How is the tonnage worked out?

Area times thickness gives the compacted volume, and that volume times the density gives the mass. Nothing else is applied. Take the example the page opens on: 60 feet by 24 feet is 1,440 square feet, at 3 inches that is 360 cubic feet or 13.33 cubic yards, and at 145 lb per cubic foot it weighs 52,200 lb, which is 26.10 US tons. The 8 percent allowance multiplies both the volume and the mass, so the page shows 14.40 cubic yards and 28.19 US tons as the figure you would order. The metric path is the same arithmetic in metric units: 100 square metres laid 5 cm thick is 5 cubic metres, and at 2,400 kg per cubic metre that is 12 tonnes. Those steps are all on the screen at the same time, the area, the compacted volume, the compacted tonnage and the ordered tonnage, which is the point: you can check the one you doubt instead of trusting a single figure. These displayed quantities are rounded. Exact arithmetic and the full supplied inputs are retained in the selectable calculation.

Why does the density matter, and what figure should I put in?

Volume times the supplied density gives mass. The 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot values are illustrative inputs, roughly 2,242 to 2,403 kg per cubic metre, rather than verified values for your material. On the opening example those two supplied densities give 25.20 and 27.00 US tons before the allowance. The imperial example starts at 145 lb per cubic foot; the separate metric example starts at 2,322 kg per cubic metre. Switching the current job converts 145 exactly, without substituting that metric example value. Use the density supplied for the finished compacted mix; this page does not determine density from a material name or choose a mix.

How much waste should I add?

Supply the allowance for your job, or enter 0 for none. The opening 8 percent is an editable example and does not recommend an allowance. The selected percentage multiplies both volume and mass by 1 plus that percentage divided by 100; the compacted quantities remain visible beside the quantities with the allowance. This page does not infer site losses, trucking losses or a compaction factor.

How many tons is a cubic yard of asphalt?

At the illustrative supplied density of 145 lb per cubic foot, 27 cubic feet weighs 3,915 lb, or 1.96 US tons when rounded. At supplied densities of 140 and 150 it is 1.89 and 2.03 US tons. There is no universal volume-to-mass factor: the result depends on the density and material condition. This calculator accepts measured length and width or a supplied area plus thickness; it does not offer a direct cubic-yard input or an inverse mass-to-coverage workflow.

Does this page choose the thickness for me?

No. It computes what your numbers give and reads the thickness back to you. The 3 inches it opens with is part of an example, along with the 60 by 24 feet, because the page has to open on something, and every field is typed over. What a surface is laid at depends on the ground under it, on what will drive over it and on the specification for the job, and that belongs with whoever is specifying or quoting the work, not with a quantity calculator.

What is this number not telling me?

It estimates supplied material quantity for a single finished compacted layer. It does not include base preparation, tack coat, delivery, plant or labour, and does not produce an installed paving quote. It cannot convert an unspecified loose depth to a compacted depth, identify a mix or choose the thickness. The empty rate field multiplies only your supplied rate per US short ton or metric tonne, in your own currency, with the supplied allowance included.

Is anything uploaded, and does it cost anything?

The quantity arithmetic runs in your browser and needs no account. Inputs and calculated text are not included in product measurements. Saved measurements restore without rewriting their record; valid deliberate edits save only the changed fields while keeping other saved data. Invalid drafts and unusable or conflicting records are preserved. Use Forget saved settings to remove the saved record. The rate field always opens empty and is never saved. A complete selectable calculation is available if native copying is refused.

Asphalt Calculator

Type a length and a width, or an area you already have, with the thickness the job is being laid at, and read the compacted volume before the tonnage that follows from it. The opening 145 lb per cubic foot is an editable example density for finished compacted material, and the 8 percent allowance is an example you can replace or set to zero. The opening 60 feet by 24 feet at 3 inches gives 1,440 square feet and 13.33 cubic yards compacted, weighing 26.10 US tons at that density and 28.19 US tons with the supplied allowance. Unit changes preserve the dimensions, density and supplied rate as exact decimals or fractions. Displayed decimal results round to two places; the complete selectable calculation retains every exact value and assumption. Thickness is always an input, never a design output.

Order about28.19tons14.40 cu yd at 145 lb/ft³, including 8% waste60 ft by 24 ft at 3 in, which is 1440 sq ft

Asphalt Calculator - supplied compacted material quantity Basis: dimensions; units: imperial Supplied length: 60 ft; supplied width: 24 ft Supplied thickness: 3 in; supplied density: 145 lb/ft³; allowance: 8% Area: 1440 sq ft (exact 1440; rounded 1,440.00 sq ft); 133.7803776 m² (exact 10451592/78125; rounded 133.78 m²) Compacted volume: 360 cu ft (exact 360; rounded 360.00 cu ft); 40/3 cu yd (exact 40/3; rounded 13.33 cu yd); 10.19406477312 m³ (exact 497757069/48828125; rounded 10.19 m³) Compacted mass: 52200 lb (exact 52200; rounded 52,200.00 lb); 23677.521714 kg (exact 11838760857/500000; rounded 23,677.52 kg); 26.1 US short tons (exact 261/10; rounded 26.10 US short tons); 23.677521714 metric tonnes (exact 11838760857/500000000; rounded 23.68 metric tonnes) With supplied allowance, volume: 388.8 cu ft (exact 1944/5; rounded 388.80 cu ft); 14.4 cu yd (exact 72/5; rounded 14.40 cu yd); 11.0095899549696 m³ (exact 13439440863/1220703125; rounded 11.01 m³) With supplied allowance, mass: 56376 lb (exact 56376; rounded 56,376.00 lb); 25571.72345112 kg (exact 319646543139/12500000; rounded 25,571.72 kg); 28.188 US short tons (exact 7047/250; rounded 28.19 US short tons); 25.57172345112 metric tonnes (exact 319646543139/12500000000; rounded 25.57 metric tonnes) No material rate supplied; no price total. Thickness and density are supplied for the finished compacted material. The opening density and 8 percent allowance are editable example inputs, not a mix specification or a recommended allowance. Area times thickness gives volume; volume times the supplied density gives mass. The supplied allowance multiplies both by 1 plus its percentage divided by 100. No separate compaction factor is inferred. Decimal displays round half up to two places. A positive result below half the last displayed place is marked with<; an ellipsis marks abbreviation. Complete exact decimals or fractions appear below. A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg. Only a supplied material rate is multiplied. No base preparation, delivery, labour, installed quote, structural design or thickness choice is included.

The density is supplied for the finished compacted material. The opening 145 lb/ft³ and 8% allowance are editable example inputs. This page reads the thickness you supply and never chooses it. Unit changes preserve dimensions, density and supplied rates as exact decimals or fractions. Displayed decimals round to two places; < marks a positive tiny result and … marks an abbreviation. Complete values are below.

Your rate per tonOptional and never saved. Only your supplied material rate is multiplied; no local or installed price is inferred.

Complete selectable calculation

Asphalt Calculator - supplied compacted material quantity
Basis: dimensions; units: imperial
Supplied length: 60 ft; supplied width: 24 ft
Supplied thickness: 3 in; supplied density: 145 lb/ft³; allowance: 8%
Area: 1440 sq ft (exact 1440; rounded 1,440.00 sq ft); 133.7803776 m² (exact 10451592/78125; rounded 133.78 m²)
Compacted volume: 360 cu ft (exact 360; rounded 360.00 cu ft); 40/3 cu yd (exact 40/3; rounded 13.33 cu yd); 10.19406477312 m³ (exact 497757069/48828125; rounded 10.19 m³)
Compacted mass: 52200 lb (exact 52200; rounded 52,200.00 lb); 23677.521714 kg (exact 11838760857/500000; rounded 23,677.52 kg); 26.1 US short tons (exact 261/10; rounded 26.10 US short tons); 23.677521714 metric tonnes (exact 11838760857/500000000; rounded 23.68 metric tonnes)
With supplied allowance, volume: 388.8 cu ft (exact 1944/5; rounded 388.80 cu ft); 14.4 cu yd (exact 72/5; rounded 14.40 cu yd); 11.0095899549696 m³ (exact 13439440863/1220703125; rounded 11.01 m³)
With supplied allowance, mass: 56376 lb (exact 56376; rounded 56,376.00 lb); 25571.72345112 kg (exact 319646543139/12500000; rounded 25,571.72 kg); 28.188 US short tons (exact 7047/250; rounded 28.19 US short tons); 25.57172345112 metric tonnes (exact 319646543139/12500000000; rounded 25.57 metric tonnes)
No material rate supplied; no price total.
Thickness and density are supplied for the finished compacted material. The opening density and 8 percent allowance are editable example inputs, not a mix specification or a recommended allowance.
Area times thickness gives volume; volume times the supplied density gives mass. The supplied allowance multiplies both by 1 plus its percentage divided by 100. No separate compaction factor is inferred.
Decimal displays round half up to two places. A positive result below half the last displayed place is marked with<; an ellipsis marks abbreviation. Complete exact decimals or fractions appear below.
A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg. Only a supplied material rate is multiplied. No base preparation, delivery, labour, installed quote, structural design or thickness choice is included.

Arealength by width
1440 sq ft · 133.78 m²
Compacted volumearea by thickness
360.00 cu ft · 13.33 cu yd · 26.10 tons
With 8% wastewhat you would order
14.40 cu yd · 28.19 tons · 56,376 lb

Exact supplied arithmetic, rounded displays. Exact arithmetic on the supplied numbers: area times thickness is the volume, and volume times the density you set is the mass. The illustrative 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot range is not a verified specification for your mix; use its supplied compacted density. Displays round to two decimal places; complete exact values remain available. This estimates material only, not compaction, base preparation, delivery or labour. Thickness and density are supplied for the finished compacted material. The opening density and 8 percent allowance are editable example inputs, not a mix specification or a recommended allowance. Area times thickness gives volume; volume times the supplied density gives mass. The supplied allowance multiplies both by 1 plus its percentage divided by 100. No separate compaction factor is inferred. Decimal displays round half up to two places. A positive result below half the last displayed place is marked with<; an ellipsis marks abbreviation. Complete exact decimals or fractions appear below. A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg. Only a supplied material rate is multiplied. No base preparation, delivery, labour, installed quote, structural design or thickness choice is included.

Common questions

How is the tonnage worked out?: Area times thickness gives the compacted volume, and that volume times the density gives the mass. Nothing else is applied. Take the example the page opens on: 60 feet by 24 feet is 1,440 square feet, at 3 inches that is 360 cubic feet or 13.33 cubic yards, and at 145 lb per cubic foot it weighs 52,200 lb, which is 26.10 US tons. The 8 percent allowance multiplies both the volume and the mass, so the page shows 14.40 cubic yards and 28.19 US tons as the figure you would order. The metric path is the same arithmetic in metric units: 100 square metres laid 5 cm thick is 5 cubic metres, and at 2,400 kg per cubic metre that is 12 tonnes. Those steps are all on the screen at the same time, the area, the compacted volume, the compacted tonnage and the ordered tonnage, which is the point: you can check the one you doubt instead of trusting a single figure. These displayed quantities are rounded. Exact arithmetic and the full supplied inputs are retained in the selectable calculation.
Why does the density matter, and what figure should I put in?: Volume times the supplied density gives mass. The 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot values are illustrative inputs, roughly 2,242 to 2,403 kg per cubic metre, rather than verified values for your material. On the opening example those two supplied densities give 25.20 and 27.00 US tons before the allowance. The imperial example starts at 145 lb per cubic foot; the separate metric example starts at 2,322 kg per cubic metre. Switching the current job converts 145 exactly, without substituting that metric example value. Use the density supplied for the finished compacted mix; this page does not determine density from a material name or choose a mix.
How much waste should I add?: Supply the allowance for your job, or enter 0 for none. The opening 8 percent is an editable example and does not recommend an allowance. The selected percentage multiplies both volume and mass by 1 plus that percentage divided by 100; the compacted quantities remain visible beside the quantities with the allowance. This page does not infer site losses, trucking losses or a compaction factor.
How many tons is a cubic yard of asphalt?: At the illustrative supplied density of 145 lb per cubic foot, 27 cubic feet weighs 3,915 lb, or 1.96 US tons when rounded. At supplied densities of 140 and 150 it is 1.89 and 2.03 US tons. There is no universal volume-to-mass factor: the result depends on the density and material condition. This calculator accepts measured length and width or a supplied area plus thickness; it does not offer a direct cubic-yard input or an inverse mass-to-coverage workflow.
Does this page choose the thickness for me?: No. It computes what your numbers give and reads the thickness back to you. The 3 inches it opens with is part of an example, along with the 60 by 24 feet, because the page has to open on something, and every field is typed over. What a surface is laid at depends on the ground under it, on what will drive over it and on the specification for the job, and that belongs with whoever is specifying or quoting the work, not with a quantity calculator.
What is this number not telling me?: It estimates supplied material quantity for a single finished compacted layer. It does not include base preparation, tack coat, delivery, plant or labour, and does not produce an installed paving quote. It cannot convert an unspecified loose depth to a compacted depth, identify a mix or choose the thickness. The empty rate field multiplies only your supplied rate per US short ton or metric tonne, in your own currency, with the supplied allowance included.
Is anything uploaded, and does it cost anything?: The quantity arithmetic runs in your browser and needs no account. Inputs and calculated text are not included in product measurements. Saved measurements restore without rewriting their record; valid deliberate edits save only the changed fields while keeping other saved data. Invalid drafts and unusable or conflicting records are preserved. Use Forget saved settings to remove the saved record. The rate field always opens empty and is never saved. A complete selectable calculation is available if native copying is refused.

Exact arithmetic on the supplied numbers: area times thickness is the volume, and volume times the density you set is the mass. The illustrative 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot range is not a verified specification for your mix; use its supplied compacted density. Displays round to two decimal places; complete exact values remain available. This estimates material only, not compaction, base preparation, delivery or labour.