Asphalt calculator
A 12 × 40 ft driveway at 3 inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt is 8.80 tons, or 9.24 tons with 5% extra, and 4.44 cubic yards.
Measure length and width in feet. Set compacted thickness in inches. The page converts the area to square yards, then uses 110 lb per square yard per inch from a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet bid specification to get tons.
- Enter length and width. Add another area for a second rectangle or a circle.
- Keep thickness in inches. Three inches is the default residential surface. A note appears under 2 inches.
- Leave 5% extra unless your plant or contractor says otherwise. That extra is a common rule of thumb, not a cited yield.
- Optionally add a compacted gravel base. The tons use 1.40 tons per cubic yard. Open the gravel calculator for the base layer itself.
- Open Estimate cost and type a plant quote, or use HomeGuide’s $40–$80 per ton for hot-mix material (December 19, 2025). That band is mix only, not installed paving.
Tons = square yards × thickness in inches × 110 lb ÷ 2,000. Square yards = square feet ÷ 9. Cubic yards = square feet × (inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27.
How much asphalt do I need for a driveway?
Convert the driveway to square yards, then multiply by compacted thickness in inches and by 110 lb per square yard per inch, and divide by 2,000 to get tons. A 12 × 40 ft drive is 480 square feet, or 53.33 square yards. At 3 inches that is 53.33 × 3 × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 8.80 tons (4.44 cubic yards). Add a waste percent if the subgrade is uneven.
Worked example: 12 × 40 ft driveway at 3 inches
Worked example
Default job on this page: 12 ft by 40 ft, 3 inches compacted, 5% extra, no gravel base.
12 × 40 = 480 square feet. 480 ÷ 9 = 53.33 square yards. 53.33 × 3 × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 8.80 tons. Volume is 480 × (3 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 4.44 cubic yards. With 5% extra, order 9.24 tons.
At 2 inches the same area is 5.87 tons. A 4 inch gravel base under this drive is 5.93 cubic yards, or 8.30 tons at 1.40 tons per cubic yard.
Tons of hot mix for common driveways
| Driveway | Area | 2 inches | 3 inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft | 200 sq ft (22.22 sq yd) | 2.44 tons | 3.67 tons |
| 12 × 40 ft | 480 sq ft (53.33 sq yd) | 5.87 tons | 8.80 tons |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 sq ft (44.44 sq yd) | 4.89 tons | 7.33 tons |
| 24 × 50 ft | 1,200 sq ft (133.33 sq yd) | 14.67 tons | 22.00 tons |
These tons use 110 lb per square yard per inch and no waste. Add 5% on this page if you want a cushion. Installed price is not in the table; HomeGuide (May 28, 2025) puts a paved driveway at $5–$12+ per square foot.