Quick Answer: Dense-graded hot mix asphalt (HMA) has a compacted bulk density of 2,300 to 2,400 kg/m³ (143.6 to 149.8 lb/ft³), meaning 1 cubic metre weighs 2.35 metric tonnes (1.98 US short tons per cubic yard). In contrast, loose uncompacted asphalt delivered in trucks weighs 1,500 to 1,750 kg/m³ (94 to 109 lb/ft³). Use our Asphalt Tonnage Calculator or Unit Converter to compute quantities with custom densities.
Asphalt density conversion table
Density is mass divided by volume. Use kg/m³ with cubic metres, or lb/ft³ with cubic feet. The table shows alternative estimating inputs, not an acceptance range for every asphalt mix. Each row represents the same density in different units.
| kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | Metric tonnes/m³ | US short tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2200.00 | 137.34 | 2.200 | 1.854 |
| 2300.00 | 143.58 | 2.300 | 1.938 |
| 2322.68 | 145.00 | 2.323 | 1.958 |
| 2350.00 | 146.71 | 2.350 | 1.981 |
| 2400.00 | 149.83 | 2.400 | 2.023 |
| 2450.00 | 152.95 | 2.450 | 2.065 |
| 2500.00 | 156.07 | 2.500 | 2.107 |
Source: NIST density and mass conversion factors. The examples below are calculated from the stated inputs; they are not supplier specifications.
Which asphalt density should you enter?
Use the supplier’s job mix formula or measured bulk density for the material you are estimating. A general website default is a starting assumption. It cannot replace a project specification, test result, or weighbridge ticket.
Match the density to the volume you measured. A finished pavement area multiplied by finished thickness gives compacted volume. A loader bucket or truck body gives loose volume, including spaces between pieces. Those volumes need different bulk-density inputs.
For a new estimate, record the material description, density, unit, source, and date alongside the dimensions. If the supplier provides a range, calculate both ends. This makes uncertainty visible before someone orders material.
| What you measured | Input to request | Calculation tool |
|---|---|---|
| Finished asphalt layer | Compacted mix bulk density | Asphalt tonnage calculator |
| Stockpiled recycled millings | Bulk density for the delivered condition | Millings calculator |
| Liquid bitumen volume | Product density at the reference temperature | Bitumen density and volume guide |
Worked example: 100 m² of asphalt at 50 mm
A 100 m² area at a finished depth of 50 mm has a volume of 5 m³. With a chosen density of 2,400 kg/m³, the calculated mix weight is 12,000 kg, or 12 metric tonnes. This is the total asphalt mixture, including aggregate and binder.
At 2,300 kg/m³, the same dimensions give 11.5 tonnes. At 2,450 kg/m³, they give 12.25 tonnes. The 0.75-tonne spread comes entirely from the density assumption. A separate allowance for edges or measured irregularities should be recorded explicitly.
Use the square metres to tonnes calculator to repeat the calculation or reverse it into area coverage. For an imperial takeoff, use the square feet to tons calculator and keep short tons separate from metric tonnes.
Common density mistakes and how to avoid them
Mix density is not binder density. Asphalt mixture contains aggregate, binder and air voids. Do not enter liquid bitumen density into a calculation for the entire pavement layer. Use the binder percentage only after finding total mixture mass.
A percentage is not a density unit. “Percent compaction” compares a measured density with a specified reference density. You cannot enter that percentage into a kg/m³ field. Ask for both the actual bulk density and the reference test method.
Compaction changes volume, not the amount of dry material. If you already use compacted thickness and compacted density, adding a blanket compaction multiplier can count the same effect twice. Keep waste allowance and loose-volume conversion as separate assumptions.
Rounded defaults are not equivalent. An estimate using 145 lb/ft³ will differ from one using 2,400 kg/m³. Convert the same density before comparing two calculators. For cubic-yard ordering, see the asphalt tons per cubic yard guide.
Questions and answers
What is asphalt density in kg/m³?
Use your specified mix density. With an estimating input of 2,400 kg/m³, each cubic metre has a mass of 2,400 kg, or 2.4 metric tonnes. This is an assumption for calculation, not a universal asphalt specification.
Is 145 lb/ft³ the same as 2,400 kg/m³?
No. 145 lb/ft³ equals approximately 2,322.68 kg/m³. A density of 2,400 kg/m³ equals approximately 149.83 lb/ft³. Convert the same input when comparing metric and imperial estimates.
How many metric tonnes are in 1 m³ of asphalt?
Divide density in kg/m³ by 1,000. At 2,300 kg/m³, one cubic metre is 2.3 tonnes; at 2,400 kg/m³, it is 2.4 tonnes.
Can I use asphalt density for liquid bitumen?
No. A paving mixture and its liquid binder are different materials. Use product-specific bitumen density at the relevant reference temperature for binder volume-to-mass calculations.