Calculate the tonnage of asphalt needed for driveways, roads and parking areas.
Asphalt — called “tarmac” or “blacktop” in the UK — is sold by weight. Enter the length and width of the area, the compacted depth (thickness), and the asphalt type so the correct density is used. The tool returns the volume and the tonnage to order.
| Use | Compacted depth |
|---|---|
| Footpath / patio | 25–40 mm (1–1.5 in) |
| Driveway | 50–75 mm (2–3 in) |
| Road / heavy use | 100 mm+ (4 in+) |
A drive 10 m × 3 m at 50 mm deep = 1.5 m³. Hot-mix asphalt weighs about 2.3 tonnes/m³, so you need ≈ 3.45 tonnes. In US units that same area is roughly 4 US tons.
Tip: asphalt must be laid and compacted while hot, so order it for same-day delivery and have a plate compactor or roller ready before it arrives.
Multiply the length by the width by the depth (all in the same units). This calculator does it for you and converts the depth from inches or millimetres automatically, giving volume in cubic yards or cubic metres.
Multiply the volume by the density of the asphalt. Dense hot mix asphalt is about 2,400 kg/m³ (roughly 2 US tons per cubic yard). This tool applies the correct density for the asphalt type you select.
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145-150 lb per cubic foot, around 2 US tons per cubic yard, or about 2.4 tonnes per cubic metre. Porous and cold mixes weigh slightly less.
2-3 inches (50-75 mm) of compacted asphalt is standard for residential driveways over a proper compacted gravel base. Heavier traffic areas need 3-4 inches (75-100 mm).
At a typical 50 mm depth, one square metre of hot mix needs roughly 0.12 tonnes. The calculator works this out exactly from your area, chosen thickness and asphalt type.
Wait at least 2-3 days before light traffic and avoid parking heavy vehicles or turning the wheels while stationary for the first few weeks while the surface fully hardens.
