How Many Tons of Asphalt for a 28x35 Parking Area?

How many tons of asphalt for a 28x35 parking area comes down to thickness. The area is 28 × 35 = 980 square feet. Using a common planning density of about 145 pounds per cubic foot for compacted hot mix, a 2-inch mat needs roughly 11.8 tons and a 3-inch mat roughly 17.8 tons, before any allowance for waste or uneven base.

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Step-by-step math for 28x35

Area: 28 ft × 35 ft = 980 sq ft.
Thickness in feet: 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft.
Volume: 980 × 0.25 = 245 cubic feet.
Weight: 245 × 145 lb = 35,525 lb.
Tons: divide by 2,000 = 17.8 tons.

Swap in your own thickness and the plant’s stated density if you have it. The asphalt tonnage calculator runs the same steps.

Tons at common thicknesses

Compacted thickness	Cubic feet	Tons (145 lb/ft³)	Tons +5%
2 in	163	11.8	12.4
2.5 in	204	14.8	15.5
3 in	245	17.8	18.7
4 in	327	23.7	24.9

What thickness fits this job

Thickness is set by traffic and base. Cars on a well-compacted base get by with 2 to 3 inches. A parking area that sees heavy deliveries or sits on soft soil needs more, either thicker asphalt or a deeper base, and a contractor may split it into two lifts.

Ordering and trucks

At 3 inches, 17.8 tons is about 2 tandem-axle loads if a truck carries around 14 tons, though legal loads vary by state and truck. Plants often have minimum orders, and small jobs may carry a short-load charge. See how many tons in a truckload of asphalt for more on load sizes.

Things that change the tonnage

Uneven base. Low spots fill with extra mix. A base that is graded and compacted flat keeps the tonnage close to the math.
Edges and flares. Curved edges, a wider apron at the street or a turnaround add square footage. Measure those separately and add them in.
Density. Mixes typically range from about 140 to 150 lb per compacted cubic foot. Ask your plant for its number if you need tight figures.
Waste. Many estimators add 5 to 10 percent for handling, raking and thickness variation.

Pricing it out

Multiply your tonnage by the per-ton price your local plant or contractor quotes. Installed prices also cover base work, equipment and labor, so material tons are only part of the bid. See asphalt cost per ton for what goes into a quote.

Where asphalt fits

Works well for:

Driveways, parking pads and private lanes that need a smooth, sealed surface
Overlays on old pavement that is cracked but still structurally sound
Areas where snow will be plowed, since a paved surface does not throw stone

Think twice for:

Ground that stays soft or wet, unless the base and drainage are fixed first
Very small patches, where bagged cold patch is often simpler
Jobs in cold weather, since hot mix needs warm temperatures to compact properly

Quick reference numbers

Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.62 tons of asphalt (0.31 cubic yards).
Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 6.2 tons.
Another size for comparison: a 14x28 area at 3 inches takes about 7.3 tons.
Weight used here: about 2.0 tons per cubic yard (roughly 145 lb per compacted cubic foot).

Mistakes that throw off the order

Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.

Questions people ask

How many tons of asphalt for a 28x35 parking area at 2 inches?

About 11.8 tons of compacted asphalt, or around 12.4 tons with a 5 percent allowance.

How many tons for a 28x35 parking area at 3 inches?

About 17.8 tons at 145 lb per cubic foot.

How many square feet is a 28x35 parking area?

980 square feet, or about 109 square yards.

Does the stone base count in the asphalt tonnage?

No. The base is ordered separately, usually as crushed stone or road base by the ton. The base calculator handles that part.

What density should I use?

About 145 lb per cubic foot is a common planning figure for compacted hot mix. Your plant may give a slightly different number.

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