Asphalt Driveway Calculator — Tonnage and Cost
Configured specifically for residential and light commercial driveways. Defaults to 2-inch hot mix asphalt surface course over a compacted aggregate base — the most common North American driveway design.
Recommended Driveway Thicknesses
- 2 in HMA over 4 in base: standard residential, sedan/SUV.
- 2.5 in HMA over 6 in base: pickup, occasional RV.
- 3 in HMA over 8 in base: long driveways, heavy vehicles, cold climates.
Sample Calculation: 40 ft × 12 ft, 2 in Thick
Volume = 40 × 12 × (2 ÷ 12) = 80 ft³. Weight = 80 × 145 = 11,600 lbs = 5.8 tons. With 10% buffer ≈ 6.4 tons. At $130/ton: ~$832 in material cost alone.
Cost Indicators in the US
- Median residential driveway (500 sq ft): $700–$1,500 in material.
- Labour and equipment: 40–60% of material cost.
- Base preparation and removal: additional 30–50% of total.
- Turnkey installed cost typically $7–$13 per sq ft.