How this calculator works
Repairs are usually done with 50 lb bags of cold patch, so the tool converts one patch's length, width and depth into a volume, multiplies by the density for a weight, and divides by the bag weight for a bag count. It also gives the weight in tons, with the waste percentage added, for utility cuts and surface repairs too big for bags.
It takes one patch at a time. For several potholes, run each one, add the pounds and divide by the bag weight once. For a big repair, order hot mix by the ton with the asphalt tonnage calculator; when the whole surface is worn rather than locally damaged, an overlay is usually the better fix.
The formula
Example: a 2 × 2 ft pothole (4 sq ft) at 2 in and 145 lb/ft³ = 4 × (2 ÷ 12) × 145 = 96.7 lb, or about two 50 lb bags. Cold patch is lighter than hot mix, so take its density from the bag's yield (50 lb ÷ 0.5 ft³ = 100 lb/ft³ for QUIKRETE).
Worked examples
Example 1 — a 2 ft × 2 ft pothole, 2 inches deep
- Area:
- 2 ft × 2 ft = 4 sq ft
- Depth:
- 2 in
- Mix density:
- 145 lb/ft³ (hot mix)
- Convert depth: 2 in ÷ 12 = 0.167 ft
- Volume: 4 sq ft × 0.167 ft = 0.667 cu ft
- Weight: 0.667 cu ft × 145 lb/ft³ = 96.7 lb
- Convert to bags: 96.7 lb ÷ 50 = 1.9 bags
Buy: 2 bags of 50 lb patch
Round up to whole bags. Leftover cold patch keeps in the bag for the next pothole.
Example 2 — three potholes in one session, QUIKRETE cold patch
- Hole A:
- 2 × 2 ft, 2 in deep
- Hole B:
- 1 × 1.5 ft, 1 in deep
- Hole C:
- 3 × 3 ft, 3 in deep
- Density:
- 50 lb ÷ 0.5 ft³ = 100 lb/ft³
- Hole A: 4 sq ft × (2 ÷ 12) × 100 = 66.7 lb
- Hole B: 1.5 sq ft × (1 ÷ 12) × 100 = 12.5 lb
- Hole C: 9 sq ft × (3 ÷ 12) × 100 = 225 lb
- Total: 304.2 lb ÷ 50 = 6.1 bags
Buy: 7 bags (not 8)
Rounding each hole up on its own gives 2 + 1 + 5 = 8 bags. Hole C sits at QUIKRETE's limits: 3 inches deep and about 3 × 3 ft, placed in 1-inch lifts.
Cold-patch bag coverage from manufacturer figures (50 lb bag)
| Product | Coverage per bag | Depth and size guidance | Implied density |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUIKRETE Asphalt Cold Patch | ≈ 6 sq ft at 1 in (≈ 0.5 ft³ compacted) | 1–3 in, in 1 in lifts; repairs up to about 3 × 3 ft | 100 lb/ft³ |
| SealMaster PatchMaster | ≈ 5 sq ft at 1 in; 2.5 sq ft at 2 in | Fill ½ in above the surround | 120 lb/ft³ |
| Unique UPM | 10 lb covers 1 sq ft at 1 in, so ≈ 5 sq ft | Not stated on the listing | 120 lb/ft³ |
Key facts
- QUIKRETE rates a 50 lb bag of its cold patch at about 6 square feet at 1 inch deep (about 0.5 cubic feet compacted); SealMaster and Unique UPM list about 5 square feet.
- Dividing a bag's weight by its stated yield gives its density: about 100 lb/ft³ for QUIKRETE cold patch and about 120 lb/ft³ for SealMaster and UPM, against about 145 lb/ft³ for hot mix.
- QUIKRETE specifies cold patch for 1–3 inch depths, placed in 1 inch lifts that are each compacted, and for repairs up to about 3 × 3 feet.
Who should use this and when
This is the tool for a specific, bounded repair — a homeowner filling driveway potholes with bagged cold patch, or a maintenance crew scoping a utility cut. A repair larger than a bag product's size limit is better sized in tons. Once you know the material, price a professional fix with the asphalt repair cost calculator, and if the damage is spreading across the whole surface compare it against a full driveway replacement.
Tips and common pitfalls
- Square-cut the hole first. Clean vertical edges down to a solid base give the new mix a shoulder to bind to; patching over crumbling edges fails fast.
- Compact in lifts. Past 1 inch deep, QUIKRETE says to compact 1-inch layers, then finish about ½ inch proud and tamp flush; SealMaster also says ½ inch.
- Overwrite the density. The 137 lb/ft³ default is above the cold-patch figures in the table; enter bag weight ÷ bag yield instead.
- Sweep out debris. Loose grit stops the patch bonding. Some products also want a dry hole, so read the instructions on the bag.
Repair FAQs
How many bags of asphalt patch do I need?
Work out the repair volume — area in square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) — multiply by the density to get pounds, then divide by the 50 lb bag weight. A 2 × 2 ft pothole 2 inches deep takes about two bags, since manufacturers' figures give roughly 2.5–3 square feet per bag at that depth.
How much area does a 50 lb bag of cold patch cover?
About 5 to 6 square feet at 1 inch deep, per the three manufacturer figures we checked: QUIKRETE 6, SealMaster PatchMaster 5 and Unique UPM 5. Coverage halves when depth doubles, so use the figure printed on your own bag.
What density should I use for cold patch?
Divide the bag weight by its stated yield. QUIKRETE's 50 lb bag yields about 0.5 cubic feet compacted, or 100 lb/ft³; the SealMaster and UPM figures imply about 120. Hot mix is about 145. The calculator's 137 default is higher than all three cold-patch figures, so overwrite it or the bag count runs high.
How do I patch several potholes at once?
Run each hole through the calculator, add the pounds and divide by the bag weight once. Rounding every hole up separately over-buys: holes needing 1.3, 0.25 and 4.5 bags total 6.1, so seven bags rather than eight.
How deep can I fill a pothole with cold patch, and should I overfill?
QUIKRETE specifies 1 to 3 inches, in 1 inch lifts that are each compacted. QUIKRETE and SealMaster both say to fill about ½ inch above the surrounding pavement, then tamp flush. An under-filled patch leaves a dip that holds water.
How should I prepare a pothole before patching?
Square-cut the sides so they are vertical and remove loose material, as QUIKRETE's instructions say. Some products want a dry hole while QUIKRETE says water is displaced, so follow the instructions on your bag.
How much does it cost to patch a pothole?
DIY cold-patch bags are inexpensive, but a professional repair is priced by the area and usually runs more per square foot than full paving because of the hand work. Estimate a professional job with the asphalt repair cost calculator.
More asphalt calculators
Estimates & assumptions
- Material weight is computed as area × (depth ÷ 12) × density; bag counts divide that weight by a 50 lb bag and exclude a compaction allowance.
- Hot mix is taken at 145 lb/ft³, inside the Asphalt Institute's 142–148 lb/ft³ in-place range. Cold-patch products are lighter and vary by product: the three we checked imply 100–120 lb/ft³, and the calculator's 137 default is above that.
- Coverage-per-bag figures come from three manufacturers and are approximate. They depend on the product and on how firmly it is compacted.
- This tool estimates patch material only; it does not assess whether a repair or a full replacement is the right fix.
Estimates are for planning only. Confirm the product's density and coverage on its packaging before buying material.