How to Calculate for Asphalt

Consider calculating the amount of asphalt required for a project before making material purchases to saver time and money. Knowing the amount, or volume, of asphalt needed before beginning a job keeps you from purchasing too much or too little of the paving compound. The volume of asphalt needed depends on the physical dimensions of the space to be paved. For example, a driveway should have an asphalt depth of at least 2 inches. Asphalt provides a weather resistant and quiet surface for a variety of applications including basketball courts and sidewalks.

Tape measure
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure, in inches, the length, width and depth of the space to be paved with asphalt. For example, a sidewalk project might have a length of 150 inches, a width of 50 inches and a depth of 2 inches.
- 2
  Multiply the length by the width by the depth to obtain the volume of asphalt required in cubic inches. Performing this step, for example, leads to 150 inches times 50 inches times 2 inches, or a volume of 15,000 cubic inches.
- 3
  Divide the volume by 231 to convert to gallons, because a single gallon equals 231 cubic inches. Completing the example, you arrive at 15,000 cubic inches divided by 231 cubic inches per gallon, or an asphalt amount of 64.9 gallons.

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