How this calculator works
This is the mirror image of ordering: you know the tonnage a plant quoted and you want the volume it occupies on site. The tool takes a weight in US short tons and a mix density in pounds per cubic foot, and returns cubic yards. That volume is what tells you how many truckloads are coming and whether your excavation or storage has room for them. To go the other way — from a volume you measured to the tons you need to order — use the cubic yards to tons calculator.
The formula
Cubic yards = (Tons × 2,000 ÷ Density) ÷ 27
Cubic feet = Pounds ÷ Density (lb/ft³)
Substitution: at 145 lb/ft³, 1 ton × 2,000 = 2,000 lb; 2,000 ÷ 145 = 13.79 cu ft; 13.79 ÷ 27 = 0.51 cu yd. The 2,000 (pounds per short ton) and the 27 (cubic feet per cubic yard) are exact; only the density is a mix-dependent assumption.
Worked examples
Example 1 — a 20 ton delivery
- Weight:
- 20 US tons
- Mix density:
- 145 lb/ft³ (hot mix)
- To pounds: 20 × 2,000 = 40,000 lb
- To cubic feet: 40,000 ÷ 145 = 275.9 cu ft
- To cubic yards: 275.9 ÷ 27 = 10.2 cu yd
Volume on site: ≈ 10.2 cubic yards
A full tri-axle load of about 20 tons is therefore close to 10 cubic yards of compacted asphalt.
Example 2 — a single ton
- Weight:
- 1 US ton
- Mix density:
- 145 lb/ft³
- To cubic feet: 2,000 ÷ 145 = 13.79 cu ft
- To cubic yards: 13.79 ÷ 27 = 0.51 cu yd
Volume of one ton: ≈ 0.51 cubic yards
Roughly half a cubic yard per ton — the reciprocal of the 'about two tons per yard' shorthand.
Reference data
| Quantity | Equivalent | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| In-place unit weight | 142–148 lb/ft³ | Asphalt Institute; site default 145 |
| 1 US short ton | 13.79 ft³ = 0.51 cubic yards | 2,000 lb ÷ 145 lb/ft³ |
| 1 cubic yard | 3,915 lb = 1.96 tons | 27 ft³ × 145 lb/ft³ |
| 1 ton at 2 in thick | ≈ 82 sq ft coverage | 13.79 ft³ ÷ 0.167 ft |
| 1,000 sq ft at 2 in | ≈ 12.08 tons | 1,000 × 0.167 × 145 ÷ 2,000 |
| 1 in over 1,000 sq ft | ≈ 6.04 tons | 1,000 × 0.083 × 145 ÷ 2,000 |
Key facts
- One US short ton of compacted hot-mix asphalt occupies about 0.51 cubic yards, or 13.79 cubic feet, at 145 lb/ft³.
- Twenty tons of asphalt is roughly 10.2 cubic yards — close to a single tri-axle truckload.
- The Asphalt Institute gives in-place asphalt mixture unit weight as 142–148 lb/ft³; this calculator defaults to 145 lb/ft³.
- The pounds-per-ton (2,000) and cubic-feet-per-cubic-yard (27) factors are exact; only the density is a mix-dependent assumption.
Who should use this and when
Anyone coordinating delivery rather than pricing it reaches for this direction. Site supervisors use it to count truckloads against a quoted tonnage; equipment planners use it to check that a stockpile or excavation has the cubic-yard capacity for the load; and estimators use it to reconcile a plant ticket in tons against a plan drawn in yards. If instead you have surface area and want the tonnage to order, the square feet to tons calculator and the asphalt tonnage calculator take dimensions directly.
Tips and common pitfalls
- This is compacted volume, not loose truck volume. Loose mix in the bed takes up more space than the in-place figure this returns.
- Match the density to the mix. A lighter cold or porous mix yields more cubic yards per ton; do not assume 145 for every product.
- Keep the two divisions in order. Divide by density first (pounds → cubic feet), then by 27 (cubic feet → cubic yards).
- Cross-check truckloads. If the cubic-yard total does not fit a sensible number of loads, re-check the tonnage on the asphalt weight calculator.
Logistic FAQs
How do I convert asphalt tons to cubic yards?+
Multiply tons by 2,000 to get pounds, divide by the density in lb/ft³ (145 for hot mix) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. So 1 ton is 2,000 ÷ 145 ÷ 27 ≈ 0.51 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards are in 1 ton of asphalt?+
About 0.51 cubic yards at the standard 145 lb/ft³ hot-mix density. Put the other way round, one cubic yard is close to two tons, so tonnage is always the larger-looking number.
How many cubic yards is 20 tons of asphalt?+
Roughly 10.2 cubic yards at 145 lb/ft³ (20 × 2,000 ÷ 145 ÷ 27). A full tri-axle load of about 20 tons is therefore close to 10 cubic yards of in-place material.
Why would I convert tons back to cubic yards?+
Suppliers quote and bill in tons, but trucking capacity, storage and excavation are planned in cubic yards. Converting a tonnage back to volume tells you how many truckloads it is and whether it fits the space or equipment you have.
Does the density change for cold mix?+
Cold-mix and porous mixtures can be lighter than dense-graded hot mix, which raises the cubic yards per ton slightly. There is no single standard value, so enter the compacted unit weight your supplier quotes rather than assuming one.
What density should I enter?+
Use 145 lb/ft³ for typical hot-mix asphalt — it sits inside the Asphalt Institute's 142–148 lb/ft³ in-place range. If your supplier gives a different compacted unit weight, type it into the density field for a tighter result.
Related Asphalt Tools
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Asphalt Area CalculatorCalculate the total area of your paving project.
Estimates & assumptions
- The conversion uses cubic yards = (tons × 2,000 ÷ density) ÷ 27, with density defaulting to 145 lb/ft³.
- The result is compacted in-place volume, not the looser volume asphalt occupies in a truck bed.
- The 145 lb/ft³ default sits inside the Asphalt Institute's 142–148 lb/ft³ in-place range; lighter cold or porous mixes yield more volume per ton.
- Truck-capacity figures are typical ranges, not a standard, and do not account for local road-weight limits.
Estimates are for planning only. Confirm mix density and payloads with your supplier and hauler before scheduling deliveries.