How Much Asphalt Do I Need for a Driveway? Tons Chart
Asphalt is bought by the ton, and a ton of compacted asphalt covers about 83 square feet at 2 inches thick (or 55 square feet at 3 inches). A typical 12 × 50 ft driveway at 2 inches takes about 7¼ tons of asphalt, plus the stone base that goes underneath. Here is how to work out your own number, and what a lasting driveway actually involves.
The formula
Hot-mix asphalt weighs about 145 pounds per cubic foot once it is compacted. So:
For a 12 × 50 ft driveway (600 ft²) at 2 inches thick: 600 × 0.1667 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 7.25 tons. Add 5% for edges and thin spots, which brings it to about 7.6 tons. The asphalt calculator also works out the base gravel and the cost at your local price per ton.
Tons needed by driveway size
Compacted thickness, with no waste added. The last column is the crushed-stone base for a 6 inch compacted base, including 20% for compaction.
| Driveway | Area | Asphalt, 2 in | Asphalt, 3 in | Stone base (6 in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 30 ft | 360 ft² | 4.4 tons | 6.5 tons | 11.2 tons |
| 12 × 50 ft | 600 ft² | 7.3 tons | 10.9 tons | 18.7 tons |
| 12 × 75 ft | 900 ft² | 10.9 tons | 16.3 tons | 28.0 tons |
| 12 × 100 ft | 1,200 ft² | 14.5 tons | 21.8 tons | 37.3 tons |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 ft² | 4.8 tons | 7.3 tons | 12.4 tons |
| 24 × 24 ft | 576 ft² | 7.0 tons | 10.4 tons | 17.9 tons |
How thick should the asphalt be?
- Residential driveways (cars): 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt.
- Heavier use (RVs, trucks, delivery vehicles): 3 to 4 inches, and a deeper base.
- Parking lots and commercial use: thicker, and designed by an engineer for the traffic and soil.
Asphalt is usually laid in two layers (lifts): a coarser base course, then a finer surface course on top. The total compacted thickness is what matters for quantity.
The base is more important than the asphalt
Asphalt is flexible. It spreads the load onto what is beneath, so a weak base is the main reason driveways crack, rut and sink. A good driveway has:
- Topsoil and organic material stripped off, and the subgrade compacted.
- Geotextile fabric over soft or clay soil, where it is needed.
- 4 to 8 inches of compacted crushed stone (more on soft soil or in frost areas), laid in lifts and compacted with a roller or a plate compactor.
- Proper slope (about 1/4 inch per foot, or 2%) so water runs off and does not sit on the surface.
Compacting the stone reduces its volume by about a fifth, which is why the table above adds 20% to the base.
Cost and quotes
Total cost depends on your area, the local price of asphalt per ton (which changes with oil prices), the equipment and labor, and how much base preparation is needed. Prices vary a lot by region, so get at least three quotes. Ask each contractor:
- What compacted thickness and base depth they will use, and in how many lifts.
- Whether the price includes excavating, hauling away material, and grading.
- How they will compact it (a proper roller, not just a truck).
- What warranty they give.
A suspiciously low quote often means a thin layer, or a thin base.
Maintenance
- Let a new driveway cure for 6 to 12 months before the first seal-coat, and re-seal every 2 to 3 years.
- Fill cracks promptly, since water that gets in freezes and widens them.
- Avoid parking heavy loads or a motorcycle's kickstand on a new surface in summer heat, because it is softer when hot.
- Keep the edges supported, with soil or gravel, since the edges crumble if left unsupported.
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.