Tons of hot-mix asphalt, truck loads & cost
Enter the area to pave and the compacted thickness. The calculator converts volume to weight using hot-mix asphalt density — 145 lb per cubic foot is the industry standard for compacted HMA (denser stone-matrix mixes run 148–155, lighter mixes 135–145). Results include tons to order, truck loads at your plant's delivery size, and material cost. Remember to order loose extra: screeding and compaction waste about 5%.
A 50 ft × 12 ft driveway (600 sq ft) at 3 inches: volume = 600 × 0.25 = 150 ft³; weight = 150 × 145 = 21,750 lb = 10.9 tons — order 11–12 tons with compaction loss. That's one 20-ton truck (small load fee may apply). At $130/ton, material ≈ $1,415 before base, grading, and labor.
How much does a ton of asphalt cover? At 145 lb/ft³, one ton covers about 55 sq ft at 2 inches, 18 sq ft... precisely: 2,000 lb ÷ (145 × 2/12) = 18.4 sq ft at 3 in, 27.6 sq ft at 2 in.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be? 3 inches compacted over 4–6 inches of compacted base for residential; 4–6 inches in two lifts for heavy vehicles or commercial lots.
How much does asphalt cost? Material runs $100–$160 per ton delivered (2024–2026 range varies with oil prices). Installed paving typically quotes $4–$8 per sq ft including base work.
Why order by weight not volume? Plants sell HMA by the ton — yield depends on compaction. Loose mix compacts about 25%, so your 3-inch finished lift is placed at roughly 3¾ inches loose.