Free · No signup · 2026 US pricing
Asphalt Cost Calculator
See what asphalt costs right now, per ton, per cubic yard, and per square foot, then calculate the total material cost for your project in seconds. Enter your tonnage or dimensions, pick your asphalt type, and get an instant price estimate based on 2026 US pricing. Free, no signup.
2026 US pricing · Per ton, per yard, per sq ft · All asphalt types · Regional pricing built in · Updated July 2026
Calculate asphalt cost
Thickness (in)
Total landed cost
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range $1,490 to $2,240
Tonnage
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tons · incl. 5% waste
Cubic yards
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Your project covers 800 sq ft. At 3 inches, 1 ton covers about 55 sq ft.
Material pricing estimate based on 2026 US averages. Get a current quote from your local supplier for exact pricing.
Pricing
How much does asphalt cost?
Standard hot mix asphalt costs $100 to $150 per ton for material in 2026. The price moves with crude oil, changes by region, and depends on the mix type and how far the material has to travel from the plant. Cold mix runs $80 to $130 per ton, recycled asphalt millings cost $10 to $55 per ton, and specialty mixes like porous asphalt go higher.
Those are material-only prices. If you are hiring a contractor to install it, the fully installed cost runs $7 to $15 per square foot, which includes labor, base prep, and compaction on top of the material. This page covers the material pricing side. For full installed driveway estimates, use the asphalt driveway cost calculator.
Standard hot mix asphalt (HMA) costs $100 to $150 per ton for material in 2026, before delivery and installation.
By type
Asphalt price per ton (2026)
Asphalt is sold by the ton at the plant and priced differently depending on the mix. Here is what each type costs in 2026 across the US.
| Asphalt type | Price per ton (material) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) | $100 to $150 | Driveways, parking lots, roads. The industry standard |
| Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) | $110 to $160 | Cooler weather installs, longer haul distances |
| Cold Mix Asphalt | $80 to $130 | Pothole repair, patching, temporary fixes |
| Porous Asphalt | $130 to $200 | Drainage-sensitive lots and driveways |
| Recycled Asphalt (RAP / Millings) | $10 to $55 | Budget base layers, rural driveways |
| Colored Asphalt | $150 to $250 | Decorative drives, walkways, bike paths |
Most residential and commercial jobs use hot mix. If a supplier quotes you outside the $100 to $150 range for HMA, ask what mix they are pricing because the type changes the number significantly.
By volume
Asphalt cost per cubic yard
A cubic yard of hot mix asphalt costs $200 to $300 in 2026. One cubic yard weighs roughly 2 tons (about 3,915 pounds at the standard density of 145 pounds per cubic foot), so the per-yard price is roughly double the per-ton price.
One cubic yard of hot mix asphalt costs $200 to $300 in 2026 and weighs roughly 2 tons.
Some suppliers and contractors quote by the cubic yard instead of by the ton, especially for smaller jobs. Use this conversion to compare:
| Unit | HMA price range | How to convert |
|---|---|---|
| Per ton | $100 to $150 | Base unit |
| Per cubic yard | $200 to $300 | Multiply per-ton price by ~2 |
| Per pound | $0.05 to $0.075 | Divide per-ton price by 2,000 |
By area
Asphalt cost per square foot
The cost per square foot depends on how thick the asphalt layer is. A thicker layer uses more material per square foot, so the price goes up.
| Thickness | Material cost per sq ft | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | $1.20 to $1.80 | about 83 sq ft |
| 3 inches | $1.80 to $2.75 | about 55 sq ft |
| 4 inches | $2.45 to $3.65 | about 41 sq ft |
| 6 inches | $3.65 to $5.50 | about 28 sq ft |
These are material costs only. Add $4 to $10 per square foot for labor, base prep, and compaction to get the installed price.
By project
Asphalt cost by project size
Here is what the asphalt material alone costs for common project sizes at 3 inches thick, using a mid-range hot mix price of $100 to $150 per ton.
| Project | Area | Tons needed | Material cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single car driveway (10 × 20) | 200 sq ft | about 3.6 | $360 to $540 |
| 2 car driveway (20 × 30) | 600 sq ft | about 11 | $1,090 to $1,635 |
| Wide driveway (20 × 40) | 800 sq ft | about 14.5 | $1,450 to $2,175 |
| Large driveway (1,000 sq ft) | 1,000 sq ft | about 18 | $1,810 to $2,720 |
| Garden path (3 × 100) | 300 sq ft | about 5.5 | $545 to $815 |
| 10 car parking lot | 3,000 sq ft | about 55 | $5,450 to $8,175 |
| Private road (12 × 100) | 1,200 sq ft | about 22 | $2,175 to $3,265 |
For a full installed estimate that includes labor and base, enter your dimensions in the calculator above or use the asphalt driveway cost calculator.
Bulk buying
Bulk asphalt and truckload pricing
Buying asphalt in bulk lowers the per-ton cost, but most plants have a minimum order of 2 tons for hot mix because the material has to stay at 275°F to 325°F during transport and small loads cool too fast.
| Load size | Material cost | Material + delivery |
|---|---|---|
| 2 tons (minimum) | $200 to $300 | $220 to $340 |
| 10 tons | $1,000 to $1,500 | $1,050 to $1,600 |
| 15 tons (tandem truck) | $1,500 to $2,250 | $1,560 to $2,400 |
| 20 tons (full tandem) | $2,000 to $3,000 | $2,080 to $3,200 |
Delivery typically adds $4 to $10 per ton within 15 to 20 miles of the plant. Beyond that, expect fuel surcharges that climb with distance because the material cools during longer hauls.
Regional
How do asphalt prices change by region?
Asphalt prices vary by region because of three things: proximity to asphalt plants and refineries, local demand and labor costs, and state regulations around recycled material. Southern and Gulf Coast states sit closer to refineries, which lowers transport cost. Northern and West Coast states pay more.
Gulf Coast states (TX, LA, MS) pay $80 to $120 per ton for hot mix asphalt, the lowest in the US, because they sit closest to petroleum refineries.
These are material prices at the plant gate. Delivery and distance add to the total. If you are in a rural area far from a plant, your effective price per ton can be 15% to 25% higher than the ranges above.
| Region | HMA price per ton (material) |
|---|---|
| Gulf Coast (TX, LA, MS) | $80 to $120 |
| Southeast (FL, GA, NC, SC, TN) | $90 to $130 |
| South Central (OK, AR) | $90 to $130 |
| Midwest (OH, MI, IL, IN, WI) | $100 to $145 |
| Mid-Atlantic (PA, VA, MD, NJ) | $110 to $155 |
| Mountain West (CO, AZ, NV, UT) | $100 to $150 |
| Northeast (NY, MA, CT, RI) | $120 to $170 |
| West Coast (CA, WA, OR) | $125 to $180 |
By state
Asphalt cost by state (top 15)
Regional ranges are useful, but the real quote you get depends on your state. Here is what hot mix asphalt costs per ton in the 15 highest-volume paving states in 2026. These are material prices at the plant gate.
| State | HMA per ton (2026) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $80 to $115 | Refinery proximity, high competition |
| Louisiana | $80 to $115 | Gulf refineries, short haul |
| Florida | $90 to $130 | Long paving season, steady demand |
| Georgia | $90 to $125 | Southeast hub, moderate competition |
| North Carolina | $95 to $135 | Growing metro areas, steady supply |
| Tennessee | $95 to $130 | Central logistics, moderate demand |
| Ohio | $100 to $140 | Midwest standard, seasonal paving |
| Michigan | $105 to $145 | Harsh winters drive repave demand |
| Illinois | $105 to $145 | High infrastructure spend, union labor |
| Pennsylvania | $110 to $155 | Northeast pricing, older roads |
| Virginia | $105 to $145 | Mid-Atlantic, DOT volume |
| Colorado | $105 to $150 | Mountain logistics, limited plants |
| New York | $120 to $170 | High cost of everything, strict specs |
| California | $125 to $180 | CalTrans specs, emissions rules, labor cost |
| Washington | $120 to $165 | West Coast premium, rainy season |
If your state is not on this list, use the regional table above or enter your local supplier's quote in the calculator for an exact estimate.
The trend
Asphalt price history (2021 to 2026)
Asphalt prices have climbed roughly 30% since 2021, mostly driven by crude oil swings and infrastructure spending increases under the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). Here is the year over year trend for standard hot mix asphalt.
| Year | HMA per ton (US avg range) | Key driver |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $80 to $110 | Post-pandemic recovery, oil rebounding |
| 2022 | $90 to $130 | Ukraine conflict, crude oil spike |
| 2023 | $95 to $135 | Oil stabilization, supply chain normalization |
| 2024 | $95 to $140 | Steady demand, infrastructure spending ramp |
| 2025 | $100 to $145 | Gradual climb, IIJA funding hitting projects |
| 2026 | $100 to $150 | Current year |
The trend matters for budgeting. If you are planning a project for next year, assume 3% to 5% annual increase and budget accordingly. Locking in a price with a supplier before peak season (July to August) can save you the seasonal markup.
Price drivers
What affects the price of asphalt?
Five things move asphalt prices up or down. Understanding them explains why quotes differ and why prices shift year to year.
1. Crude oil prices
Asphalt is a byproduct of crude oil refining. When crude oil goes up, the liquid asphalt binder that holds the mix together costs more, and that flows straight into the per-ton price at the plant. This is the single biggest driver of year-over-year price changes.
2. Mix type and quality
A basic hot mix for a residential driveway costs less than a high-performance polymer-modified mix for a highway or a porous mix designed for drainage. Recycled asphalt millings are the cheapest option but are only suitable for base layers and rural driveways, not finished surfaces.
3. Distance from the asphalt plant
Hot mix has to stay between 275°F and 325°F during transport. The farther the job is from the plant, the more it costs to haul and the faster the material cools. Jobs within 15 miles of a plant pay the base delivery rate. Jobs 30 miles or more away pay fuel surcharges and may need insulated trucks.
4. Order volume
Small orders (2 to 5 tons) cost more per ton than large orders (15 to 20 tons) because the fixed cost of loading, transporting, and dispatching a truck gets spread across fewer tons. If you can coordinate with a neighbor or time your project with a larger job nearby, you may get a better rate.
5. Season and demand
Paving season runs May through October in most of the US. Plants run at full capacity during summer, and prices sometimes tick up 5% to 10% at peak demand in July and August. Off-season orders (when plants are running slower or shutting down for maintenance) are harder to fill, but some suppliers offer lower prices to keep production going.
Save money
How to get the best price on asphalt
Asphalt pricing is not fixed. Here are five ways to lower your material cost without cutting quality.
- Book in late spring or early fall. May to June and September to October get you off-peak rates. July and August are peak demand and prices tick up 5% to 10%.
- Combine with a neighbor. If two driveways need paving on the same block, sharing a truckload order gets both of you the bulk rate. A full tandem truck (20 tons) costs less per ton than two separate 10 ton orders.
- Ask for a delivered price, not a plant-gate price. A per-ton quote that excludes delivery sounds cheap until the $150 delivery fee hits. Always compare quotes on a delivered basis so you are comparing the same number.
- Use recycled asphalt for the base layer. RAP at $10 to $55 per ton under a hot mix surface layer saves 30% to 50% on base material compared to using hot mix all the way down.
- Get three quotes and compare apples to apples. Make sure every quote uses the same unit (per ton delivered, or per square foot installed) and includes delivery, waste, and tax. The lowest per-ton quote is not always the cheapest job.
Compare units
Asphalt cost per ton vs per square foot: which one to use
Suppliers quote by the ton. Contractors quote by the square foot. Knowing both helps you compare apples to apples.
Use per ton when you are buying material directly from a plant or checking the raw material cost of a project. One ton covers about 55 square feet at 3 inches thick.
Use per square foot when you are comparing contractor quotes, because their price includes material plus labor plus base prep. A contractor quoting $8 per square foot installed is covering everything, while a supplier quoting $125 per ton is covering material only.
The calculator above converts between the two so you can cross-check a contractor's quote against the raw material cost and see exactly how much of the total goes to labor versus material.
All 5 types
Asphalt type cost comparison (all 5 types)
| Factor | Hot Mix (HMA) | Warm Mix (WMA) | Cold Mix | Porous | Recycled (RAP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per ton | $100 to $150 | $110 to $160 | $80 to $130 | $130 to $200 | $10 to $55 |
| Available in bags | No (bulk only, 2 ton min) | No (bulk only) | Yes ($8 to $20 per 50 lb bag) | No (bulk only) | Sometimes |
| Needs hot temperature | Yes (275°F to 325°F) | Yes (lower temp than HMA) | No (apply cold) | Yes | No |
| Durability | 15 to 20+ years | 15 to 20+ years | Temporary (months to a few years) | 10 to 15 years | 5 to 10 years as surface |
| DIY friendly | No | No | Yes | No | Somewhat |
| Best for | Driveways, lots, roads | Cooler weather jobs | Pothole patches, small repairs | Drainage lots, eco builds | Budget base layers, gravel alternatives |
Cold mix is the only fully DIY-friendly option because it does not need to be heated. You can buy a bag at a hardware store and patch a pothole yourself. Hot mix and warm mix require professional equipment and have to be laid within hours of leaving the plant. Porous asphalt costs more upfront but can reduce stormwater management costs on commercial properties.
The method
How to calculate asphalt cost yourself
If you want to check a quote or estimate a project before calling anyone, here is the math.
- 1
Measure the area. Length times width in feet gives you square feet.
- 2
Pick the thickness. Most driveways use 3 inches. Parking lots use 4 to 6 inches.
- 3
Calculate the tonnage. Multiply area times thickness in feet times 145, then divide by 2,000. Example: 800 sq ft at 3 inches = 800 × 0.25 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 14.5 tons.
- 4
Price the material. Multiply tons by your local price per ton. At $125 per ton, that is $1,815.
- 5
Add delivery. Add $4 to $10 per ton. For 14.5 tons, that is $58 to $145.
- 6
Add waste. Add 5% to 10% for compaction and spillage. That bumps 14.5 tons to about 15.2 to 16 tons.
- 7
Total material cost. Tonnage with waste times price per ton plus delivery.
The calculator does all seven steps when you enter your numbers. It also lets you pick the asphalt type and region so the pricing adjusts automatically.
Why this one
Why use this asphalt cost calculator
- All pricing units in one place. See cost per ton, per cubic yard, and per square foot for your exact project, not a generic national average.
- Every asphalt type priced. Toggle between hot mix, cold mix, warm mix, porous, and recycled and see how the price changes.
- Regional pricing built in. Pick your region and the calculator adjusts to local material rates instead of using a one-size-fits-all number.
- Bulk and delivery included. Enter your tonnage and delivery distance and see the total landed cost, not just the plant-gate price.
- Cross-check contractor quotes. Compare your material cost against what a contractor is quoting to see the labor markup.
- Free, instant, no signup. Enter your numbers and get a result in seconds.
Pick your tool
Which calculator should you use?
One tool does not fit every job. Use this quick guide to jump to the right one.
- You want to know what the asphalt material itself costs. You are on the right page. Enter your tonnage or dimensions above.
- You are sizing a new driveway and want tons, yards, and a quick cost. Use the main asphalt calculator for the full tonnage and volume estimate.
- You want a full installed estimate with labor and base. Use the asphalt driveway cost calculator for the complete picture.
- Your supplier quotes in square yards, not square feet. Use the asphalt square yardage calculator to convert cleanly.
- You are sizing a commercial parking lot at 4 to 6 inches. Use the asphalt parking lot calculator for the heavier thickness math.
- Your job is standard hot mix and you want a mix-specific estimate. Use the hot mix asphalt calculator.
If the job crosses two of these, start here for pricing, then click into the specific calculator for the detailed estimate.
For site owners
Embed this calculator on your website (free)
Contractors, suppliers, and home improvement bloggers can add this cost calculator to their own site with one line of code. It stays current with 2026 pricing, does not need maintenance, and gives your visitors a real pricing tool.
What you get: the full cost calculator, mobile responsive, with a small "Powered by Asphalt Calculator" link back to getasphaltcalculator.com. No sign-up, no fee.
<iframe src="https://getasphaltcalculator.com/asphalt-cost-calculator/embed/" width="100%" height="720" frameborder="0" style="border:0;" title="Asphalt Cost Calculator"></iframe>FAQ
Frequently asked questions
14 questions answered
Standard hot mix asphalt costs $100 to $150 per ton for material in 2026. The price depends on the mix type, your region, and how far the material has to travel from the plant. Gulf Coast states pay the least ($80 to $120 per ton) because they sit closer to refineries, while the Northeast and West Coast pay the most ($120 to $180 per ton).
Hot mix asphalt costs $100 to $150 per ton, warm mix costs $110 to $160, cold mix costs $80 to $130, porous asphalt costs $130 to $200, and recycled asphalt millings cost $10 to $55 per ton. The type you need depends on the job. Most driveways and parking lots use hot mix. Cold mix is for patches and small repairs only.
A cubic yard of hot mix asphalt costs $200 to $300 in 2026. One cubic yard weighs about 2 tons at the standard density of 145 pounds per cubic foot. Some suppliers quote by the yard instead of by the ton, so multiply the per-ton price by 2 to compare.
Twenty tons of hot mix asphalt costs $2,000 to $3,000 for material, plus $80 to $200 for delivery depending on distance. That fills a full tandem truck and covers roughly 1,100 square feet at 3 inches thick. At that volume, some suppliers offer a per-ton discount, so ask.
One ton of asphalt covers about 83 square feet at 2 inches thick, 55 square feet at 3 inches, and 41 square feet at 4 inches. Coverage drops as thickness increases because a deeper layer uses more material over the same area. Enter your exact thickness in the calculator for a precise figure.
Multiply the area in square feet by the thickness in feet, multiply by 145, and divide by 2,000 to get the tonnage. Then multiply the tonnage by your local price per ton. For example, 800 square feet at 3 inches needs about 14.5 tons. At $125 per ton, that is roughly $1,815 in material before delivery and waste.
Asphalt prices vary because of crude oil fluctuations, distance from the asphalt plant, mix type, order volume, and seasonal demand. A ton of hot mix can cost $80 in Texas and $180 in California for the same product. Always get a current local quote rather than relying on national averages.
Recycled asphalt millings (RAP) are the cheapest at $10 to $55 per ton. They work well as a base layer or a budget driveway surface in rural areas, but they do not last as long as hot mix and cannot be sealed. For a finished driveway, hot mix at $100 to $150 per ton is the standard.
Cold mix asphalt costs $80 to $130 per ton in bulk, or $8 to $20 per 50-pound bag at a hardware store. It is designed for pothole repair and temporary patches, not for full installations. Cold mix does not need to be heated, which makes it the only DIY-friendly asphalt option.
Yes. Asphalt is a byproduct of crude oil refining, so when crude oil prices rise, the liquid asphalt binder costs more, and that increase flows into the per-ton price at the plant. Over the past decade, asphalt material prices have moved roughly in step with crude, though plant capacity and local demand also play a role.
Asphalt delivery costs $4 to $10 per ton within 15 to 20 miles of the plant. Beyond that, fuel surcharges increase with distance because hot mix has to stay at 275 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit during transport. For a 15-ton order delivered 15 miles, expect $60 to $150 in delivery on top of the material cost.
A full tandem truckload carries 15 to 20 tons and costs $1,500 to $3,000 for material plus $60 to $200 for delivery. Buying a full truckload gives you the best per-ton rate because the fixed dispatch and loading cost is spread across more material.
Prices can tick up 5% to 10% during peak paving season (July and August) when plants run at full capacity and demand is highest. Booking in late spring (May to June) or early fall (September to October) often gets you better pricing and shorter wait times. Off-season (November to April) pricing varies because some plants reduce production or shut down for maintenance.
Hot mix asphalt has risen roughly 30% since 2021, from about $80 to $110 per ton to $100 to $150 per ton in 2026. The biggest jumps came in 2022 when crude oil spiked and in 2024 to 2025 as IIJA infrastructure spending increased demand at plants across the country.
Enter your project dimensions or tonnage above and see the exact cost for your asphalt type and region. Free, instant, no signup.
Every number on this page follows the methodology documented on our About page: 145 lb/ft³ density per the Asphalt Institute MS-2 standard, facts cross-checked against the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Found an error? Email hello@getasphaltcalculator.com.
Last updated July 12, 2026.