Asphalt Price Per Ton (2026) + Tonnage Calculator

Current Asphalt Prices Per Ton

Typical US price ranges at the plant or supplier yard, before delivery and installation. Asphalt is sold per US short ton (2,000 lb).

Product	Typical price per ton	Notes
Hot mix asphalt (HMA)	$85 – $150	Standard surface and base courses; most quotes fall around $100–$120
Warm mix asphalt	$85 – $150	Usually priced close to hot mix; produced at lower temperatures
Recycled asphalt millings (RAP)	$10 – $35	Ground-up old pavement; good for rural drives and base
Cold patch (bagged)	$500 – $900	Sold in 50 lb bags for pothole repair; very expensive per ton
Specialty mixes	$120 – $200+	Polymer-modified, porous, colored and high-friction surfaces

Estimates for budgeting only. Prices vary by region, season and order size — get current quotes from local plants. See all materials on the price benchmarks page.

How many tons of asphalt do I need?

Units Currency

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Thickness (inches)

Price per short ton

Compacted density (lb/ft³)

145 lb/ft³ (2.32 t/m³) is typical for compacted hot mix.

Asphalt Needed

0 tons

How to Calculate Asphalt Tonnage

Tons = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Thickness (in ÷ 12) × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000

Example: A 20 × 50 ft driveway at 3 inches thick: 20 × 50 × 0.25 = 250 ft³ × 145 = 36,250 lb ÷ 2,000 = 18.1 tons. At $110 per ton the material costs about $1,994.

Rule of thumb: one square yard at one inch thick needs about 110 lb of asphalt. Multiply square yards × inches × 110 ÷ 2,000 for short tons.

Typical thicknesses are 2–3 inches for residential driveways, 3–4 inches for parking lots, and 4 inches or more (often in two lifts) for roads carrying heavy trucks.

What Drives the Price of Asphalt?

Oil prices. Asphalt binder (bitumen) is about 5–6% of the mix by weight but a large share of its cost, and it tracks crude oil.
Aggregate costs. Stone and sand make up roughly 95% of the mix; local quarry prices matter.
Season. Plants run from spring to late autumn. Early- and late-season small orders often cost more.
Distance and load size. Hot mix must be placed while hot, so haul distance is limited and short loads carry fees.
Mix specification. Polymer-modified, high-RAP or DOT-spec mixes price differently from standard surface mix.

Per Ton vs Per Square Foot

Asphalt plants sell material by the ton. Contractors quote installed paving by the square foot or square yard, which includes excavation, base stone, labor, equipment and profit. To compare a contractor quote with material prices, use the calculator above to estimate the tons and material cost, then compare with the installed price.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a ton of asphalt cost in 2026?

Hot mix asphalt typically costs $85 to $150 per ton at the plant in the US, with most quotes landing around $100–$120. Recycled asphalt millings are far cheaper at roughly $10–$35 per ton, while bagged cold patch works out at several hundred dollars per ton. Delivery, small-load fees and installation are extra.

How many tons of asphalt do I need?

Multiply length × width × thickness to get the volume, then multiply by the compacted density (about 145 lb per cubic foot, or 2.32 tonnes per cubic meter). A rule of thumb: 1 square yard at 1 inch thick needs about 110 lb of asphalt. A 20 × 50 ft driveway 3 inches thick needs roughly 18 tons.

Why do asphalt prices change?

Asphalt binder is a petroleum product, so prices track crude oil and refinery output. Aggregate costs, plant energy costs, haul distance, season (plants charge more early and late in the paving season) and order size also move the price.

Is asphalt priced per ton or per square foot?

Asphalt plants sell by the ton. Paving contractors usually quote installed jobs per square foot or square yard, which bundles material, base preparation, labor and equipment. Installed driveway paving commonly runs several dollars per square foot.