# Asphalt Quantity Calculator

Area × thickness × density gives tonnage, then bitumen content.

- Page: https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/asphalt-quantity
- Category: Construction (https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/c/construction)
- Chinese version: https://jianzhujisuan.com/zh/asphalt-quantity.md
- Data checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick result

With the default inputs (Pavement area 10000 m², Compacted thickness 0.05 m, Mix bulk density 2.4 t/m³, Bitumen ratio 5%, Paving waste 2%): **Bitumen required 58.29 t**

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Default | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pavement area | number | 10000 | m² |  |
| Compacted thickness | number | 0.05 | m | 40-60 mm for fine-graded, 50-70 for medium |
| Mix bulk density | number | 2.4 | t/m³ | AC mixes 2.35-2.45, SMA 2.4-2.5 |
| Bitumen ratio | number | 5 | % | Bitumen ÷ aggregate, not bitumen content — the denominators differ |
| Paving waste | number | 2 | % | Edge trimming and transport loss, usually 1-4% |

## Formula

- **Net mix weight**: M = area × thickness × density
- **With waste**: M = M × (1 + waste)
- **Bitumen**: G = M × ratio ÷ (100 + ratio)
- **Aggregate**: G = M − bitumen
- **Bitumen content**: content = bitumen ÷ M × 100%

## Worked example

10000 m² at 50 mm compacted, 2.4 t/m³, 5% bitumen ratio and 2% waste: 1200.0 t net mix, 1224.0 t with waste, 58.29 t of bitumen, 1165.71 t of aggregate, 4.76% content and 5.83 kg of bitumen per square metre.

## Questions

### What exactly differs between ratio and content?

The denominator. Ratio = bitumen ÷ aggregate, excluding bitumen; content = bitumen ÷ total mix, including it. So the ratio number is always larger. 5% ratio equals 4.76% content; 6% equals 5.66%. Mix designs quote ratio because plants add bitumen to aggregate; extraction tests report content because that is what they measure. Always convert when comparing, or the lot fails.

### Why bulk density rather than maximum theoretical?

Because you are weighing the material that actually goes on the road — compacted, with voids. Bulk density accounts for those voids, about 2.40 t/m³ for AC-13. Maximum theoretical density assumes zero voids, around 2.50, and would overstate the tonnage by roughly 4%. It is used only to derive air voids (VV), never for weight.

### How is the loose-depth factor used?

Loose depth = compacted depth × 1.15-1.25. The paver sets screed height to the loose depth and rollers bring it down to design thickness. The factor depends on mix and compaction: coarser mixes and SMA take the higher value, fine-graded the lower, and under-rolling pushes it higher. Note that material quantities use compacted thickness — using loose depth would overstate the tonnage by 15-25%.

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