How Much Does 8 Tons of Asphalt Cover?

How much does 8 tons of asphalt cover: about 662 square feet at 2 inches compacted and about 441 square feet at 3 inches, using 145 pounds per cubic foot. A thicker new surface covers less.

Asphalt tonnage calculator →

Coverage by thickness

Thickness	Square feet	Square yards
1.5 in	883	98
2 in	662	74
2.5 in	530	59
3 in	441	49
4 in	331	37

The math

8 tons × 2,000 = 16,000 lb.
÷ 145 lb per cu ft = 110.3 cu ft.
÷ (2 ÷ 12) ft = 662 sq ft at 2 inches.

What that area looks like

441 square feet is roughly a 21 by 21 foot square, or a 12-foot-wide strip about 37 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: 8 tons is under one typical tandem load.

Use the asphalt tonnage calculator for exact sizes.

When to choose asphalt

Best suited to:

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 15x30 area at 3 inches takes about 8.3 tons.
Weight used here: about 2.0 tons per cubic yard (roughly 145 lb per compacted cubic foot).

Mistakes that throw off the order

Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
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 8 tons of asphalt cover at 2 inches?

About 662 square feet.

At 3 inches?

About 441 square feet.

At 1.5 inches?

About 883 square feet.

What density is assumed?

145 lb per compacted cubic foot.

Should I order extra?

Many estimators add 5 to 10 percent.

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