Why order extra? The headline number is the exact material your project needs. When you actually order, add about 5–10% on top — the “with 5% waste” figure in the result is a safe starting point. That margin covers what you lose to compaction, cuts around edges and corners, and ordinary spillage during handling. It is cheaper to have a little left over than to stop mid-job and wait on a second delivery.
Field notes
Always quote your compacted thickness, not the loose lift — hot mix drops about 20–25% under the roller, so a 3-inch finished pad starts as nearly 4 inches loose. Order in whole tons and lean high; a paving crew can't pause mid-driveway to wait for a second load, and a half-ton short means a cold joint. Call the plant the morning of the pour to confirm truck capacity, since it varies from 13 to 20 tons.
How the asphalt calculator works
The math behind the tool:
cubic feet = length ft × width ft × (thickness in ÷ 12)
tons = cubic feet × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2000Material density
| Material | Density | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-mix asphalt | 145 lb/ft³ | 1.96 tons |
Sources: National Asphalt Pavement Association (hot-mix asphalt density and paving practice).