Asphalt Volume Calculator
Sometimes you just need the geometry. Cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters and liters from plan dimensions — with tonnage as the final line because that's what you'll order.
The volume formula
V = L × W × D × N
- L, W
- plan dimensions (ft or m)
- D
- compacted depth (ft or m — convert inches first)
- N
- identical sections
Identical to the concrete volume formula — the materials differ, the geometry doesn't. Waste is NOT included here; add 5–15% at ordering time.
The formula, its unit conversions and irregular-shape decomposition are covered in depth across the volume formula, measurement and unit conversion guides. The same method drives our concrete calculation guide — learn it once, use it for every material on site.
Volume-to-tons cheat sheet
| Volume | Compacted hot mix | Loose hot mix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic foot | 145 lb | ≈117 lb |
| 1 cubic yard | 1.96 tons | ≈1.58 tons |
| 1 cubic meter | 2.32 tonnes | ≈1.87 tonnes |
| 10 ft³ (a wheelbarrow ×2) | 0.73 tons | ≈0.59 tons |
Worked example: pathway network
A park with four identical 80 × 6 ft walking paths, 2 in compacted asphalt.
- 1
One path volume
80 × 6 × (2 ÷ 12) = 80 ft³
- 2
Four sections
80 × 4 = 320 ft³ = 11.85 yd³
- 3
As tons
320 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 23.2 tons
- 4
With 10% waste at ordering
23.2 × 1.10 = 25.5 tons
Result: 11.9 yd³ geometric volume; order 25–26 tons of hot mix.
Frequently asked questions
The volume series
Related calculators & guides
Sources & references
- [1]MS-4: The Asphalt Handbook, 7th ed. — Asphalt Institute, 2007
- [2]Asphalt Pavement Design Guide (APD-1) — National Asphalt Pavement Association, 2020
Asphalt Volume Calculator
Plan dimensions to cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters — plus the equivalent hot-mix tonnage.