How this calculator works
The calculator multiplies the length and width of each rectangle you enter and adds the rectangles together into one total in square feet. Breaking a project into rectangles is how almost every driveway, parking lot or path gets measured: a real site is rarely one clean rectangle, but it is nearly always a set of them.
Area is the first number in any paving estimate. Once you have it, add a thickness and a density to get material: carry the total into the asphalt tonnage calculator for tons, or the asphalt volume calculator for cubic yards.
The formula
Area (sq ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft)
Total area = Section 1 + Section 2 + … + Section n
Square yards = Square feet ÷ 9 Square meters = Square feet × 0.0929
Example: a 50 ft × 12 ft run is 600 sq ft; a 20 ft × 20 ft pad is 400 sq ft; together 1,000 sq ft, or 111.1 sq yd. A square yard is 9 sq ft, and one foot is exactly 0.3048 m, so 1 sq ft = 0.0929 m².
Worked examples
Example 1 — an L-shaped driveway in two sections
- Section 1 (main run):
- 50 ft × 12 ft
- Section 2 (parking pad):
- 20 ft × 20 ft
- Section 1 area: 50 ft × 12 ft = 600 sq ft
- Section 2 area: 20 ft × 20 ft = 400 sq ft
- Sum the sections: 600 + 400 = 1,000 sq ft
Total area: 1,000 sq ft
Subtract any area you are not paving — a planted island or an existing slab — before moving on to tonnage.
Example 2 — converting the total into supplier units
- Total area:
- 1,000 sq ft
- To square yards: 1,000 ÷ 9 = 111.11 sq yd
- To square meters: 1,000 × 0.0929 = 92.90 m²
Area: 111.11 sq yd (92.90 m²)
Suppliers who quote sealcoat or spread rate per square yard need the square-yard figure, not square feet.
Reference data
| Square feet | Square yards | Square meters |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 11.11 sq yd | 9.29 m² |
| 500 sq ft | 55.56 sq yd | 46.45 m² |
| 1,000 sq ft | 111.11 sq yd | 92.90 m² |
| 2,000 sq ft | 222.22 sq yd | 185.81 m² |
| 5,000 sq ft | 555.56 sq yd | 464.52 m² |
| Area | Tons at 2 in | Tons at 3 in |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 6.04 tons | 9.06 tons |
| 1,000 sq ft | 12.08 tons | 18.13 tons |
| 2,000 sq ft | 24.17 tons | 36.25 tons |
Key facts
- Asphalt area equals length times width in feet for each section, added together for complex shapes.
- There are 9 square feet in one square yard, so square yards equal square feet divided by 9.
- One square foot is 0.0929 square meters, because one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters.
- At 145 lb/ft³, 1,000 square feet of asphalt at 2 inches needs about 12 US tons before waste.
Who should use this and when
Anyone measuring a site before ordering material starts here. Homeowners use it to size a driveway or patio; contractors use it to price sealcoating and paving, both of which are quoted per unit area. Because area feeds directly into quantity, an accurate total here is what keeps a later tonnage estimate honest. When your shape is a single rectangle you want by the more common search term, the asphalt square footage calculator is the same tool; when you know the thickness, jump to the asphalt driveway calculator.
Tips and common pitfalls
- Measure to the paved edge. Include only the surface that will be asphalt; leave out curbs, planted islands and existing slabs.
- Break curves into rectangles. Approximate a curved edge with a few rectangles rather than guessing one dimension for the whole shape.
- Keep every measurement in feet. Mixing feet and inches across sections is the easiest way to land a wrong total.
- Divide by 9 for square yards, not by 3. A square yard is 9 square feet — a common slip when converting for a supplier quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the area of an asphalt project?+
Multiply length by width in feet for each rectangular section, then add the sections together. A 50 ft × 12 ft driveway is 600 sq ft; add a 20 ft × 20 ft pad and the total is 1,000 sq ft. The calculator sums the sections for you.
What is the difference between area and square footage?+
None — they are the same thing. Area measured in feet is reported in square feet, which people call square footage. This calculator and our square footage calculator return the same number for the same dimensions.
How many square feet are in a square yard?+
There are 9 square feet in one square yard, because a square yard is 3 ft × 3 ft. Divide square feet by 9 to get square yards — the unit many asphalt and sealcoat suppliers quote in.
How do I find the area of an irregular or L-shaped driveway?+
Break the shape into simple rectangles, measure each one, calculate its area, and add them. Subtract any areas you are not paving, such as a planted island. Add the sections in the calculator to get a single total.
How do I convert square feet to square meters?+
Multiply square feet by 0.0929, since one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters. So 1,000 sq ft is 92.9 square meters. To go the other way, multiply square meters by 10.764.
How does the area affect how much asphalt I need?+
Area is the base of every quantity estimate: material equals area times thickness times density. At 145 lb/ft³, each 1,000 sq ft needs about 6 US tons per inch of thickness, so doubling the area doubles the tonnage.
Related Asphalt Tools
Calculate total project area. Sum multiple rectangular sections.
Asphalt Thickness CalculatorConvert asphalt thickness from inches to feet and meters.
Asphalt Tonnage CalculatorCalculate required hot mix asphalt tonnage for any paving project.
Asphalt Driveway Cost CalculatorEstimate costs for a new asphalt driveway.
Asphalt Volume CalculatorCalculate asphalt volume in cubic yards, feet, or meters.
Asphalt Weight CalculatorConvert asphalt volume to tons using standard density.
Estimates & assumptions
- Area is computed as length × width per rectangular section, summed into a total in square feet.
- Unit conversions are exact: square yards = square feet ÷ 9, and 1 sq ft = 0.0929 m² (1 ft = 0.3048 m, NIST SP 811).
- Tonnage figures shown for context use 145 lb/ft³ and exclude waste; confirm your mix density before ordering.
- This tool measures flat plan area only; it does not account for slope, thickness, or base preparation.
Estimates are for planning only. Verify site measurements before ordering material.