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How to Calculate Asphalt for Driveway
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Measure | Length and width of driveway in feet. |
| 2. Depth | Determine desired asphalt depth (usually 2-4 inches). |
| 3. Convert Depth | Convert depth to feet (e.g., 2 inches = 0.167 feet). |
| 4. Calculate Volume | Multiply area by depth in feet to get cubic feet. |
| 5. Convert to Tons | Divide cubic feet by 27 (cubic feet in 1 ton of asphalt). |
| 6. Example Calculation | For a 200 sqft driveway at 3 inches depth: 200 sqft x 0.25 ft depth = 50 cubic ft. 50 cubic ft / 27 = 1.85 tons (round up to 2 tons). |
Factors Affecting Driveway Re-Asphalting Costs
| Factors | Impact on Cost |
|---|---|
| Driveway Size | Larger driveways cost more for materials and labor. |
| Depth of Asphalt | Deeper asphalt increases material costs. |
| Prep Work | Repairs or removal before repaving add labor costs. |
| Base Repair | The damaged gravel base requires rebuilding and increasing prices. |
| Asphalt Costs | Prices vary based on location and materials used. High-quality asphalt costs more. |
| Location/Access | Remote or hard-to-reach areas increase costs. |
| Additional Work | Extras like crack sealing or logos increase the total price. |
| Labor Rates | Labor accounts for 30-50% of the total price, which varies regionally. |
Costs to Replace Asphalt Driveway with Concrete
| Costs | Details |
|---|---|
| Material Costs | Concrete costs $8-12 per sqft. Reinforcements may increase. |
| Labor Costs | Labor is 30-50% of total costs, around $8-15 per sqft. |
| Driveway Size | Larger driveways have lower per sqft rates. |
| Removal of Old Asphalt | Removal adds $1-2 per sqft, proper disposal is needed. |
| Base Preparation | Proper subsurface adds $0.50-$1 per sqft. |
| Finishing | Special finishes increase cost by 15-30%. |
| Control Joints | Sawcut control joints cost $0.50-$1 per linear foot. |
| Average Total Costs | For a 200-300 sqft driveway, expect $6,000-$12,000 installed. |
Now Let’s see these steps in detail
How to calculate asphalt for driveway
Here are the steps to calculate the amount of asphalt needed for a driveway:
- Measure the length and width of the driveway area in feet. This will give you the total square footage.
- Determine the desired depth of the asphalt in inches. Most residential driveways are 2-4 inches thick.
- Convert the depth to feet. For example, 2 inches would be 0.167 feet (2/12 = 0.167).
- Multiply the total square footage by the depth in feet. This will give you the volume of the area to be paved in cubic feet.
- Convert the volume to tons. There are 27 cubic feet in 1 ton of asphalt. So take the cubic footage and divide by 27.
For example:
Driveway size: 20 feet x 10 feet = 200 sqft
Desired depth: 3 inches
3 inches = 0.25 feet
Volume = 200 sqft x 0.25 feet depth = 50 cubic feet
50 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet/ton = 1.85 tons (round up to 2 tons)
So for a 200 sqft driveway at a 3-inch depth, you would need to order approximately 2 tons of asphalt.
Always order a bit extra (5-10%) to account for losses or mistakes. And confirm with your paving contractor on their specific requirements.
How much to re-asphalt a driveway
Factors that determine the cost to re-asphalt a driveway:
- Driveway size – Larger driveways require more materials and labor, increasing the cost. Estimate $2-6 per square foot on average.
- Depth of asphalt – Most driveways need 2-4 inches of asphalt. Deeper depths increase material costs.
- Prep work – The existing surface may need removing/repair before repaving. This adds labor costs.
- Base repair – If the gravel base is damaged, it needs rebuilding which significantly increases prices.
- Asphalt costs – Prices average $80-150 per ton, depending on location and materials used. High-quality asphalt increases costs.
- Location/access – Driveways in remote or difficult to access areas will be more expensive to repave.
- Additional work – Extras like sealing cracks, edges, logos increase the total price.
- Labor rates – Labor accounts for 30-50% of price. Rates vary regionally from $75-150/hour.
Average prices range from:
Small 100-300 sqft driveway: $1,000-3,000
Medium 300-500 sqft: $2,500-5,000
Large 500+ sqft: $5,000-10,000 or more for very large driveways.
Getting estimates from 2-3 reputable local companies can give you an idea of average going rates for your specific project.