# Asphalt Tonnage Calculator

Area and thickness to tons, plus coverage per ton.

- Page: https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/asphalt-tonnage
- Category: Earthwork (https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/c/earthwork)
- Chinese version: https://jianzhujisuan.com/zh/asphalt-tonnage.md
- Data checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick result

With the default inputs (Length 40 ft, Width 12 ft, Compacted thickness 2 in, Mix type Dense-graded HMA (145 lb/ft³), Waste 5%): **Asphalt required 6.1 ton**

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Default | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | number | 40 | ft |  |
| Width | number | 12 | ft |  |
| Compacted thickness | number | 2 | in |  |
| Mix type | select | Dense-graded HMA (145 lb/ft³) | — |  |
| Waste | number | 5 | % |  |

## Formula

- **Tons = area(ft²) × thickness(in)/12 × density ÷ 2000**: use compacted density
- **Coverage per ton = 2000 ÷ (density × thickness/12)**: about 83 ft² at 2 in dense-graded
- **Square yards = area ÷ 9**: the unit contractors quote in

## Worked example

A 40 ft x 12 ft driveway at 2 in of dense-graded with 5% waste: 480 ft², 80 ft³ compacted, 5.8 net tons, 6.1 tons with waste, 83 ft² per ton - well under one 22 ton load. At this size you will usually be billed a minimum quantity, so ask about a small-load charge.

## Questions

### How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?

At 145 lb/ft³ for dense-graded HMA: about 165 ft² at 1 in, 83 ft² at 2 in and 55 ft² at 3 in. That is where the familiar 80 ft² per ton figure comes from - it is the 2 in case. Open-graded is lighter and covers 3-5% more, recycled a little more again. Under-compaction eats into real coverage, so do not order to the exact theoretical figure.

### How thick should the base be?

With 2 in of surface, compacted base runs 4-6 in; for RVs or trucks go 6-8 in. The base matters more than the surface - nine out of ten surface cracks come from base settlement, not from the asphalt. Compact it in lifts of 4 in or less and build a 2% crossfall for drainage.

### When can it be driven on?

Foot traffic once the surface drops below about 120°F and boots leave no mark, usually 30-60 minutes. Vehicles after 2-4 hours. Full curing takes weeks, and during that time avoid turning the wheel on the spot or parking heavy vehicles for long periods, which leaves ruts.

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Generated by BuildCalc. All calculations run in your browser; no data is uploaded. Formulas follow national standards and common trade practice; local codes govern.