New Jersey Asphalt Calculator
Bitumen and aggregate estimation aligned with NJDOT specifications and I-5/I-2/I-19 mix design requirements.
Active Mathematical Formula
The calculator uses the following formula to determine asphalt volume and material quantities.
Estimation Results
Calculated material quantities based on your inputs.
BETTER
ROADS
(Length × Width)
(L × W × T)
(Assuming 5.6%)
(Assuming 5.6% binder)
NJDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Section 401 (Hot Mix Asphalt) and I-19 (Intermediate Course) mix designs.
Humid continental climate — uses PG 64-22 for most regions; coastal areas may use PG 70-22 for high-traffic routes.
Asphalt in New Jersey typically runs $140–$300/tonne depending on location and specification.
New Jersey Mix Standards
Typical values for common NJDOT pavement mix designs.
| Mix Type | Bitumen Content (%) | Density (kg/m³) | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-5 Surface Course (9.5mm) | 5.5–7.0 | 2290–2370 | NJDOT Section 401 |
| I-2 Intermediate (19mm) | 5.0–6.0 | 2300–2390 | NJDOT |
| I-19 Base Course | 4.0–5.5 | 2310–2400 | NJDOT base |
| OGFC | 5.5–7.0 | 1850–2050 | NJDOT noise-reducing |
Asphalt Tonnage for New Jersey's High-Traffic Roads
New Jersey packs enormous traffic onto a dense road network — the Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and the I-95 approaches all demand rut-resistant, durable pavement. NJDOT uses Superpave mixes with binder grades stepped up for heavy truck loading, and the state's humid summers and freezing winters mean surface mixes have to tolerate a wide temperature swing. For contractors bidding public work or paving commercial lots in the corridor, precise quantity take-offs keep budgets and bids honest.
Budget the binder grade, not just the tonnage. Polymer-modified PG 76-22 is specified on a lot of high-traffic New Jersey sections and it costs meaningfully more per tonne than a standard grade. On a large resurfacing that difference is not a rounding error.
Enter dimensions, pick the surface or base mix, and read the tonnage, the composition breakdown and a cost in USD. Verify density and binder content against the approved mix design, and add an allowance for waste and compaction.
New Jersey Asphalt Tonnage Formula
NJDOT projects use imperial units. This calculator accepts both imperial and metric inputs and converts internally to produce accurate short-ton results aligned with NJDOT Section 401 quantity standards.
Calculate Volume (ft³)
Convert thickness from inches to feet (÷ 12), then multiply all dimensions. Example: A 500 ft NJ arterial road section, 36 ft wide (three 12-ft lanes), with a 1.5-inch I-19 surface course: 500 × 36 × (1.5 ÷ 12) = 2,250 ft³.
Convert to Short Tons
Multiply volume by density and divide by 2,000. At 145 lb/ft³: 2,250 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 163.1 short tons. Add 5% waste = order about 172 tons. NJDOT mix designs report 2,290–2,370 kg/m³, which is exactly where 145 lb/ft³ comes from — switch to the JMF figure once you have it.
Separate Bitumen & Aggregate
Apply the I-19 binder content from the NJDOT mix design. At 5.6%: 163.1 × 0.056 = 9.1 tons bitumen (PG 64-22 for most NJ roads, PG 70-22 on Turnpike and high-traffic routes) and 163.1 × 0.944 = 154.0 tons aggregate. SMA mixes use 6.0–7.5% binder at premium cost.
New Jersey has some of the highest vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per lane-mile in the US, particularly on the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and I-78/I-80 corridors. NJDOT specifies polymer-modified mixes (I-19CM or SMA) with PG 70-22 binder on these high-stress routes to resist rutting under heavy truck loads. Always confirm mix type and binder grade with the NJDOT project special provisions — using a standard mix on a high-traffic route will result in premature rutting failure.
What the binder grade does to a New Jersey estimate
Two mixes can produce near-identical tonnage and quite different invoices. The variable is usually the binder.
| Item | Standard grade | Polymer-modified |
|---|---|---|
| Typical binder grade | PG 64-22 | PG 76-22 |
| Where it is specified | Most county and municipal work | Turnpike, Parkway, heavy-truck corridors |
| Binder content (I-19 surface) | ~5.6% | ~5.6% |
| Tonnage for the same job | Effectively identical | |
| Delivered cost per tonne | Baseline | Higher — the premium sits in the binder |
Work it through on the 163-tonne example above. Binder at 5.6% is about 9.1 tonnes of the order. The tonnage does not care which grade you specify, but the price of those 9.1 tonnes does, and a polymer-modified grade carries a real premium over a neat binder.
So an estimate that only reports tonnage is incomplete on any job where the grade is in question. Get the specified grade confirmed before you price, not after. On a bid this is the difference between a margin and an explanation.
Binder pricing moves with the crude market and with haul distance from the terminal, which is why no figure is quoted here. Ask your supplier for the current differential between the two grades.
Specifications behind these numbers
Mix designations, binder grades and densities on this page trace back to the state specification and to the Asphalt Institute. Your district may amend any of it, and your approved Job Mix Formula overrides all of it.
- NJDOT — Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction
- Asphalt Institute, MS-2 Asphalt Mix Design Methods, 7th edition
- ASTM D2041/D2041M-19 — Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity and Density of Asphalt Mixtures (the Rice test)
- ASTM D2726/D2726M-21 — Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Non-Absorptive Compacted Asphalt Mixtures
Mix tables checked against the specifications above in July 2026. Any cost figures quoted are indicative only and date quickly — treat them as a sanity check on a quote, never as a quote. See our editorial policy for how these values are sourced and reviewed, and the disclaimer for the limits of these estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What asphalt mix types does NJDOT use?
New Jersey DOT uses a mix designation system based on aggregate size: I-5 (fine graded surface mix), I-19 (9.5 mm surface), I-19CM (polymer-modified for high-traffic), and 9.5 mm or 12.5 mm Superpave for state highways. Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) is used on heavily trafficked interstates. NJDOT Standard Specifications cover all material and compaction requirements.
How much does asphalt paving cost in New Jersey?
New Jersey asphalt prices range from $100–$190 per ton for standard mixes. Northern NJ and areas near New York City tend to be at the higher end due to labor and equipment costs. Residential driveway paving typically runs $4–$9 per square foot installed in New Jersey. The state's dense suburban development means short haul distances from asphalt plants, which helps keep material prices competitive.
Does New Jersey require RAP (recycled asphalt) in new mixes?
Yes. NJDOT Standard Specifications allow and in some cases require Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) content in new mix designs. RAP percentages of 15–30% are common in base and intermediate courses, reducing material costs and environmental impact. Surface courses may contain up to 15% RAP under standard specs, with higher percentages allowed with special approval and additional testing.
What is the difference between NJDOT I-5 and I-19 asphalt mixes?
Both are dense-graded hot mix asphalt surface courses under NJDOT specifications, but they differ in aggregate gradation and texture. I-19 (also called 9.5 mm Superpave in newer NJDOT specs) has a 9.5 mm nominal maximum aggregate size — it produces a smoother, finer surface texture and is commonly used on local roads, residential streets, and driveways where a smooth ride and fine appearance are priorities. I-5 is a finer-graded surface mix with smaller aggregate, producing an even smoother finish, often used for top lifts on high-volume roads and parking lots where a tight surface texture is desired. I-2 (12.5 mm intermediate) and I-19 base course are used for lower pavement layers. For high-traffic state routes and the Turnpike, SMA-9.5 or I-19CM (polymer-modified) provides superior rutting resistance.
How many tons of asphalt for a New Jersey driveway?
A typical New Jersey residential driveway (50 ft × 10 ft = 500 sq ft) with a 2-inch I-19 surface course: 500 × (2/12) × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 4.6 short tons. With 5% waste = order approximately 4.8 tons. Most NJ residential driveways also have an existing base — if you're doing a full replacement with a new 4-inch base, add another 9.2 tons for the base layer. For a wider driveway (12 ft × 60 ft at 2 inches) = approximately 6.6 tons surface course. The Square Feet Calculator is ideal for quick driveway estimates.
What is Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) and when does NJDOT use it?
Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) is a gap-graded mix with a high coarse aggregate skeleton and a rich, fiber-stabilized bituminous mortar that fills the voids. It was developed in Germany and widely adopted in the US for high-traffic highways. SMA has superior rutting resistance (due to stone-on-stone contact), excellent durability, and good wet-weather skid resistance. NJDOT specifies SMA-9.5 and SMA-12.5 on heavily trafficked interstates, the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and select primary routes where conventional dense-graded mixes cannot withstand the heavy truck loads without rutting. SMA uses 6.0–7.5% binder content (higher than standard mixes) and requires cellulose or mineral fiber to prevent binder drain-down. It typically costs 20–35% more than standard dense-graded surface mixes.
Why is asphalt so expensive in the North Jersey / NYC metro area?
North New Jersey and the New York City metro corridor consistently have the highest asphalt installed costs in the country for several reasons: (1) Labor costs — union prevailing wages on public works projects in NJ are among the highest in the US; (2) Traffic management — dense urban road networks require extensive night paving, traffic control setups, and shorter working windows, increasing crew costs per ton placed; (3) Permitting and compliance — NJDEP, local municipal, and county approvals add project overhead; (4) Equipment mobilization — congested urban environments increase equipment time and haul costs; (5) Premium mix specifications — polymer-modified and SMA mixes required on major routes carry material cost premiums. Material-only prices are actually competitive due to proximity to major asphalt plants, but installed costs of $5–$9/sq ft for residential work reflect the full labor and overhead burden.
Where New Jersey Asphalt Calculations Are Used
From NJ Turnpike resurfacing to dense suburban road networks and residential driveway paving, accurate NJDOT-compliant tonnage estimates drive project budgeting across the Garden State.
NJ Turnpike & GSP Resurfacing
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority use SMA and polymer-modified I-19CM calculations for major resurfacing contracts. These high-traffic, high-speed routes carry among the heaviest truck loads in the northeast, requiring premium mix designs with accurate tonnage estimates for procurement planning and contractor payment verification based on certified plant tickets.
Related: Asphalt Tonnage Calculator
Suburban Municipal Road Networks
New Jersey's 565 municipalities maintain dense road networks of local streets, collector roads, and county routes. DPW superintendents and municipal engineers estimate annual I-5 and I-19 tonnage for road resurfacing budgets, mill-and-fill programmes, and ADA ramp reconstruction. The state's Local Aid programme funds many of these projects, requiring quantity justification in NJDOT-compliant formats.
Related: Asphalt Cost Calculator
Residential Driveways & Parking Lots
Homeowners and commercial property managers across New Jersey estimate I-19 or I-5 surface tonnage for driveways, HOA roads, and parking lots. North Jersey's higher labor costs push installed prices to $5–$9/sq ft. Tack coat between a new surface lift and an existing base is required — use the Tack Coat Calculator to estimate emulsion quantities for the bonding layer.
Related: Tack Coat Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Project Dimensions
Input the length, width, and compacted asphalt thickness. NJDOT I-19 (9.5 mm surface) is typically placed at 1.5 inches; 12.5 mm intermediate at 2–3 inches. New Jersey's high-traffic density requires robust pavement sections — residential driveways typically use 2 inches of surface course over a 4-inch base.
Select NJDOT Mix Type
Choose the appropriate New Jersey DOT mix — I-5 (fine surface), I-19 (surface), or 9.5 mm Superpave. New Jersey's humid continental climate and heavy truck traffic on interstates like the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway require PG 64-22 binder with a high traffic level (4E10+) specification for most highway projects.
Add Cost & Calculate
Enter the current New Jersey asphalt price per ton (typically $100–$190/ton in the northern NJ/NYC metro corridor). Click Calculate for total tonnage, bitumen and aggregate quantities, and cost estimate. New Jersey's proximity to multiple major asphalt plants keeps prices competitive.