How do you convert square yards to tons of asphalt?

Tons = Square yards × Depth (in) × 0.00604 × (Density ÷ 145). At HMA 145 lb/ft³: tons = yd² × depth_in × 0.00604 ÷ 9 (since 1 yd² = 9 ft²). Quick rule: 1 yd² at 1 inch depth = 0.00671 tons. At 2 inches: 0.01342 tons. At 3 inches: 0.02013 tons.

How do you convert square feet to tons of asphalt?

Tons = Area (ft²) × Depth (in) × 0.00604 at standard HMA density (145 lb/ft³). Example: 1,000 ft² at 2 inches = 1,000 × 2 × 0.00604 = 12.1 tons base quantity. Add 10% waste to get order quantity: 13.3 tons. For other densities: multiply by (your density ÷ 145).

How many square yards does 1 ton of asphalt cover?

At 1 inch depth and 145 lb/ft³: 1 ton covers 149 yd² (or 1,338 ft²). At 2 inches: 74.5 yd² (669 ft²). At 3 inches: 49.6 yd² (446 ft²). At 4 inches: 37.2 yd² (335 ft²). For other densities, multiply by (145 ÷ your density).

How do you convert cubic yards to square yards of asphalt?

Square yards = Cubic yards ÷ (Depth in inches ÷ 36). Simplified: yd² = yd³ × 36 ÷ depth_in. Example: 10 yd³ at 3 inches = 10 × 36 ÷ 3 = 120 yd². This works because 1 yd³ at 1 inch depth covers 36 yd² (since 1 yard = 36 inches, and 1 yd³ ÷ (1/36) yd = 36 yd²).

What is the density of asphalt in kg/m³?

Standard HMA: 2,322 kg/m³ (145 lb/ft³). SMA: 2,403 kg/m³ (150 lb/ft³). WMA: 2,322 kg/m³. Open-graded OGFC: 1,922 kg/m³ (120 lb/ft³). RAP millings: 2,082 kg/m³ (130 lb/ft³). Cold mix: 1,842 kg/m³ (115 lb/ft³). To convert lb/ft³ to kg/m³, multiply by 16.018.

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Asphalt Unit Converter
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Quick reference

Asphalt unit conversion tables

Print-ready reference tables for the most common asphalt unit conversions. All based on HMA at 145 lb/ft³ (2,322 kg/m³) unless noted.

Tons per square yard — by depth (HMA 145 lb/ft³)

Depth	tons/yd²	yd² per ton	tons/1,000 yd²	tons/10,000 yd²
1"	0.00671	149	6.71	67.1
1.5"	0.01006	99	10.06	100.6
2"	0.01342	74.5	13.42	134.2
2.5"	0.01677	59.6	16.77	167.7
3"	0.02013	49.7	20.13	201.3
4"	0.02684	37.3	26.84	268.4
6"	0.04025	24.8	40.25	402.5

Weight unit conversions

From	To	Factor	Example (10 short tons)
Short tons (US)	Metric tonnes	× 0.9072	10 × 0.9072 = 9.072 t
Short tons (US)	Kilograms	× 907.185	10 × 907.185 = 9,072 kg
Short tons (US)	Pounds	× 2,000	10 × 2,000 = 20,000 lb
Metric tonnes	Short tons (US)	× 1.1023	10 × 1.1023 = 11.023 t
Metric tonnes	Kilograms	× 1,000	10 × 1,000 = 10,000 kg
Kilograms	Short tons	÷ 907.185	10,000 ÷ 907.185 = 11.02 t
Pounds	Short tons	÷ 2,000	20,000 ÷ 2,000 = 10 t

Area unit conversions

From	To	Factor	Example (1,000)
Square feet (ft²)	Square yards (yd²)	÷ 9	1,000 ft² = 111.1 yd²
Square feet (ft²)	Square metres (m²)	× 0.09290	1,000 ft² = 92.9 m²
Square yards (yd²)	Square feet (ft²)	× 9	1,000 yd² = 9,000 ft²
Square yards (yd²)	Square metres (m²)	× 0.8361	1,000 yd² = 836.1 m²
Square metres (m²)	Square feet (ft²)	× 10.7639	1,000 m² = 10,764 ft²
Square metres (m²)	Square yards (yd²)	× 1.1960	1,000 m² = 1,196 yd²

Asphalt density conversions

Mix type	lb/ft³	kg/m³	t/m³	tons/yd³	lb/yd³
HMA (standard)	145	2,322	2.322	1.958	3,915
SMA	150	2,403	2.403	2.025	4,050
WMA	145	2,322	2.322	1.958	3,915
OGFC / Porous	120	1,922	1.922	1.620	3,240
RAP millings	130	2,082	2.082	1.755	3,510
Cold mix	115	1,842	1.842	1.553	3,105

The most confusing unit in asphalt

Short ton vs metric tonne — what's the difference?

This confusion causes real ordering errors. The difference is 10.2% — on a 100-ton project that's 10 tons short or over. Here's everything you need to know.

Used in: United States

Short ton (US ton)

2,000

pounds (907.185 kg)

In kilograms907.185 kg

In metric tonnes0.9072 t

In long tons (UK)0.8929 LT

Symbolt (US) or ST

Used by all US asphalt plants for pricing and ordering. When a US supplier says "per ton," this is what they mean.

Used in: rest of world

Metric tonne (tonne)

1,000

kilograms (2,204.6 lb)

In kilograms1,000 kg

In short tons1.1023 ST

In long tons (UK)0.9842 LT

Symbolt or MT (metric)

Used by international suppliers (UK, Australia, EU, India). A DOT specification in metric tonnes is 10.2% more material than the same number in US short tons.

⚠️ Real-world ordering error: A contractor received a quote from a Canadian supplier for 200 "tonnes" of HMA. He ordered assuming US short tons. He actually received 200 metric tonnes = 220.5 short tons — 10.2% more material than planned, creating a $3,400 overage. Always ask: "Is this US short tons or metric tonnes?" before signing an order.

The conversions you actually need

Key asphalt unit conversions — with context

These are the five conversions that come up on every paving project. Each one explained with the formula, a worked example, and why it matters.

ft² to short tons

Formula: Tons = ft² × Depth_in × 0.00604
Example: 5,000 ft² at 2" = 5,000 × 2 × 0.00604 = 60.4 tons
Why: Plants price in tons, site measurements are in ft². This bridges the two.

yd² to short tons

Formula: Tons = yd² × Depth_in × 0.0542 (at 145 lb/ft³)
Example: 500 yd² at 3" = 500 × 3 × 0.0542 ÷ 9 = 9.06 tons
Why: DOT specs and parking lots often use square yards.

Cubic yards to tons

Formula: Tons = yd³ × 1.9575 (at 145 lb/ft³)
Example: 10 yd³ × 1.9575 = 19.6 tons
Why: Volume specs from engineers need to become weight orders for the plant.

Short tons to ft² coverage

Formula: ft² = Tons ÷ (Depth_in × 0.00604)
Example: 20 tons at 2" = 20 ÷ (2 × 0.00604) = 1,656 ft²
Why: You have a known tonnage — how far will it go?

lb/ft³ to kg/m³

Formula: kg/m³ = lb/ft³ × 16.018
Example: 145 lb/ft³ × 16.018 = 2,322 kg/m³
Why: US specs use lb/ft³. International specs use kg/m³. Both refer to the same material.

Common conversion questions

Asphalt unit converter — FAQ

Every common unit conversion question for asphalt — answered with the exact factors and worked examples.

How many tons in a cubic yard of asphalt?+

At standard HMA 145 lb/ft³: 1 yd³ = 1.9575 short tons (approximately 2 tons). At SMA 150 lb/ft³: 2.025 tons/yd³. At OGFC 120 lb/ft³: 1.620 tons/yd³. At RAP 130 lb/ft³: 1.755 tons/yd³. Formula: yd³ × (density lb/ft³ × 27 ÷ 2,000).

How do I convert square feet to tons of asphalt?+

Use: Tons = ft² × Depth (in) × 0.00604 at HMA density 145 lb/ft³. Example: 2,000 ft² at 3 inches = 2,000 × 3 × 0.00604 = 36.2 tons. Add 10% waste = order 39.9 tons. For other densities, multiply by (your density ÷ 145). Select "ft² → short tons" in the converter above to run any figure.

How do I convert square yards to tons?+

Tons = yd² × Depth (in) × 0.0604 ÷ 9 = yd² × depth_in × 0.006711. Example: 500 yd² at 2" = 500 × 2 × 0.006711 = 6.71 tons. Or use our converter: select "yd² → short tons", enter your area, and set the depth.

What is the difference between a short ton and a metric tonne?+

Short ton (US) = 2,000 lb = 907.185 kg. Metric tonne = 1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lb. 1 metric tonne = 1.1023 short tons. 1 short ton = 0.9072 metric tonnes. The metric tonne is 10.2% heavier. US asphalt plants price in short tons. Always confirm which unit your supplier is quoting — a 10% confusion on a large project is thousands of dollars.

How many square feet does 1 ton of asphalt cover?+

At HMA 145 lb/ft³: 1 ton at 1" = 1,653 ft². At 2": 827 ft². At 3": 551 ft². At 4": 413 ft². Formula: ft² = 2,000,000 ÷ (density_lb/ft³ × depth_in × 12). At 145 lb/ft³ and 2": = 2,000,000 ÷ (145 × 2 × 12) = 2,000,000 ÷ 3,480 = 575 ft² — wait, this is for 1 ton. Enter "1" in the short tons field and select "ft²" as the target in the converter for the exact figure.

How do I convert cubic yards to square yards of asphalt?+

yd² = yd³ × 36 ÷ depth (in). Example: 10 yd³ at 3 inch depth = 10 × 36 ÷ 3 = 120 yd². This works because 1 yd = 36 inches, so 1 yd³ at 1 inch depth covers 1 × 36 = 36 yd². Reverse: yd³ = yd² × depth_in ÷ 36.

How do I convert lb/ft³ to kg/m³?+

Multiply by 16.0185. Examples: 145 lb/ft³ = 2,322 kg/m³. 150 lb/ft³ = 2,403 kg/m³. 120 lb/ft³ = 1,922 kg/m³. Reverse: kg/m³ ÷ 16.0185 = lb/ft³. This conversion is needed when using US density values in metric-unit specifications, or when comparing plant data sheets from different countries.

How many gallons is one ton of bitumen?+

Pure bitumen binder density ≈ 1.03 t/m³ (1,030 kg/m³). 1 short ton bitumen = 907.185 kg ÷ 1.03 kg/L = 880.8 litres = 232.7 US gallons. 1 metric tonne = 1,000 ÷ 1.03 = 970.9 litres = 256.5 US gallons. Use the bitumen calculator for full binder quantity calculations including tack coat.

How do I convert m² and mm to tons?+

Metric formula: Tonnes = m² × Depth_mm ÷ 1000 × Density_kg/m³ ÷ 1000. Example: 500 m² at 50 mm, HMA at 2,322 kg/m³: = 500 × 50/1000 × 2,322/1000 = 500 × 0.05 × 2.322 = 58.05 metric tonnes. To convert to short tons: × 1.1023 = 63.99 short tons. Select m² in the converter above and set depth in mm.

Why do different asphalt mix types need different conversion factors?+

Because density varies significantly: HMA 145 lb/ft³, SMA 150 lb/ft³ (+3.4%), OGFC 120 lb/ft³ (−17%). Using HMA density (145) for an OGFC project understates tonnage by 17% — for 100 tons that's 17 tons short. Always select the correct mix type in the converter. When in doubt, call your plant for the specific job mix formula (JMF) density.

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