How Many Tons of Asphalt Do I Need? Driveway Chart
Multiply the area in square feet by the compacted thickness in inches, then by 0.006. A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 3 inches needs about 10.9 tons of hot mix asphalt. The asphalt calculator does it for any size and adds the gravel base.
The asphalt tonnage formula
tons = area (sq ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12 × 145 ÷ 2,000
quick rule: tons ≈ sq ft × inches × 0.006
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot, or just under 2 tons per cubic yard. Suppliers quote by the ton for the compacted depth, so use the finished thickness, not the loose depth before rolling.
Tons of asphalt for common driveways
| Size | Example | Sq ft | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft | Single parking pad | 200 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
| 10 × 50 ft | Single-car driveway | 500 | 6.0 | 9.1 | 12.1 |
| 12 × 60 ft | Long single driveway | 720 | 8.7 | 13.1 | 17.4 |
| 20 × 20 ft | Two-car pad | 400 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 9.7 |
| 20 × 40 ft | Two-car driveway | 800 | 9.7 | 14.5 | 19.3 |
| 24 × 24 ft | Two-car garage apron | 576 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 13.9 |
| 24 × 60 ft | Long two-car driveway | 1,440 | 17.4 | 26.1 | 34.8 |
Add about 5% for uneven ground and edges.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover?
| Thickness | Sq ft per ton | Tons per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 110 | 0.91 |
| 2 in | 83 | 1.21 |
| 2.5 in | 66 | 1.51 |
| 3 in | 55 | 1.81 |
| 4 in | 41 | 2.42 |
How thick should asphalt be?
- Home driveways: 3 inches compacted is the usual minimum. Use 4 inches in cold climates with freeze and thaw, or if trucks or RVs park on it.
- Parking pads and paths: 2 to 3 inches for cars, 2 inches for foot traffic and bike paths.
- Overlays: 1.5 to 2 inches over a sound old driveway. Badly cracked asphalt should be removed, not covered.
- Parking lots: 4 to 6 inches, or more for heavy delivery traffic.
Thicker asphalt costs more up front but lasts longer, and adding an inch is much cheaper now than repaving later.
How much does an asphalt driveway cost?
Hot mix asphalt usually costs about $100 to $150 per ton at the plant. Paving crews charge about $4 to $8 per square foot installed, which covers grading, the gravel base, the asphalt and rolling. A typical two-car driveway lands between about $4,000 and $8,000. These are typical US ranges; get local quotes.
| Driveway (3 in) | Tons incl. 5% | Asphalt only | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 50 ft | 9.5 | $950 to $1,430 | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| 20 × 40 ft | 15.2 | $1,520 to $2,280 | $3,200 to $6,400 |
| 24 × 60 ft | 27.4 | $2,740 to $4,110 | $5,800 to $11,500 |
Removing an old driveway, poor soil that needs more base, and long distances from the plant all add to the price.
Don't skip the base
Asphalt is only as good as what's under it. A home driveway needs 6 to 8 inches of compacted crushed stone under 2 to 3 inches of asphalt; clay soil or heavy vehicles call for more. The gravel calculator works out the base in tons. Edges should be tapered at about 45 degrees so they don't crumble.
Ordering tips
- Most plants have a minimum order and charge a delivery fee, so small jobs cost more per ton.
- Hot mix must be laid and rolled while it's hot, usually above 50°F. For potholes and small patches, bagged cold patch is easier.
- Get quotes for both materials and installed price: paving crews often buy asphalt cheaper than you can.