Pavement Volume Calculator: Free Online Pavement Volume Calculator

Use our free pavement volume calculator to find how much material a paving job requires, in both cubic feet and cubic yards. Enter your length, width, and thickness, and the calculator returns the total area plus volume in the units most asphalt, concrete, and gravel suppliers price by.

How to use this calculator.

1. Enter length and width. Measure the paved area in feet.
2. Enter the thickness. Input the compacted depth of the pavement layer in inches. Standard driveway depth is 3-4 inches; parking lots and roads run thicker.
3. Review your results. The calculator instantly displays area, volume in cubic feet, and volume in cubic yards.
4. Repeat for each layer. Run the calculator separately for the surface course and the base course if you need volumes for both.
5. Convert to weight if you're ordering by the ton. Use our pavement weight calculator with the same dimensions to get a tonnage figure.

How do you calculate pavement volume in cubic yards?

Volume is area multiplied by depth. Since depth is usually measured in inches and area in square feet, the calculator converts depth to feet first, then converts the resulting cubic feet to cubic yards for ordering purposes.

Area (sq ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft)

Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Thickness (in) ÷ 12)

Volume (cu yd) = Volume (cu ft) ÷ 27

Where:

• Length & Width: The dimensions of the paved area, in feet.
• Thickness: The compacted depth of the pavement layer, in inches, divided by 12 to convert to feet before multiplying.
• 27: The number of cubic feet in one cubic yard, the standard unit most concrete and asphalt suppliers quote and deliver by.

Example calculation.

Let's calculate volume for a driveway extension with a thicker section for a parked truck.

Scenario: A 45 ft × 20 ft section, 6 inches thick.

1. Calculate the area: 45 ft × 20 ft = 900 sq ft
2. Convert thickness to feet: 6 in ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
3. Calculate volume in cubic feet: 900 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 450 cu ft
4. Convert to cubic yards: 450 cu ft ÷ 27 = 16.67 cu yd

Result: This section requires approximately450 cu ft, or 16.67 cu yd, of material.

Tips from the field.

• One cubic yard covers about 81 sq ft at 4 inches thick. Use this as a quick mental check on any volume result before ordering.
• Add 5-10% for compaction and waste. Loose material volume and compacted in-place volume aren't identical, and edges and odd shapes always consume a bit more than the geometric calculation.
• Order by cubic yard for concrete, by ton for asphalt.Ready-mix concrete trucks are dispatched by the cubic yard; hot mix asphalt is almost always sold and hauled by the ton, so convert accordingly before placing an order.
• Don't forget the base course volume. A typical cross-section includes 4-8 inches of crushed stone base beneath the surface course; calculate that layer's volume separately.
• Round trucks hold roughly 10-16 cu yd. Knowing your total volume ahead of time helps you plan the number of deliveries and avoid idle truck time on site.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Actual material requirements vary based on site conditions, compaction, and waste. For structural designs or load-bearing applications, consult a licensed civil engineer. PavementCalculator.com assumes no liability for material overages or shortages.