How much does a yard of asphalt weigh?
Published weights of a cubic yard of asphalt run from 3,096 to 4,320 lb across 3 values from 2 documents, measured in different conditions. The calculators use 3,960 lb per compacted cubic yard (Penn State Superpave Center), because it is the worked example of the Penn State Superpave Center for a compacted mix; Missouri DOT gives a compacted range around it. One ton of asphalt is about 0.51 compacted cubic yards.
0 uses the published 3,960 lb/yd³
Optional; 0 leaves cost out
1 ton of asphalt is about 0.51 compacted cubic yards at 3,960 lb per compacted cubic yard.
- Cubic yards, compacted
- 0.51
- Cubic feet
- 13.6
- Tons
- 1
- Pounds
- 2,000
- Cubic yards at the published range, same condition
- 0.46–0.65
How it is calculated
- Pounds = 1 ton × 2,000 lb = 2,000 lb.
- Cubic yards = 2,000 lb ÷ 3,960 lb/yd³ = 0.51 yd³.
- Cubic feet = 0.51 yd³ × 27 = 13.6 cu ft.
Published weight of a cubic yard of asphalt
| Publisher | Category and condition in the document | Value as printed | Pounds per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Department of Transportation, Engineering Policy Guide | “COMPACTED WEIGHTS: Asphalt Concrete approx. pounds per sq. yard per 1-inch depth 86/98/109/120” Condition: compacted | 86–120 lb/yd² per inch | 3,096–4,320 |
| Missouri Department of Transportation, Engineering Policy Guide | “COMPACTED WEIGHTS: Asphalt Concrete 115/130/145/160 lb per cu ft; 3,100/3,510/3,910/4,320 lb per cu yd” Condition: compacted | 3,100–4,320 lb/yd³ | 3,100–4,320 |
| Penn State Superpave Center (used by the calculators) | “110 lbs/sq.yd./inch (156 lbs/cu.ft x 0.75 cu.ft x 0.94)” Condition: compacted | 110 lb/yd² per inch | 3,960 |
Asphalt weight by volume
At 3,960 lb per cubic yard, 5 cubic yards of asphalt weigh about 19,800 lb (9.9 tons) and 10 cubic yards about 19.8 tons.
| Volume | Pounds | Tons | Tons, published range, same condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic foot | 147 | 0.073 | 0.057–0.08 |
| 0.5 cubic yards | 1,980 | 0.99 | 0.77–1.08 |
| 1 cubic yard | 3,960 | 1.98 | 1.55–2.16 |
| 2 cubic yards | 7,920 | 3.96 | 3.1–4.32 |
| 3 cubic yards | 11,880 | 5.94 | 4.64–6.48 |
| 5 cubic yards | 19,800 | 9.9 | 7.74–10.8 |
| 10 cubic yards | 39,600 | 19.8 | 15.48–21.6 |
| 15 cubic yards | 59,400 | 29.7 | 23.22–32.4 |
| 20 cubic yards | 79,200 | 39.6 | 30.96–43.2 |
How many yards in a ton of asphalt?
One ton of asphalt is about 0.51 compacted cubic yards at 3,960 lb per compacted cubic yard, and 0.46–0.65 compacted cubic yards across the published values in the same condition. Five tons is about 2.53 compacted cubic yards.
| Tons | Compacted cubic yards | Compacted cubic yards, published range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.51 | 0.46–0.65 |
| 2 | 1.01 | 0.93–1.29 |
| 3 | 1.52 | 1.39–1.94 |
| 4 | 2.02 | 1.85–2.58 |
| 5 | 2.53 | 2.31–3.23 |
| 6 | 3.03 | 2.78–3.88 |
| 7 | 3.54 | 3.24–4.52 |
| 8 | 4.04 | 3.7–5.17 |
| 9 | 4.55 | 4.17–5.81 |
| 10 | 5.05 | 4.63–6.46 |
| 15 | 7.58 | 6.94–9.69 |
| 20 | 10.1 | 9.26–12.92 |
| 25 | 12.63 | 11.57–16.15 |
Why the weight of asphalt differs between sources
The published values for asphalt range from 3,096 to 4,320 lb per cubic yard across 3 values from 2 documents. A cubic yard weighs more when the material is wet than when it is dry, and more when it is compacted than when it is loose. Stone from different quarries also differs in density and in the share of fines between the larger pieces.
For an order, ask the supplier for the weight per cubic yard of the material they deliver, and use it as your own density in the converter.