This cold patch calculator works out how many bags of pothole patch you need. Instead of one rough "bags per pothole" guess, you list each hole with its own size and depth, choose the bag yield printed on the product you are buying, and get the compacted volume, the weight and the number of 40, 50 or 60 lb bags.
Quick answer: a 50 lb bag of cold patch fills about 5 to 6 square feet at 1 inch deep, or about 0.4 to 0.5 cubic feet once compacted. Divide by the depth in inches for deeper holes: about 2.5 sq ft at 2 inches.
A typical 18 × 12 inch pothole that is 2 inches deep needs about 32 lb of compacted patch, so one 50 lb bag.
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How Much Does a Bag of Cold Patch Cover?
Manufacturers state coverage for compacted material. Cold patch is placed loose, mounded above the hole and tamped down, so the yield on the bag already accounts for that compaction. The published figures fall into two groups:
| Manufacturer statement | Sq ft at 1 in | Cubic feet | Implied density (lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "About 5 sq ft at 1 in or 2.5 sq ft at 2 in" (pothole patch) | 5.0 | 0.42 | 120 |
| "10 lb of mix covers 1 sq ft, 1 in deep" (high-performance cold mix) | 5.0 | 0.42 | 120 |
| "About 0.5 ft³ compacted, about 6 sq ft at 1 in" (recycled asphalt patch) | 6.0 | 0.50 | 100 |
Implied density = 50 lb ÷ cubic feet. Coverage at other depths = sq ft at 1 in ÷ depth in inches.
The calculator defaults to 120 lb per cubic foot (5 sq ft per bag per inch) because it is the more conservative of the two, so you are less likely to come up short. If your bag says 6 sq ft, switch the yield and the bag count drops by about a sixth.
| Pothole size | 1 in deep | 2 in deep | 3 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 in (1 sq ft) | 10 lb · 1 bag | 20 lb · 1 bag | 30 lb · 1 bag |
| 18 × 18 in (2.25 sq ft) | 22.5 lb · 1 bag | 45 lb · 1 bag | 67.5 lb · 2 bags |
| 24 × 24 in (4 sq ft) | 40 lb · 1 bag | 80 lb · 2 bags | 120 lb · 3 bags |
| 36 × 36 in (9 sq ft) | 90 lb · 2 bags | 180 lb · 4 bags | 270 lb · 6 bags |
Bags are 50 lb, rounded up per pothole. Several small holes can share a bag, which is why the calculator rounds the total, not each hole.
The Cold Patch Formula, Step by Step
- Measure each pothole after cleaning it out. Length, width and depth in inches, measured to sound pavement. For a round hole, use the diameter.
- Add the finished crown to the depth. FHWA's pothole manual says the compacted patch should sit 3 to 6 mm (about 1/8 to 1/4 inch) above the pavement so traffic finishes compacting it. A 2-inch hole with a 1/8-inch crown is 2.125 inches.
- Find the volume in cubic feet. Length × width × depth ÷ 1,728. For a circle, use 3.1416 × radius² instead of length × width. 18 × 12 × 2.125 ÷ 1,728 = 0.266 ft³.
- Convert to pounds. Volume × compacted density: 0.266 × 120 = 31.9 lb.
- Add waste and divide by the bag size. 31.9 × 1.05 = 33.5 lb, ÷ 50 = 0.67, so 1 bag. Total all the potholes before you round up.
How to Fill a Pothole with Cold Patch
- Clean it out. Remove loose stone, dirt and standing water. Cold patch can be placed in a damp hole, but a dry, clean hole bonds better.
- Square the edges if you can. Cutting the sides vertical gives the patch something to compact against. FHWA rates the squared-up "semi-permanent" method among the most durable repairs short of full-depth replacement.
- Fill in lifts. One data sheet calls for a minimum of 1 inch and 1-inch lifts, each compacted before the next, with a maximum depth of about 3 inches and repairs no larger than about 3 × 3 ft. Follow the limits on your bag.
- Overfill the top lift. Manufacturers say to mound the loose mix about 1/2 inch above the surrounding pavement.
- Compact hard. Use a hand tamper, then drive over it with a car tire (a sheet of plywood on top keeps the mix off the tire). The finished patch should have a slight crown.
- Open to traffic. Cold patch can be driven on right away and keeps hardening. Wait at least 30 days, preferably 90, before sealcoating over it.
Cold Patch vs Hot Mix vs Infrared Repair
| Cold patch | Hot mix patch | Infrared repair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small, confined potholes; emergency and winter repairs | Larger areas, base failures, driveway and lot repairs | Surface defects, raised or sunken patches, seams |
| Equipment | Shovel and tamper; bags from a hardware store | Plant-mixed asphalt, plate compactor or roller | Infrared heater plus fresh hot mix; usually a contractor |
| Weather | Any season; works in damp holes | Needs a plant that is open and dry weather | Dry pavement; specialized heater |
| Bonding | Mechanical; relies on compaction and tight edges | Good with tack coat and compaction | Fuses with the surrounding asphalt, no cold joint |
| How it is bought | 40–60 lb bags or bulk | By the ton | By the job |
A good rule: if the hole is bigger than about 3 × 3 ft, deeper than 3 inches, or the base underneath is soft, cold patch is the wrong tool. Cut out the area and patch with hot mix (the asphalt calculator gives tons for any patch size), or, for a whole driveway in poor shape, price a resurface with the driveway cost calculator.
Worked Examples
Example 1: One driveway pothole
18 × 12 inches, 2 inches deep, finished with a 1/8-inch crown: 18 × 12 × 2.125 ÷ 1,728 = 0.266 ft³. At 120 lb/ft³ that is 31.9 lb, or 33.5 lb with 5% waste. One 50 lb bag, with some left for touch-ups.
Example 2: Three holes, and why the bag yield matters
One 24 × 18 inch hole 3 inches deep, plus two round holes 12 inches across and 1.5 inches deep, all with a 1/8-inch crown. Volumes: 24 × 18 × 3.125 ÷ 1,728 = 0.781 ft³, and 2 × 3.1416 × 6² × 1.625 ÷ 1,728 = 0.213 ft³, for 0.994 ft³ in total. At 120 lb/ft³ with 5% waste that is 125.2 lb, or 3 bags of 50 lb (2.5 rounded up). With a product rated at 6 sq ft per bag (100 lb/ft³), the same holes need 104.4 lb: still 3 bags of 50 lb, but only 2 bags of 60 lb. Place the deep hole in three 1-inch lifts.
Example 3: Parking lot with ten potholes
Ten holes averaging 24 × 24 inches and 2 inches deep, with a 1/8-inch crown: each is 0.708 ft³, so 7.08 ft³ in total. At 120 lb/ft³ plus 5% that is 892.5 lb, or 18 bags of 50 lb. The same volume of hot mix at about 145 lb/ft³ is roughly half a ton, so if the plant is open, a single small load of hot mix (or bulk cold mix) is usually easier than carrying 18 bags.
Tips for a Patch That Lasts
- Compaction is everything. FHWA notes that patches left for traffic to compact fail early. Tamp each lift, then roll it with a tire.
- Keep bags warm in winter. Cold patch is stiffer when cold. Storing bags indoors before use makes it easier to place and compact.
- Do not feather the edges thin. Most products need at least 1 inch of depth. A thin skin over a shallow dip will ravel; fill shallow areas with a crack or surface repair product instead.
- Buy one bag extra. Potholes are almost always deeper after they are cleaned out, and unopened bags keep for the next one.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of cold patch do I need?
Multiply each pothole's length × width × depth in inches, divide by 1,728 for cubic feet, multiply by about 120 lb per cubic foot, and divide by the bag weight. Roughly, one 50 lb bag fills 5 to 6 square feet at 1 inch deep, or 2.5 to 3 square feet at 2 inches.
How much does a 50 lb bag of cold patch cover?
Manufacturers list about 5 to 6 square feet at 1 inch thick, which is about 0.42 to 0.5 cubic feet of compacted patch. At 2 inches deep a bag covers about 2.5 to 3 square feet.
How deep can you put cold patch?
Most products need at least 1 inch. One manufacturer limits its patch to 1 to 3 inches, placed and compacted in 1-inch lifts. For deeper holes, compact in layers and consider hot mix if the base has failed.
Should cold patch be higher than the pavement?
Yes, slightly. Mound the loose mix about 1/2 inch above the surface before compacting. After compaction, FHWA's pothole repair manual recommends a slight crown of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3 to 6 mm).
Is cold patch permanent?
It can last for years in a small, clean, well-compacted hole with sound edges, and some products are sold as permanent. In practice it is less durable than a hot mix patch, especially in large or poorly prepared holes and under heavy traffic.
Can you put cold patch in water or in winter?
Yes. Cold patch is made for that. Manufacturers say it can be placed in damp holes and stays workable in cold weather, though removing standing water and keeping bags warm gives a better result.
How long before you can drive on cold patch?
Right away after compacting. Driving over it helps it harden. Avoid turning your tires on it while stationary until it firms up, and wait 30 to 90 days before sealing over it.
Sources
- Quikrete, Asphalt Cold Patch data sheet (0.5 ft³ and about 6 sq ft at 1 in per 50 lb bag; 1–3 in depth in 1-in lifts; overfill 1/2 in; repairs up to about 3 × 3 ft; 30–90 days before sealing).
- SealMaster, PatchMaster pothole patch (about 5 sq ft at 1 in or 2.5 sq ft at 2 in per 50 lb bag; fill 1/2 in above the pavement).
- Kuhlman, UPM cold mix product page (10 lb of mix per sq ft per inch).
- Federal Highway Administration, Materials and Procedures for Repair of Potholes in Asphalt-Surfaced Pavements, Manual of Practice (FHWA-RD-99-168) (throw-and-roll and semi-permanent methods; 3–6 mm crown; compaction).
- Asphalt Institute, Engineering FAQs (hot mix in-place density of 142 to 148 lb/ft³).
Last updated: October 2026 · How we calculate