Cubic Yards to Tons of Asphalt 2026: 1 yd³ = 1.96 US Tons
The number to memorize: 1 cubic yard of compacted hot mix asphalt equals about 1.96 US short tons. That’s 3,915 pounds. Loose plant material drops to 1.86 tons per yd³ (HMA is fluffier coming off the conveyor than after compaction). Below: the derivation, the loose-vs-compacted gap that bites estimators, truckload sizing, and the metric m³ to tonnes version for UK and Australian work.
Cubic yards to tons converter
Enter cubic yards - the converter applies the 1.96 multiplier by default (compacted HMA). Toggle to loose density or recycled millings for other material types.
Working from area instead of volume? The square feet to tons converter goes directly from ft² and depth to tons. For multi-section projects with waste and truckload planning, the asphalt tonnage calculator handles the full workflow.
Cubic yards to tons formula
The full derivation:
27 ft³ × 145 lb/ft³ (compacted HMA density) = 3,915 lb
3,915 lb ÷ 2,000 lb/ton = 1.9575 US short tons per yd³
Rounded to 1.96 for fieldwork. The 145 lb/ft³ assumption is standard AASHTO M323 compacted density. If your mix design specifies a different density, recalculate: tons/yd³ = density (lb/ft³) × 27 / 2,000.
The full density assumption discussion - why 145, when it’s different, and what to do with the loose vs compacted distinction - lives in the calculation methodology.
Cubic yards to tons quick reference
| Cubic yards | HMA compacted (1.96) | HMA loose (1.86) | Cold mix (1.82) | Millings (1.62) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.96 t | 1.86 t | 1.82 t | 1.62 t |
| 2 | 3.92 t | 3.73 t | 3.65 t | 3.24 t |
| 5 | 9.79 t | 9.32 t | 9.11 t | 8.10 t |
| 10 | 19.58 t | 18.63 t | 18.23 t | 16.20 t |
| 15 | 29.36 t | 27.95 t | 27.34 t | 24.30 t |
| 20 | 39.15 t | 37.26 t | 36.45 t | 32.40 t |
| 50 | 97.88 t | 93.15 t | 91.13 t | 81.00 t |
| 100 | 195.75 t | 186.30 t | 182.25 t | 162.00 t |
| 500 | 978.75 t | 931.50 t | 911.25 t | 810.00 t |
Loose vs compacted yardage — why the difference matters
The single most common reconciliation error I see on plant tickets: treating loose plant tonnage as if it were compacted in-place tonnage. The numbers don’t match because the density doesn’t match.
- Plant-loose density: 138-142 lb/ft³. This is the density of HMA as it sits in the truck bed or on the screed conveyor, before any compaction.
- Compacted density (in place): 144-147 lb/ft³. After the breakdown, intermediate and finish rollers do their passes, density goes up about 5%.
- The 5% gap: 100 tons of loose HMA from the plant becomes ~96-97 tons of in-place pavement after compaction. The 3-4 tons of difference is real material - it just occupies less volume after rolling.
What this means for ordering: order in plant-loose tons (that’s what they sell), but verify in-place compacted tons against your spec. State DOT specs are written in compacted tons unless explicitly stated. Get the unit clear in the bid documents.
Truckload sizing: yd³ vs tons on a plant ticket
Plant tickets report both cubic yards and tons. The relationship depends on truck type because each truck’s effective load capacity is constrained either by volume (yd³) or by axle weight (tons).
| Truck type | Volume (loose yd³) | Tons HMA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-axle dump | 5-7 | 9-13 | Light residential delivery |
| Tandem-axle dump | 8-10 | 15-19 | Standard residential / small commercial |
| Tri-axle dump | 10-13 | 18-24 | Commercial workhorse |
| Quad-axle dump | 13-15 | 24-28 | Volume-limited, axle weight maxed |
| Belly dump trailer | 15-18 | 28-34 | Highway-grade volume |
| Live bottom trailer | 14-16 | 26-30 | No-tip discharge for continuous paver feed |
For ordering and scheduling delivery in continuous paving sequence, the asphalt truckload calculator has the math for plant cycle times, paver feed rates, and how many trucks you need for a given job size to keep the paver running.
Cubic meters to tonnes (metric conversion)
For UK, EU and Australian paving work, the equivalent metric formula:
2,322 kg ÷ 1,000 kg/tonne = 2.322 metric tonnes per m³
For loose plant material, multiply m³ by 2.21. For tarmac material at UK density specs, the tarmac calculator uses the same conversion with regional binder density adjustments.
Quick metric reference: 1 m³ of compacted asphalt = 2.32 tonnes ≈ 2.56 US short tons. 1 yd³ (0.765 m³) of compacted asphalt = 1.78 tonnes = 1.96 US short tons. The metric/imperial mix-ups are real on cross-border jobs - confirm units explicitly in contracts and on plant tickets.
Cubic yards to tons FAQ
How heavy is a cubic yard of asphalt?
About 3,915 lb (1.96 US short tons or 1,776 kg) for compacted hot mix asphalt at standard 145 lb/ft³ density. A cubic yard of loose plant material weighs about 3,724 lb (1.86 tons). A cubic yard of recycled asphalt millings weighs about 3,240 lb (1.62 tons) compacted in place.
How many cubic yards of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
An 800 ft² (2-car) driveway at 2-inch compacted depth = 800 × (2/12) = 133.3 ft³ = 4.94 yd³. At 1.96 tons per yd³, that’s about 9.7 tons of HMA. Add 7% waste and you order 10.3 tons (or ~5.3 yd³ of plant-loose material). The full driveway-specific math lives in the driveway asphalt calculator.
Why does my plant ticket show different tons than my volume calculation?
Three common reasons: (1) plant ticket reports loose tonnage; your calc may use compacted density. (2) plant scaled the truck both empty and full, and atmospheric conditions or scale calibration introduced 1-2% variance. (3) the binder content or aggregate moisture in the actual mix differs slightly from the design. A 3% gap between expected and actual tons on a 100-ton job is normal; a 10% gap warrants a call to the plant.
What is the bulk density of asphalt?
Bulk density of compacted hot mix asphalt is 145 lb/ft³ (2,322 kg/m³) per AASHTO M323. Loose plant-mix runs 138-142 lb/ft³ (2,210-2,275 kg/m³). Specific gravity (Gmm or maximum theoretical density) is typically 2.45-2.55 g/cm³ depending on aggregate type. In-place air voids target is 4-7% which puts compacted density at 92-96% of Gmm.
How many wheelbarrows in a cubic yard of asphalt?
About 9-14 wheelbarrows per cubic yard, depending on wheelbarrow size. Standard 6 ft³ wheelbarrow holds 1/4.5 of a cubic yard so 4.5 trips per yd³; smaller 2 ft³ landscape wheelbarrows take 13.5 trips. For DIY pothole repair work, 1 wheelbarrow of cold patch (loaded heavy) covers about 5-8 ft² at 2-inch depth. See the asphalt patch calculator for full DIY repair quantities.