Quantity · Hot-mix paving
Asphalt Calculator
Size a driveway or parking pad in tons of compacted hot-mix asphalt — with waste, delivered material dollars, and an installed cost range. Not for roofing shingles.
Pavement size
Common 2–3 in compacted; 3 in is a solid DIY planning default.
Hot-mix asphalt to order
15.25tons
800 sq ft · 200 cu ft · +5% waste
- Tons (raw)
- 14.5
- With waste
- 15.23
- Material delivered
- $1,525–$3,050
- Installed range
- $2,400–$5,600
Material uses $100–$200/ton delivered. Installed uses $3–$7/sq ft for driveway-class work — labor, equipment, and plant mix vary widely.
Not included
- Excavation, grading, and subbase (crushed stone)
- Removal of existing asphalt or concrete
- Drainage, curbs, and striping
- Permits and site access constraints
Price data updated . National US ranges from published supplier and contractor averages. Not a bid. Local quotes vary.
How asphalt tonnage is calculated
Plants sell hot-mix by the ton. Volume comes from area and compacted thickness; weight uses a standard compacted density for mix design estimating.
cubic_feet = length_ft × width_ft × (thickness_in ÷ 12) tons = cubic_feet × 145 ÷ 2000 order_tons = tons × (1 + waste %) → round up to 0.25 ton
Worked example. A 40 × 20 ft driveway at 3 in is 800 sq ft and 200 cu ft → about 14.5 tons at 145 lb/cu ft. With 5% waste plan roughly 15.25 tons (order 15.25 in quarter-ton steps).
Asphalt tons per 100 sq ft
At 145 lb/cu ft compacted hot-mix — no waste. Multiply by area/100, then add 5%.
| Thickness | Tons / 100 sq ft | Cu ft / 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | 0.91 | 12.5 |
| 2" | 1.21 | 16.7 |
| 3" | 1.81 | 25.0 |
| 4" | 2.42 | 33.3 |
Asphalt calculator FAQ
- Is this asphalt calculator for paving or roofing?
- Paving — hot-mix asphalt for driveways, parking, and paths. If you need shingle squares or roof cost, use the roofing square calculator or roofing cost calculator instead.
- How thick should a residential asphalt driveway be?
- Most residential driveways land at 2–3 inches of compacted hot-mix over a compacted crushed-stone base. Light cars often use 2–2.5 in; heavier use or soft subgrade favors 3 in. This tool defaults to 3 in for planning.
- How much extra asphalt should I order?
- Five percent is the usual waste for a simple rectangle. Irregular edges, handwork at the garage apron, or uncertain thickness may need closer to 10%. Plants often sell in quarter-ton steps — this calculator rounds up.
- Does the price include excavation and base?
- No. Delivered material is per ton; the installed range is a driveway-class total per square foot that still typically excludes deep excavation, new subbase, and tear-out. Those line items often dominate the bid on a rebuild.
- Hot-mix vs cold patch vs millings?
- This page sizes hot-mix (plant asphalt, compacted while hot). Cold patch is for potholes and is sold by bag. Recycled millings are cheaper and behave differently — density and coverage are not the same as virgin hot-mix.
Comparing surfaces — or need a roof?
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