The Cost of Asphalt Estimate calculator computes weight (tons) of asphalt needed for a driveway or lane based on the length and width of the lane and the desired depth of asphalt base and top courses. It uses the volume of asphalt to estimate the total cost.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (L) Length of Lane
- (W) Width of Lane
- (DT) Depth of Top Course (default 1 1/2" default for top layer)
- (DB) Depth of Base Course (2" default for thin layer)
- (DPT) Top Mix - Dollar per Ton of Asphalt
- (DPTB) Bottom Mix - Dollars per Ton of Asphalt
- (SF) Service Fee Estimate per Square Foot
Blacktop (Asphalt) Needed (BN): The calculator returns:
- (TC) Total Cost estimate
- (A) Area Covered
- (TCW) Tons of Top Coat Asphalt
- (TCC) Cost of Top Coat Asphalt
- (BCW) Tons of Bottom Coat Asphalt
- (BCC) Cost of Bottom Coat Asphalt
- (SFC) Service Fee Cost
The Math / Science
The site is graded and leveled, and then the asphalt is laid and rolled. Asphalt comes from a hot mix plant at approximately 350°. This is often done in two courses, a base course and a top course. Often the base is in a rougher aggregate and the top is very fine. As you can see in the pictures to the right, specialized equipment is required and a crew to operate them. For this reason, the total cost is substantially more than the cost of the hot mix.
Cost Drivers:
- Cost to transport paving equipment to the site.
- Cost of base coat asphalt
- Cost of top coat asphalt
- Cost to transport asphalt from hot mix plant.
- Cost of crew to operate equipment.
- Corporate overhead. This includes the amortization of paving equipment and maintenance. It also includes the costs associated with running the business with everything from customer estimates, to billing, payroll, accounting, office space and taxes.
- Corporate profit. The company rightfully should make more money than it spends on operations.
The volume of asphalt calculation is a simple three dimensional calculation, where
volume = length • width • depth
The weight of the crusher run is based on the formula
where:
- volume is the volume of asphalt for the driveway or lane
- density of asphalt ( 2322.677 kg/m3 or 145 lb/ft3)
