Asphalt tonnage calculator.
Calculate asphalt tonnage from area and compacted depth, by layer. Enter the area and finished depth for each layer — surface course, binder course or base course, or a generic mid-range figure if you don't know which — and this calculator finds the volume and tonnage using a typical compacted density for that layer type. No separate compaction factor is needed, since the depth and density are both already the compacted, finished values a supplier would order tonnage against, whether you're resurfacing a driveway or laying a full road pavement build-up. Use our Aggregate & Sub-base Calculator for the layer underneath.
Drop an Excel or CSV file or to replace the table below.
Column A: layer name. Column B: area. Column C: compacted depth. Column D (optional): layer type — rows without a recognised layer type default to binder course.
Parsed entirely in your browser — your file is never uploaded to our servers.
| Layer | Area (m²) | Compacted depth (mm) | Layer type | Volume (m³) | Tonnage (t) | Row actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | |||||
| — | — | |||||
| — | — |
How we calculate this.
Calculate asphalt tonnage from area and compacted depth, by layer. Enter the area and finished depth for each layer — surface course, binder course or base course, or a generic mid-range figure if you don't know which — and this calculator finds the volume and tonnage using a typical compacted density for that layer type. No separate compaction factor is needed, since the depth and density are both already the compacted, finished values a supplier would order tonnage against, whether you're resurfacing a driveway or laying a full road pavement build-up. Use our Aggregate & Sub-base Calculator for the layer underneath.
For each layer (row): volume = area × compacted depth, then tonnage = volume × compacted density for the selected layer type. Volumes and tonnages are summed across every layer for the totals.
| Assumption | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Surface course density (compacted) | 2,300 kg/m³ | Typical compacted density for thin surfacing/wearing course asphalt — widely cited highway-materials reference figure. |
| Binder course density (compacted) | 2,400 kg/m³ | Typical compacted density for dense bitumen macadam (DBM) binder course — widely cited reference figure. |
| Base course density (compacted) | 2,450 kg/m³ | Typical compacted density for dense bitumen macadam base course — widely cited reference figure. |
| Generic asphalt density (compacted) | 2,350 kg/m³ | Typical mid-range compacted density for asphalt/tarmac generally, where the specific layer type isn't known. |
This is an early-appraisal planning estimate, not a quotation or a substitute for a surveyed takeoff. Last reviewed 31 Aug 2026.
Pick the layer type from the dropdown — surface course (2,300 kg/m³), binder course (2,400 kg/m³) or base course (2,450 kg/m³) — or use the generic 2,350 kg/m³ figure if you don't know which layer it is.
No separate factor is needed — the depth you enter is the finished, compacted depth, and the density used is already a compacted density, so tonnage is worked out directly against what a supplier would order.
At a typical 40 mm surface-course depth and 2,300 kg/m³ compacted density, that's about 0.09 tonnes per m² — use the calculator above for your own depth and layer type.
Yes — click or drop an Excel (.xlsx/.xls) or CSV file onto the upload area. The first column should be an item name and the second the measurement for that row; extra columns this calculator uses are read too if present. The file is parsed entirely in your browser — it's never uploaded to our servers. Download the blank template first if you're not sure of the layout.
Yes — use the metric/imperial switch above the calculator. Values you've already entered convert automatically; nothing is lost switching back and forth.
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