How many square feet does a ton of asphalt cover?
Quick Answer
One ton of asphalt covers approximately 80 square feet at 2 inches thick, 54 square feet at 3 inches thick, or 40 square feet at 4 inches thick. Asphalt weighs about 145 lbs per cubic foot when compacted. A standard residential driveway at 2–3 inches thick uses 1 ton per 54–80 sq ft.
Quick Reference Table
| Compacted thickness | Asphalt coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 160 sq ft per ton |
| 1.5 inch | 107 sq ft per ton |
| 2 inches | 80 sq ft per ton |
| 3 inches | 54 sq ft per ton |
| 4 inches | 40 sq ft per ton |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Asphalt density (compacted) = ~145 lbs per cubic foot.
- 2
One ton = 2,000 lbs ÷ 145 lbs/cu ft = 13.8 cubic feet per ton.
- 3
At 2" thick (0.167 ft): 13.8 ÷ 0.167 = 82.6 sq ft per ton.
- 4
At 3" thick (0.25 ft): 13.8 ÷ 0.25 = 55.2 sq ft per ton.
- 5
Add 10% to your tonnage estimate for compaction and waste.
Pro Tip
Hot mix asphalt compacts 15–20% when rolled — always order 15% more than your calculated volume. Cold patch asphalt compacts less uniformly and is only suitable for small repairs.
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