How Many Tons of Asphalt per Square Yard?
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 110 pounds per square yard for every inch of thickness. That's about 0.11 tons per square yard at 2 inches, 0.16 tons at 3 inches and 0.22 tons at 4 inches. A cubic yard of compacted asphalt weighs about 1.96 tons.
The formula
tons = square yards × thickness (inches) × 110 ÷ 2,000
The 110 comes from the standard density of compacted hot mix, 145 pounds per cubic foot. A square yard is 9 square feet, and an inch is 1/12 of a foot, so one square yard one inch thick is 9 × 145 ÷ 12 ≈ 109 pounds. Paving crews round it to 110.
Asphalt weight per square yard
| Thickness | Tons per yd² | Pounds per ft² | yd² per ton | ft² per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | 0.082 | 18.1 | 12.3 | 110 |
| 2" | 0.109 | 24.2 | 9.2 | 83 |
| 2.5" | 0.136 | 30.2 | 7.4 | 66 |
| 3" | 0.163 | 36.2 | 6.1 | 55 |
| 4" | 0.217 | 48.3 | 4.6 | 41 |
| 6" | 0.326 | 72.5 | 3.1 | 28 |
Examples
| Area | 2" | 3" | 4" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 yd² (900 ft²) | 10.9 | 16.3 | 21.8 |
| 250 yd² (2,250 ft²) | 27.2 | 40.8 | 54.4 |
| 500 yd² (4,500 ft²) | 54.4 | 81.6 | 108.8 |
Add 5–10% for waste before ordering, and round up.
Tons per cubic yard
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a cubic yard of compacted asphalt weighs 27 × 145 = 3,915 pounds, or about 1.96 tons. If a supplier quotes by the ton and your plans give cubic yards, multiply by 1.96. Loose asphalt in a truck bed takes up more room than compacted asphalt, so don't use bed volume to estimate the tonnage of a load.
Tons per dump truck
| Truck | Tons per load |
|---|---|
| Single axle | 6–8 |
| Tandem axle (standard dump truck) | 12–16 |
| Tri-axle | 18–22 |
A 500 square yard lot at 3 inches (about 82 tons, 90 with waste) is roughly 7 tandem loads or 5 tri-axle loads.
Metric
145 lb/ft³ is about 2,320 kg/m³. One square meter at 50 mm thick is about 0.116 tonnes, and at 75 mm about 0.174 tonnes.
When the numbers change
- Mix density. Most mixes fall between 140 and 150 lb/ft³. Your plant can give you the exact figure for the mix you're buying.
- Millings (recycled asphalt). Millings are lighter and compact differently. Ask your supplier for their tons per cubic yard instead of using hot mix figures.
- Base condition. A rough or soft base takes more material to reach the finished depth.
For a whole driveway, start with how much asphalt you need for a driveway.
Questions
How many tons of asphalt in a cubic yard?
About 1.96 tons (3,915 pounds) of compacted hot mix asphalt, using 145 pounds per cubic foot. Most people round it to 2 tons.
How many tons of asphalt in a dump truck?
Roughly 6 to 8 tons for a single-axle truck, 12 to 16 tons for a tandem (the standard dump truck) and 18 to 22 tons for a tri-axle. Local weight limits vary.
How many square yards does a ton of asphalt cover?
About 9.2 square yards at 2 inches, 6.1 at 3 inches and 4.6 at 4 inches.
What is the formula for asphalt tonnage?
Square yards × thickness in inches × 110 ÷ 2,000 gives tons. In square feet: square feet × (inches ÷ 12) × 145 ÷ 2,000.