⛨ Asphalt / Bitumen Calculator
Calculate how many tons of asphalt you need to order for your paving project.
Enter Paving Area Dimensions
ft
ft
in
lbs
Standard Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) weighs approximately 145 lbs per cubic foot when fully compacted.
Total Asphalt Needed
0
US Tons
Total Cubic Yards
0
Volume before weight conversion
Liquid Bitumen Content
0 tons
Assuming 5% binder ratio
Asphalt vs. Concrete: How are they ordered?
Unlike concrete, which is sold and delivered by volume (Cubic Yards), asphalt is batched, weighed, and sold by weight (US Tons). Because of this, estimating asphalt requires an extra mathematical step: converting your volume into a weight based on the density of the mix.
What is Bitumen?
Bitumen (also called asphalt cement or liquid asphalt) is the black, sticky, highly viscous liquid derived from petroleum distillation. It acts as the "glue" or binder in blacktop roads.
Standard Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is essentially a mixture of crushed rocks, gravel, and sand (making up 95% of the weight) glued together by liquid bitumen (making up the remaining 5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of asphalt weigh? +
A standard compacted cubic yard of asphalt weighs about 3,915 lbs, which is just shy of 2 US tons (1.95 tons).
Why do you recommend a 5% waste margin? +
When laying asphalt, some material will be lost during transport, sticking to the truck bed or paver, and filling in minor subgrade depressions. Ordering exactly what the math dictates usually leaves you short. A 5% buffer ensures you have enough to finish the job cleanly.