Asphalt is sold by weight, but jobs are measured by volume and area, so every quantity estimate passes through one number: density. The catch is that "asphalt" can mean finished pavement, a fresh uncompacted mat, a pile of millings, a bag of cold patch or the black binder that glues it all together, and each one weighs something different. This page gives the right density for each, in US and metric units, and the calculator turns any volume or area into pounds, tons, kilograms and tonnes.
Quick answer: compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb/ft³ ≈ 3,915 lb (1.96 US tons) per cubic yard ≈ 2,320 kg/m³ ≈ 2.3 t/m³ (specific gravity about 2.3).
Per area, that is about 12 lb per sq ft per inch, 109 lb per sq yd per inch (110 is the industry rule of thumb) and 23 kg per m² per cm of compacted thickness.
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Asphalt Density by Material and State
The Asphalt Institute gives 142 to 148 lb/ft³ for asphalt mixture in place, which is the range to use for finished pavement. Everything else on this list is either measured by a different agency or test, or derived from that range with a stated rule of thumb.
| Material | lb/ft³ | lb/yd³ | kg/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot mix (low) | 142 | 3,834 | 2,275 |
| Hot mix (typical) | 145 | 3,915 | 2,323 |
| Hot mix (high) | 148 | 3,996 | 2,371 |
| Warm mix, compacted | 145 | 3,915 | 2,323 |
| Loose mix behind paver (rule of thumb) | ≈116 | 3,132 | 1,858 |
| Porous asphalt (estimate) | ≈125 | 3,375 | 2,002 |
| Cold patch (low) | 100 | 2,700 | 1,602 |
| Cold patch (high) | 120 | 3,240 | 1,922 |
| Millings, unit weight (low) | 120 | 3,240 | 1,922 |
| Millings, unit weight (high) | 140 | 3,780 | 2,243 |
| Millings, compacted dry (low) | 100 | 2,700 | 1,602 |
| Millings, compacted dry (high) | 125 | 3,375 | 2,002 |
| Binder (bitumen), SG 1.03 | 64.3 | 1,736 | 1,030 |
Tonnes per m³ and specific gravity are the kg/m³ figure divided by 1,000, so compacted hot mix is about 2.27 to 2.37 t/m³. Warm mix uses the same 142 to 148 range as hot mix. Porous asphalt is our estimate: the Asphalt Institute's example maximum density of 156 lb/ft³ reduced by the 16 to 22% air voids typical of porous mixes, giving about 122 to 131 lb/ft³ (1,950 to 2,100 kg/m³). Cold patch figures are implied by manufacturer bag yields (Quikrete: 0.5 ft³ per 50 lb bag; SealMaster: 5 sq ft at 1 inch per 50 lb bag). Millings figures are FHWA's RAP unit weight and compacted maximum dry density. Binder ranges from about SG 1.00 to 1.04 (62.4 to 64.9 lb/ft³).
Compacted vs. Loose vs. Binder
Most of the disagreement between asphalt weight charts comes from mixing up these three things.
- Compacted asphalt is the finished, rolled pavement: stone, sand and about 5% binder, with only a few percent air voids left. That is the 142 to 148 lb/ft³ (2,275 to 2,371 kg/m³) range. Warm mix is the same kind of mixture produced at lower temperature; a Wisconsin Highway Research Program field study found its average final density "nearly identical" to hot mix, so use the same range.
- Loose asphalt has the same weight spread over more volume. Asphalt Institute engineers advise setting the paver screed at about 1.25 times the finished thickness for dense-graded mix, because rolling squeezes the mat down. Dividing 145 by 1.25 gives about 116 lb/ft³ for the loose mat. That is a site rule of thumb derived from the roll-down rule, not a measured density, and it varies by mix and paver.
- Millings (reclaimed asphalt pavement, RAP) are crushed old pavement. The Federal Highway Administration reports a unit weight of 120 to 140 lb/ft³ for milled or processed RAP and a lower maximum dry density of 100 to 125 lb/ft³ when compacted in the lab. The two come from different tests, so ask your supplier which conversion they sell by.
- Binder (asphalt cement, called bitumen outside North America) is the glue. Pavement Interactive gives a typical specific gravity of about 1.03, and an Oklahoma DOT table of refinery binders lists values from 1.0014 to 1.0372 at 60 °F, or roughly 8.4 to 8.6 lb per gallon. Binder weighs only a little more than water, which is why the mix's weight comes almost entirely from the stone.
Asphalt Weight per Square Foot and per Square Meter
Paving is specified by area and thickness, so it helps to know the weight of one unit of area at one unit of thickness. The conversions are exact: lb per sq ft per inch is density ÷ 12, lb per sq yd per inch is density × 0.75, and kg per m² per cm is kg/m³ ÷ 100.
| Material | lb/sq ft per in | lb/sq yd per in | kg/m² per cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot mix, 142 lb/ft³ | 11.8 | 106.5 | 22.7 |
| Hot mix, 145 lb/ft³ | 12.1 | 108.8 | 23.2 |
| Hot mix, 148 lb/ft³ | 12.3 | 111.0 | 23.7 |
| Loose mat, ≈116 lb/ft³ | 9.7 | 87.0 | 18.6 |
| Millings, 130 lb/ft³ | 10.8 | 97.5 | 20.8 |
The common estimating figure of 110 lb per square yard per inch (Asphalt Institute engineers, Asphalt Magazine) corresponds to about 146.7 lb/ft³. Some agencies use 106 to 112.
So a 5 cm (2 inch) surface course of compacted hot mix weighs about 116 kg per m², or about 24 lb per sq ft. To go straight from area to tons for a project, use the square feet to tons calculator or the asphalt tonnage calculator, which works in square yards and spread rate.
What Does a Ton of Asphalt Look Like?
One US ton (2,000 lb) of compacted hot mix at 145 lb/ft³ occupies 13.8 ft³, about 0.51 cubic yards. Pictured as a cube, that is about 29 inches (2.4 ft) on each side, roughly the size of a washing machine. Before rolling, the same ton takes up about 17.2 ft³. A metric tonne (1,000 kg) is 0.43 m³, a cube about 0.76 m on each side.
Spread out as pavement, a ton covers more ground than most people expect:
| Thickness | Sq ft per ton | Sq yd per ton |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 165.5 | 18.4 |
| 2 in | 82.8 | 9.2 |
| 3 in | 55.2 | 6.1 |
| 4 in | 41.4 | 4.6 |
| Thickness | m² per tonne | Tonnes per 100 m² |
|---|---|---|
| 4 cm | 10.76 | 9.29 |
| 5 cm | 8.61 | 11.61 |
| 6 cm | 7.18 | 13.94 |
| 10 cm | 4.31 | 23.23 |
Why Density Matters When You Order
Hot mix plants weigh every truck, so tons are what you pay for, while drawings give you area and thickness. Density is the bridge, and small errors in it carry straight through to the bill.
- The in-place range is a 4% spread. 142 versus 148 lb/ft³ is 4 tons on a 100-ton job. On large jobs, ask the plant for the mix design density.
- Do not mix states. A compacted thickness multiplied by a loose density under-orders by about 20%; a loose thickness with a compacted density over-orders by about 25%.
- Millings and cold patch vary more. Moisture, gradation and how hard they are tamped all change the weight per yard, so use the supplier's or bag's figure. The millings calculator and cold patch calculator are built around those.
- Converting a known volume? The cubic yards to tons converter does yards to tons and back. For a full job with base and cost, start at the asphalt calculator. Our methodology page explains the defaults.
Worked Examples
Example 1: A parking pad in US units
A 30 × 20 ft pad paved 2.5 inches thick is 600 sq ft × 2.5 ÷ 12 = 125 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ that is 125 × 145 = 18,125 lb, or 9.06 US tons (8.22 tonnes). The shortcut gives the same answer: 600 sq ft × 2.5 in × 12.08 lb per sq ft per inch = 18,125 lb.
Example 2: A car park in metric units
A 400 m² car park with a 6 cm surface course is 400 × 0.06 = 24 m³. At 2,323 kg/m³ that is 55,744 kg, or 55.7 tonnes (61.4 US tons). By area: 400 m² × 6 cm × 23.23 kg per m² per cm gives the same 55,744 kg.
Example 3: How much binder is in a ton?
Assume a mix with 5.5% binder by weight (FHWA notes wearing-surface mixes typically contain 4.5 to 6%). One US ton then holds 2,000 × 0.055 = 110 lb of binder. At specific gravity 1.03 (64.3 lb/ft³, or 8.6 lb per gallon) that is 1.71 ft³, or about 12.8 gallons. In metric, a tonne holds 55 kg, or about 53 liters. The other 94.5% of the weight is aggregate.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cubic foot of asphalt weigh?
Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 145 lb per cubic foot (66 kg), with a typical in-place range of 142 to 148 lb/ft³ according to the Asphalt Institute. Loose, unrolled mix is about 116 lb/ft³.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 3,915 lb, or 1.96 US tons (1,776 kg), for compacted hot mix at 145 lb/ft³. The typical range is 3,834 to 3,996 lb per cubic yard.
What is the density of asphalt in kg/m³?
Compacted asphalt concrete is about 2,320 kg/m³ (2.3 t/m³), within a range of roughly 2,275 to 2,371 kg/m³. Loose mix is about 1,860 kg/m³, and pure binder (bitumen) about 1,000 to 1,040 kg/m³.
How much does asphalt weigh per square meter per cm?
About 23 kg per m² for each centimeter of compacted thickness (22.7 to 23.7 kg). A 5 cm layer is about 116 kg per m², and a 10 cm layer about 232 kg per m².
What does a ton of asphalt look like?
One US ton of compacted asphalt is 13.8 cubic feet, a cube about 29 inches on each side. Spread 2 inches thick it covers about 83 sq ft. A metric tonne is 0.43 m³ and covers about 8.6 m² at 5 cm.
What is the specific gravity of asphalt?
The compacted mix has a bulk specific gravity of about 2.3 (2.27 to 2.37). The binder alone is about 1.03, and refinery binders typically range from about 1.00 to 1.04 at 60 °F.
Does warm mix asphalt weigh less than hot mix?
No meaningful difference in the finished pavement. Warm mix is produced at lower temperatures, and a Wisconsin field study found its final in-place density nearly identical to hot mix, so use the same 142 to 148 lb/ft³ range.
Sources
- Asphalt Institute, Engineering FAQs: Asphalt Pavement Thickness and Mix Design (asphalt mixture typically weighs 142 to 148 lb/ft³ in place; example Rice value of 2.500 gives a maximum unit weight of 156 lb/ft³).
- Danny Gierhart and Jason Wielinski, Five handy rules of thumb for successful asphalt pavement construction, Asphalt Magazine (110 lb per square yard per inch; set the screed at 1.25 times the compacted thickness).
- Federal Highway Administration, User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction: Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (FHWA-RD-97-148; RAP unit weight 120 to 140 lb/ft³; maximum dry density 100 to 125 lb/ft³; binder content 3 to 7%, wearing surfaces 4.5 to 6%).
- Pavement Interactive, Asphalt Specific Gravity (typical binder specific gravity about 1.03, referenced to 60 °F).
- Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Average Specific Gravities 60/60 °F of Asphalt Cement (refinery binders from 1.0014 to 1.0372; 8.38 to 8.64 lb per gallon).
- Pavement Interactive, Porous Pavements: Groundwater's Best Friend (porous asphalt has at least 16% air voids).
- Federal Highway Administration, Warm Mix Asphalt FAQs (definition of warm mix asphalt).
- Hanz, Johnson, Bahia and Schmitt, Wisconsin Highway Research Program, Development of recommendations for compaction temperatures in the field (2009; final density of WMA and HMA "nearly identical").
- Quikrete, Asphalt Cold Patch data sheet (50 lb bag yields about 0.5 ft³ compacted) and SealMaster, PatchMaster (50 lb bag covers about 5 sq ft at 1 inch).
- NIST Office of Weights and Measures, Approximate conversions from U.S. customary measures to metric (cubic yards, pounds and short tons to metric).
Last updated: October 2026 · How we calculate