Asphalt Calculator

3-4 inches of compacted asphalt over a proper gravel base for a new residential driveway. Resurfacing over sound existing pavement runs thinner, around 1.5-2 inches. The base underneath matters as much as the depth on top: asphalt laid over a poor base fails early no matter how thick it is.

Standard hot mix asphalt runs about 145 lb per cubic foot. Real mixes land anywhere from 140 to 160 lb/ft³ depending on the aggregate and the mix design, which is enough spread to matter on a big job. If your supplier quotes a specific density, put theirs in the field above instead of the default.

Because it compacts. A cubic yard of hot mix in the truck isn't a cubic yard once it's rolled, so volume is an unreliable way to price it. Weight doesn't change on the way down, so suppliers and paving crews quote in tons.

Yes, 5-10% on top of the calculated tonnage. That covers compaction variance and the difference between what's on the ticket and what actually comes off the truck. Hot mix also can't be saved for tomorrow, so ordering a little long is cheaper than a second delivery.

Both, because they're the same calculation. A driveway is just an area with a length and a width, so the tonnage math is identical whether you're paving a driveway, a parking pad, or a lot.