Asphalt Calculator
Calculate asphalt tonnage and costs for driveways, parking lots, and paving projects. Get professional budget ranges.
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For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Typical Asphalt Costs by Thickness
| Thickness / Use | $/sq ft Installed | Tons per 1,000 sq ft | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2" Overlay | $2.50 ā $5.00 | ~6.1 tons | Resurfacing existing pavement |
| 3" Residential | $3.50 ā $7.00 | ~9.2 tons | Driveways, walkways |
| 4" Heavy Residential | $4.50 ā $9.00 | ~12.2 tons | Driveways with heavy vehicles |
| 5" Commercial | $5.50 ā $11.00 | ~15.3 tons | Parking lots, light commercial |
| 6"+ Heavy Traffic | $7.00 ā $14.00 | ~18.3 tons | Truck routes, loading docks |
Installed costs include material, labor, and standard base prep. Complex jobs with removal or drainage add $1-4/sq ft.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Hot mix pricing: Based on 2025 national average of $85-150/ton delivered, varying by region, quantity, and plant distance.
- Weight conversion: Hot mix asphalt weighs ~145 lbs/cu ft. At 0.055 tons/sq ft per inch of depth, a 3" residential driveway uses about 9.2 tons per 1,000 sq ft.
- Waste factor: 5% standard waste included for edge trimming, machine startup/shutdown, and irregular shapes.
- Labor rates: $2/sq ft average for paving crew (roller operator, screed operator, rakers). Does not include base prep labor, which varies by site condition.
- Regional multiplier: ZIP-code-based adjustment using RSMeans 2025 regional cost indices applied to both materials and labor.
Last updated: February 2026
Pro Tips from a Construction PM
- Base prep is 90% of the job: If the gravel base isn't graded and compacted right, the surface will rut and crack within two years. Don't let anyone pave over soft spots ā pull them out and rebuild with clean crushed stone.
- Compaction timing is everything: Hot mix has a narrow window ā once it drops below 185Ā°F, the roller can't densify it properly. Good crews pave in warm weather (50Ā°F+) and work fast. Cold patches are band-aids, not repairs.
- Spec the right thickness: Driveways need 2-3", parking lots 3-4", and anything with truck traffic needs 4-6". Under-spec the thickness and you'll be repaving in 5 years instead of 15.
- Sealcoat on schedule, not early: Wait 6-12 months for new asphalt to fully cure. Then sealcoat every 2-3 years. It's $0.15-0.35/sq ft that extends pavement life by 50%. Cheapest maintenance money you'll ever spend.
- Compare bids by tonnage: Get at least three bids and ask each contractor about tonnage, not just square footage. The guy quoting by area might be planning a thinner lift. Tonnage tells you exactly how much material is going down.
Related Calculators
- Gravel Calculator ā Estimate gravel base quantities for your asphalt project. Most driveways need 4-8" of compacted gravel before paving.
- Excavation Calculator ā Calculate excavation costs if you need to remove soil or old pavement before base prep.
- Concrete Calculator ā Compare concrete vs. asphalt costs for your project ā concrete costs more upfront but lasts longer.
Asphalt Calculator by State
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