Included
- Measured rectangular surface area
- Compacted volume at the entered thickness
- Weight based on the entered mix density
- Material-only cost based on your price per ton
Asphalt Driveway Cost Calculator
Calculate asphalt or blacktop driveway area, compacted volume, tonnage, material cost, and optional installed scope. Start with a 20 × 20, 20 × 40, 24 × 40, 1,000, or 1,500 sq ft preset, then replace every assumption with local project data.
Driveway Material & Cost Estimate
Quantity first; cost uses the supplier price you enter.
Common driveway size presets
Optional installed-scope estimate
Estimated material
Area
800 sq ft
Compacted volume
7.41 cu yd
Order quantity
14.5 US tons
Material cost
Enter price per ton
Other entered scope costs
$0
Combined entered estimate
Enter local rates
Only the rates you enter are included. Drainage, permits, taxes, mobilization, testing, supplier minimums, and unentered scope items remain excluded.
What the estimate means
Not included
- Pavement or base design
- Demolition, grading, drainage, and aggregate
- Trucking, labor, equipment, and mobilization
- Taxes, permits, minimum loads, and site constraints
Driveway asphalt tonnage formula
For imperial measurements, calculate compacted weight with:
US tons = length (ft) × width (ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12 × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000
Worked example: 20 × 40 ft at 3 inches
Area is 800 sq ft. At 3 inches, compacted volume is 200 ft³. Using 145 lb/ft³ gives 29,000 lb, or 14.5 US tons before any justified allowance or supplier rounding.
| 20 × 40 ft driveway | Compacted volume | Asphalt quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in compacted | 133.33 ft³ | 9.67 US tons |
| 3 in compacted | 200.00 ft³ | 14.50 US tons |
| 4 in compacted | 266.67 ft³ | 19.33 US tons |
Common driveway sizes at 3 inches compacted
The following quantities use 145 lb/ft³ only as a reproducible planning assumption and exclude ordering allowance.
| Driveway dimensions | Area | Asphalt at 3 in |
|---|---|---|
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 sq ft | 7.25 US tons |
| 20 × 40 ft | 800 sq ft | 14.50 US tons |
| 24 × 40 ft | 960 sq ft | 17.40 US tons |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,000 sq ft | 18.13 US tons |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,500 sq ft | 27.19 US tons |
This is a quantity estimate, not a thickness recommendation. Pavement thickness and base requirements depend on traffic, soil, drainage, climate, and local specifications.
Compare additional sizes and densities in the 20×20, 20×40, and 24×40 driveway tonnage examples.
Use the result to compare quotes
Ask each contractor to state the same scope so the numbers are comparable:
- finished area and compacted asphalt thickness;
- mix designation and assumed compacted density;
- base removal, replacement depth, and compaction;
- drainage corrections, edge details, and trucking;
- tonnage tickets, exclusions, warranty, and payment terms.
Asphalt driveway cost per square foot
A per-square-foot quote is meaningful only when its scope is stated. An overlay on a prepared surface, a new driveway with aggregate base, and removal and replacement of failed pavement are different projects. Use the calculator's scope selector to enter comparable local rates instead of applying one generic installed price to every driveway.
For a general quantity calculation, use the main asphalt calculator. Check the compacted density guide, understand asphalt price per ton and quote scope, compare asphalt vs concrete driveways, estimate an asphalt overlay or resurfacing, compare a chip seal or tar-and-chip quote, or calculate maintenance coating with the driveway sealer calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of asphalt does a 20 × 40 ft driveway need?
At 3 inches compacted thickness and 145 lb/ft³ density, the calculated quantity is 14.5 US tons before any ordering allowance: 800 × (3 ÷ 12) × 145 ÷ 2,000. Confirm compacted thickness, mix density, and order rounding with the contractor or supplier.
Does this calculator estimate the full installed driveway price?
It totals only the local rates you enter for asphalt material, removal, aggregate base, and paving installation. Drainage, permits, taxes, mobilization, testing, supplier minimums, and other unentered scope items remain excluded.
Which asphalt density should I use?
Use the compacted density supplied for the proposed mix whenever possible. The calculator starts with 145 lb/ft³ (about 2,323 kg/m³) only as a planning assumption; changing density changes the tonnage directly.
Should I add an ordering allowance?
Add an allowance only when project conditions justify it—for example irregular boundaries, uncertain measurements, construction waste, or supplier minimum loads. Ask the paving contractor or plant how orders are rounded before adding a percentage.
Is blacktop driveway cost calculated differently from asphalt driveway cost?
Blacktop is a common informal name for asphalt pavement. The same area, compacted thickness, density, quantity, and local quote inputs apply; the actual mixture and project scope should still be confirmed with the supplier or contractor.
How does the remove-and-replace estimate work?
Choose remove and replace, then enter local per-area rates for demolition, aggregate base, and paving installation. The calculator adds those entered scope costs to the material cost without inventing a national installed-price assumption.