Question 1

How do I calculate how much asphalt I need?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the area (length x width) by the compacted thickness to get the volume, then multiply by the asphalt density (about 145 lb/ft³ or 2,323 kg/m³ for compacted hot-mix) to get the weight. Divide pounds by 2,000 for US tons or kg by 1,000 for metric tonnes.

Question 2

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

Accepted Answer

Residential driveways typically use 2-3 inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt over a 4-6 inch gravel base. Commercial parking lots usually need 3-4 inches. Always compact in 2-inch lifts for best results.

Question 3

How many square feet does 1 ton of asphalt cover?

Accepted Answer

At a compacted thickness of 2 inches, one US ton (2,000 lb) of hot-mix asphalt covers about 79 square feet. At 3 inches it covers roughly 53 sq ft, and at 4 inches about 40 sq ft.

Question 4

What is the density of compacted asphalt?

Accepted Answer

Compacted hot-mix asphalt (HMA) typically weighs 145 lb/ft³ (2,323 kg/m³). The default value in this calculator is 145 lb/ft³ — you can change it for different mix designs or millings (which run lighter).