How many tons of asphalt do I need?
Multiply the length by the width in feet and divide by 9 to get square yards. Multiply by the compacted thickness in inches and by 110 lb, then divide by 2,000 to get US tons. The 110 lb figure is the weight of one square yard of compacted hot mix, one inch thick. The Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association calculator and the Michigan DOT construction manual both use it.
A 50 x 12 ft driveway at 2 in compacted is 600 sq ft, or 66.67 sq yd. 66.67 x 2 x 110 ÷ 2,000 = 7.33 tons, or 7.7 tons with 5 percent extra.
The formula
- Square yards: length (ft) x width (ft) ÷ 9.
- Tons: square yards x compacted thickness (in) x 110 ÷ 2,000.
- Waste: the allowance is added to the tons.
- Cost range: area (sq ft) x the low and high cost per sq ft for your job type, from the table below.
- Your price: tons x your price per ton, if you enter one.
Mixed units are fine. The calculator converts every measurement to feet first, using 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly. 110 lb per square yard per inch works out to about 147 lb per cubic foot, because one square yard one inch thick is 0.75 cu ft.
Worked example: a two-car driveway, 3 in thick
The driveway is 20 ft wide and 40 ft long, paved 3 in thick, with 5 percent extra.
- Area: 20 x 40 = 800 sq ft, ÷ 9 = 88.89 sq yd.
- Tons: 88.89 x 3 x 110 ÷ 2,000 = 14.67 tons.
- With 5 percent: 14.67 x 1.05 = 15.4 tons.
- Cost of a new driveway: 800 sq ft x $7 to $13 = $5,600 to $10,400. Angi gives the same range for an 800 sq ft driveway.
Compacted thickness
Enter the thickness after rolling, not the loose depth behind the paver. The 110 lb rate already describes compacted mix. HomeGuide says most home driveways need 2 to 3 in of asphalt over 6 to 8 in of compacted gravel base, and more for heavy vehicles. Angi gives 2 in as the minimum. Use the thickness in your contractor's quote.
The base under the asphalt
The gravel base is ordered separately, usually by the ton of crushed stone. Work it out with the gravel calculator using the base depth on your plan. Excavation, grading and drainage are part of the paving quote, not the asphalt tonnage.
How the cost range works
The installed cost covers materials and labor together. New driveways run about $7 to $13 per sq ft (Angi, 2026). A tear-out and replacement adds removal, at $8 to $15. An overlay of new asphalt on a sound driveway runs $3 to $7. Small jobs often cost more per sq ft, and HomeGuide notes some contractors have a $2,000 minimum. Treat the range as a budget check, then get at least three written quotes.
Common mistakes
- Using loose depth. Enter the compacted thickness.
- Forgetting square yards. Divide square feet by 9 before using the 110 lb rate.
- Pricing the asphalt only. Base, grading and labor make up most of a driveway quote.
Installed cost per square foot
The cost range in the result uses the Angi column. These are US averages for materials and labor together. Your region, access, base work and the job size move a real quote.
| Job | Angi, 2026 | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| New driveway | $7 to $13 | $5 to $12+ |
| Tear out and replace | $8 to $15 | Not given separately |
| Overlay (resurface) | $3 to $7 | $3 to $7 |
Sources and last checked: Angi (updated 14 October 2026) and HomeGuide (May 2025), both checked on .