic yards. At 145 lb/ft³, the base estimate is about 13.1 short tons. Adding 5% gives an order estimate of about 13.7 tons.
Density changes the result
Asphalt mixes do not all weigh the same. This calculator starts at 145 lb/ft³, close to the compacted pavement unit weight implied by the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association’s published calculator. Change the density when your supplier provides a mix-specific value.
Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, Asphalt Calculator. Accessed September 10, 2026.
Asphalt coverage per ton
At the calculator’s default density of 145 lb/ft³, one short ton covers approximately the following area. Actual coverage changes with mix density and compaction.
| Compacted thickness | Coverage per short ton |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | 82.8 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 55.2 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 41.4 sq ft |
| 5 inches | 33.1 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 27.6 sq ft |