Cubic Yards to Tons Asphalt Calculator

How Many Tons of Asphalt in a Cubic Yard

One cubic yard of standard hot mix asphalt weighs approximately 1.96 tons, based on a typical density of 145 pounds per cubic foot. That figure comes from a simple conversion, a cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet, so 27 multiplied by 145 pounds gives 3,915 pounds, and dividing by 2,000 gives just under 2 tons.

The exact number shifts slightly depending on your asphalt mix. Warm mix asphalt runs a touch lighter at 142 pounds per cubic foot, working out to about 1.92 tons per cubic yard. Recycled asphalt (RAP) is lighter still at around 140 pounds per cubic foot, closer to 1.89 tons per cubic yard.

Asphalt Weight Per Cubic Yard by Mix Type

• Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): approximately 1.96 tons per cubic yard
• Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA): approximately 1.92 tons per cubic yard
• Recycled Asphalt (RAP): approximately 1.89 tons per cubic yard

These figures assume a fully compacted mix. Loose, uncompacted asphalt sits lighter per cubic yard, which is part of why contractors add a waste allowance when ordering, the material compacts down once it is laid and rolled.

Why This Conversion Matters

Asphalt suppliers almost always sell by the ton, not by the cubic yard, since weight is what actually gets loaded onto a truck. But when you are figuring out how much material a project needs, cubic yards is often the more intuitive unit to start from, since it maps directly to the volume of space you are filling. This calculator bridges that gap in either direction, so whether a supplier gave you a tonnage quote or you worked out your project in cubic yards first, you can move between the two without redoing the math by hand.

If you would rather start from your project's actual measurements instead of an amount you already know, our asphalt tonnage calculator builds the same conversion in from length, width, and depth automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons of asphalt are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard of standard hot mix asphalt weighs approximately 1.96 tons, based on a typical density of 145 pounds per cubic foot. This figure shifts slightly depending on the asphalt mix type.

How do I convert cubic yards of asphalt to tons?
Multiply your cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, multiply that by the asphalt density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. The calculator above does this automatically in either direction.

Does the conversion change for recycled asphalt?
Yes, slightly. Recycled asphalt (RAP) typically runs a bit lighter than standard hot mix, around 140 pounds per cubic foot instead of 145, so it converts to a marginally lower tonnage for the same volume.