How Much Does 26 Tons of Asphalt Cover?
How much does 26 tons of asphalt cover: about 2,152 square feet at 2 inches compacted and about 1,434 square feet at 3 inches, using 145 pounds per cubic foot. The thickness choice changes coverage more than anything else.
Asphalt tonnage calculator →Coverage by thickness
| Thickness | Square feet | Square yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 in | 2,869 | 319 |
| 2 in | 2,152 | 239 |
| 2.5 in | 1,721 | 191 |
| 3 in | 1,434 | 159 |
| 4 in | 1,076 | 120 |
The math
- 26 tons × 2,000 = 52,000 lb.
- ÷ 145 lb per cu ft = 358.6 cu ft.
- ÷ (2 ÷ 12) ft = 2,152 sq ft at 2 inches.
In driveway terms
1,434 square feet is close to a 37 by 37 foot square, or a 12-foot-wide strip about 120 feet long at 3 inches. That is typical of a residential driveway.
Things to keep in mind
- Density varies from about 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot by mix.
- Waste and base dips use 5 to 10 percent more.
- Truck loads: 26 tons is about 2 typical tandem load.
Use the asphalt tonnage calculator for exact sizes.
When to choose asphalt
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
Poor fit 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 8x16 area at 2 inches takes about 1.6 tons.
- Weight used here: about 2.0 tons per cubic yard (roughly 145 lb per compacted cubic foot).
Where estimates go wrong
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Questions people ask
How many square feet does 26 tons of asphalt cover at 2 inches?
About 2,152 square feet.
At 3 inches?
About 1,434 square feet.
At 1.5 inches?
About 2,869 square feet.
What density is assumed?
145 lb per compacted cubic foot.
Should I order extra?
Many estimators add 5 to 10 percent.
Related guides
- How Many Square Feet Does a Ton of Asphalt Cover?
- How Many Tons of Asphalt per 1,000 Square Feet?
- How Many Square Yards Does a Ton of Asphalt Cover?
- How Much Does 24 Tons of Asphalt Cover?
- How Much Does 25 Tons of Asphalt Cover?
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