How much does asphalt weigh per cubic foot?

Standard hot mix asphalt weighs 145 lb/ft3 (2,323 kg/m3) when compacted to design density. Density varies by mix type: warm mix 142 lb/ft3, cold mix 135 lb/ft3, recycled millings 120 lb/ft3, stone matrix asphalt 150 lb/ft3. Loose asphalt (right out of the truck before compaction) is about 5% lower, around 138 lb/ft3 for standard HMA.

How much does asphalt weigh per square foot?

24 lb/ft2 at 2-inch compacted depth, 36 lb/ft2 at 3-inch, 48 lb/ft2 at 4-inch. The formula: weight (lb/ft2) = depth (in) x 12.083. Conversion: 24 lb/ft2 = 0.012 US tons/ft2 at 2-inch. For a 2-car driveway (800 ft2) at 2-inch: 800 x 24 = 19,200 lb = 9.6 US tons base, 10.3 tons with waste.

How much does a yard of asphalt weigh?

1 cubic yard of compacted hot mix asphalt weighs about 3,915 lb (1.96 US tons or 1.78 metric tonnes). Loose yardage right out of the truck weighs about 3,730 lb (1.87 US tons). The 5% difference between loose and compacted matters when buying by the yard at the plant - your delivered ticket will show loose tonnage; ordering loose yards undershoots compacted volume by 5%.

What's the density of asphalt in kg/m3?

Standard hot mix asphalt (HMA) is 2,323 kg/m3 compacted (145 lb/ft3). Stone matrix asphalt 2,403 kg/m3 (150 lb/ft3), warm mix 2,275 kg/m3 (142 lb/ft3), cold mix 2,163 kg/m3 (135 lb/ft3), recycled millings 1,922 kg/m3 (120 lb/ft3). For UK tarmac density and tonnes calculations, see the tarmac calculator.

Why does asphalt density vary?

Asphalt density depends on aggregate type (limestone vs granite vs traprock), gradation (open vs dense vs gap-graded), binder content (4.5-6.5% by weight), and air voids after compaction (typical target 4-7%). Higher-density aggregates like traprock raise the mix density to 150+ lb/ft3; lighter limestones drop it toward 140. The mix design report from the plant has the exact theoretical maximum specific gravity (Gmm) and target in-place density.

Asphalt Weight Calculator 2026: Density, lb/ft³ & kg/m³

If you need to verify a plant ticket, size a truck, or check structural load on a parking deck, you need weight, not tonnage. Standard hot mix is 145 lb/ft³ (2,323 kg/m³) compacted; weight scales linearly with depth at 12.083 lb/ft² per inch. Below: the full weight reference by depth, density variants for 6 mix types, plant-ticket verification math, and an interactive calculator.

Ethan Walker Senior Asphalt Estimator · 15+ yrs ticket verification · Reviewed for accuracy Updated May 15, 2026

Run the asphalt weight calculator

Enter dimensions and pick a mix density. The calculator returns weight in pounds, US tons, kilograms and metric tonnes, plus per-square-foot loading for structural checks.

Asphalt weight per square foot and per yard, by depth

Asphalt weight per ft2 and yd2 by depth (standard HMA 145 lb/ft3)
Depth	lb/ft²	lb/yd²	tons/yd²	kg/m²
1 in	12.08	109	0.054	59.0
1.5 in	18.13	163	0.082	88.5
2 in	24.17	218	0.109	118.0
2.5 in	30.21	272	0.136	147.5
3 in	36.25	326	0.163	177.0
3.5 in	42.29	381	0.190	206.5
4 in	48.33	435	0.218	236.0
5 in	60.42	544	0.272	295.0
6 in	72.50	653	0.326	354.0

Memorize this rule: 12 lb/ft² per inch of compacted asphalt. Easy mental math — 800 ft² driveway at 2 inches: 800 × 24 = 19,200 lb = 9.6 tons base.

Density by mix type: 6 variants and when to use each

Asphalt density by mix type
Mix type	Density (lb/ft³)	Density (kg/m³)	Weight 3-in (lb/ft²)	When to use
Hot mix asphalt (HMA, dense)	145	2,323	36.25	Most residential and commercial work
Stone matrix asphalt (SMA)	150	2,403	37.50	High-traffic intersections, truck routes
Warm mix asphalt (WMA)	142	2,275	35.50	Lower-temp paving, longer haul
Open-graded friction course	130	2,082	32.50	Top-of-stack surface drainage
Cold mix asphalt	135	2,163	33.75	Patch repairs, off-season
Recycled asphalt (RAP, compacted)	120	1,922	30.00	Driveways, base, low-traffic

The density spread between SMA (150) and millings (120) is 25% — the same area at the same depth in different mixes will give you 25% different tonnage. If your spec doesn’t name a mix type, ask. For full coverage of millings/RAP density and use cases, see the asphalt millings calculator.

Plant ticket verification: how to check the truck weight

Every load from the plant comes with a scale ticket showing gross weight (truck + asphalt), tare (empty truck weight) and net (asphalt only). On commercial pours, you pay for net tons exactly — off by even 1% on a 100-ton job is $100-150 in the wrong direction.

Three-step verification process:

Match the ticket to the truck. Truck number on ticket = truck number on site, every load. No exceptions. Mis-matched tickets are the #1 dispute source.
Spot-check 1 of every 5 loads on a portable scale for $50,000+ projects. Plant scales can drift; the cost of a portable scale day-rental ($200-300) is trivial against a 0.5% over-charge on 500 tons.
Reconcile total tickets vs in-place math. At end of project: (sum of all net tons) should match (area paved × depth × 12.083 / 2,000). Off by more than 5% = something’s wrong — either tickets are inflated, depth wasn’t actually placed, or compaction is below target.

For multi-section paving where each area has different depth, the asphalt tonnage calculator with multi-section input gets you the expected total in seconds.

Structural loading: when asphalt weight matters for design

Parking decks: asphalt overlay on a parking deck adds 12 lb/ft² per inch — a 2-inch overlay is 24 lb/ft², almost half the typical dead load capacity allowance. Confirm with structural engineer before overlaying.
Bridges: standard HMA wearing course on a bridge deck is 1.5-2 inches, adding 18-24 lb/ft². Original bridge design has this in the dead load; replacement with thicker section requires re-analysis.
Roof drainage: rare, but asphalt-paved rooftop areas (some parking garages) need full structural analysis at 36-48 lb/ft² for 3-4 inch sections.
Trailers/RV pads on soft soil: 4-inch HMA pad weighs 48 lb/ft² itself, before vehicle load. Soft clay subgrade needs 6+ inches of compacted aggregate base or it will pump and rut under load.

Asphalt weight FAQ

Is asphalt heavier than concrete?

Concrete is slightly heavier. Standard concrete is 150 lb/ft³ (2,403 kg/m³); standard HMA is 145 lb/ft³ (2,323 kg/m³). The 3-4% difference rarely affects design but matters for plant-ticket verification (don’t apply concrete coverage tables to asphalt tonnage). For full comparison of material properties, see the asphalt vs concrete comparison.

How much does loose asphalt weigh vs compacted?

Loose asphalt right out of the truck weighs about 5% less per cubic foot than compacted (138 vs 145 lb/ft³). The plant ticket records net tonnage, which doesn’t care about compaction state — you pay for tons of material, period. What changes is volume: 1 cubic yard of loose mix becomes 0.95 yd³ after compaction. Order by tons, not yards, to avoid the loose-vs-compacted confusion.

How much does 1 cubic meter of asphalt weigh?

2,323 kg (5,121 lb) for standard hot mix asphalt at 2,323 kg/m³ compacted density. That’s 2.32 metric tonnes per cubic meter. For SMA: 2,403 kg/m³. For recycled millings: 1,922 kg/m³. Full metric conversion is in the cubic yards to tons reference.

Why is plant ticket weight different from in-place weight?

They shouldn’t be different in mass. Plant scale weighs net tons of asphalt loaded; if you weigh the same load on site immediately, you get the same number. What changes is calculated tonnage vs measured tonnage: calculated assumes 145 lb/ft³ and design depth; actual placement might be 144 lb/ft³ and 2.95 inches average. The 1-3% gap is normal QC tolerance; bigger gaps need investigation.

What's the density of recycled asphalt?

120 lb/ft³ (1,922 kg/m³) when properly compacted to 95% maximum dry density. Loose RAP fresh from milling weighs 80-100 lb/ft³; compacted to base course density it reaches 115-125. Lower than virgin HMA primarily because of higher air voids in the recycled aggregate matrix. Full RAP-specific design guidance is in the millings calculator.