How to Estimate Asphalt for a Project

Consider estimating the amount of asphalt needed for a project before making a trip to the hardware store. This prior knowledge will save you money by helping you purchase just what you need. Also, you can avoid extra trips to the store for more material. The volume of asphalt required for a project depends on the physical dimensions of the space to be paved. Asphalt makes a quiet, low maintenance surface for driveways, basketball courts and sidewalks.

Tape measure
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length, width and depth in inches of the space to be paved with asphalt. For example, say you are paving a play area for children of length 180 inches, width 130 inches and depth 2 inches.
- 2
  Convert the dimensions of the space to feet by dividing by 12. Continuing the example, you have a length of 15 feet, a width of 10.8 feet and a depth of 0.17 feet.
- 3
  Multiply the length times the width times the depth to arrive at the volume of asphalt needed in cubic feet. Performing this step yields 15 feet times 10.8 feet times 0.17 feet, or a asphalt volume of 27.5 cubic feet.
- 4
  Change the required asphalt volume for the project to gallons by multiplying by 7.481, because a cubic foot contains 7.481 gallons. Completing the example leads to 27.5 cubic feet times 7.481 gallons per cubic foot, or 205.7 gallons of asphalt needed for the project.

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