How many tons are in a Square Yard of Asphalt?
Asphalt is a black substance that is used in highways, driveways, or playground. It is used as a binder with other ingredients such as sand, crushed rocks, and bitumen. Most roads in the United States are using asphalt because it is durable and long-lasting. It is easy to maintain with small repairs and it withstands unfavorable weather such as extreme winter. It is black and therefore ice melts easily. While using asphalt you need to get correct measurements so that you save on cost as it is fairly expensive.
Square yard of Asphalt unit weight
When you are undertaking any project, you need to calculate the required amount of materials required so that you save on unnecessary costs and save on more transport costs of bringing more additional materials. When you are undertaking an asphalt pavement project, proper calculations will ensure you apply the right ton of asphalt.
To get the required tons of asphalt needed, you need to take in to account the following calculations.
- First, you need to obtain the square measurement using a tape measure.
- Second, you determine the dimension of the yard in cubic meters and multiply by the depth.
- Third, you get the volume of the yard and multiply by the density and then change the cubic meter to ton asphalt.
Standard Asphalt weight
- Standard asphalt density is 145lbs/ft3 or 2322kg/m3
- The asphalt unit weight is 2243 per cubic meter.
Therefore 2.4 ton of asphalt = 1 cubic meter.
1 cubic yard of hot asphalt mix weighs 2.025 tons or 4050 lbs.
These measurements are an approximation and therefore when you are ordering the quantity ensure that you add more asphalt to gather for the waste and you don’t run short as you do your pavement project.
Proper calculation of the area especially in irregular shapes is important because you will be able to get the right amount and density of asphalt. If you want to undertake a good quality project then you must calculate the right proportion of asphalt so that the project is completed on time and you use the right mixture of ingredients.
Asphalt is safe because it is obtained from natural products and therefore there is less emission of fossil fuel which is harmful. Proper calculations of area and multiplying it with the unit weight of asphalt are important because you will be able to get the right viscosity or density for your projects.
Conclusion
Resources are limited and that is why you need the right measurement to properly use these resources. You should avoid any waste by correctly measuring the area using a tape measure, and then you calculate the volume by multiplying the area with the height or thickness and finally multiply it with the standard density of 145lbs/ft3 or 2322kg/m3. Getting the right weight is also very important. For example, if you have 50 cubic yards of asphalt then you will 110.25 tons weight using a formula 1 cubic yard of hot asphalt unit weight typical is 2.025 tons.
Asphalt Tonnage Calculator
Enter your dimensions to get the square yards and the tons of asphalt required.
Asphalt Quantity Quick Reference
| What you want | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Square feet | Length in feet multiplied by width in feet |
| Square yards | Square feet divided by 9 |
| Cubic feet | Square feet multiplied by thickness in feet (inches divided by 12) |
| Pounds of asphalt | Cubic feet multiplied by 145 |
| Tons of asphalt | Pounds divided by 2,000 |
Common figures
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Compacted hot mix asphalt density | About 145 lbs per cubic foot |
| 1 cubic yard of hot mix | About 2 tons |
| 1 square yard | 9 square feet |
| 1 ton of asphalt at 2 inches thick | Covers roughly 80 square feet |
Key Takeaways
- Square yards measure coverage. Tons measure the material itself.
- You need length, width and thickness to work out tonnage.
- Compacted asphalt weighs about 145 lbs per cubic foot.
- Always allow a little extra for waste and compaction.
- Irregular shapes should be broken into rectangles and added together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons are in a square yard of asphalt?
It depends on thickness, because a square yard is an area and a ton is a weight. At 2 inches
thick, one square yard of compacted asphalt weighs roughly 0.11 tons. Use the calculator above with
your own thickness.
How many square feet are in a square yard?
Nine. To convert square feet to square yards, divide by 9.
How much does a cubic yard of asphalt weigh?
About 2 tons. Compacted hot mix asphalt weighs roughly 145 pounds per cubic foot, and there are
27 cubic feet in a cubic yard.
How much area does a ton of asphalt cover?
At 2 inches thick, one ton covers roughly 80 square feet. Thicker asphalt covers less area per ton.
How do I calculate asphalt for an irregular shape?
Break the area into rectangles, calculate each one separately, then add the results together.
For anything complicated, we measure on site as part of a free estimate.
