Asphalt Calculator
Enter your dimensions for an instant answer — the exact quantity to buy (waste included), a material cost, and an estimated installed cost. Change any figure to update the result live.
| ITEM | QTY | PRICE RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| tons (hot-mix) | 15.23 | $1,523–$2,436.8 |
| Estimated material total | $1,523–$2,436.8 |
How much asphalt do I need?
Enter the length, width and compacted thickness of the pavement. Hot-mix asphalt is sold by the ton, so the calculator converts your volume to weight at 145 lb per cubic foot and adds 5% for waste — that is the tonnage to order from the plant.
For a typical residential driveway, plan 2–3 inches of hot-mix over a 4–8 inch compacted gravel base; use the gravel calculator for the base tonnage.
Formula & methodology
tons = (length ft × width ft × thickness in ÷ 12) × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000, + 5% waste
Volume × density ÷ 2,000 lb per ton, with a 5% allowance. 145 lb/ft³ is the standard density of compacted hot-mix; one ton covers about 80 square feet at 2 inches thick.
All constants are published on the material reference; the full model is on the methodology page.
800 sq ft driveway, 3 in thick: you need 14.5 tons (hot-mix) (buy 15.23 with waste), about $1,523–$2,436.8 in materials. See how we calculate this →
Popular sizes
Asphalt cost
Hot-mix runs $100–$160 per ton nationally; installed driveway pricing is per square foot and swings hard by state.
asphalt cost by state →Frequently asked questions
How much asphalt do I need?
Multiply area by compacted thickness for cubic feet, then convert at 145 lb per cubic foot: an 800 sq ft driveway at 3 inches needs about 14.5 tons. Enter your dimensions above for an exact figure with waste included.
How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Hot-mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot. Multiply area by thickness for cubic feet, convert to weight, and divide by 2,000 for tons — the calculator handles it.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
A residential asphalt driveway is typically 2–3 inches of compacted hot-mix over a 4–8 inch gravel base.
Embed this calculator
Bloggers and contractors: embed the free asphalt calculator on your own site — copy the snippet below. Please keep the attribution link visible.