Asphalt Square Yards to Tons Calculator
US state DOTs bid paving in square yards while the material is ordered in tons. This calculator converts between them at any thickness, explains where the 0.0605 factor comes from and why some agencies use 0.055 instead.
Square yards to tons calculator
Select "Known area" as the shape and enter your figure in square yards after switching to imperial — or enter the dimensions directly and the calculator reports square yards alongside square feet.
The conversion factor
1 square yard × 1 inch of dense-graded hot mix = 0.0605 US short tons.
Derivation: 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft. At 1 inch thick that is 9 × (1÷12) = 0.75 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ that is 108.75 lb, which is 0.0544 tons. The commonly used 0.0605 figure corresponds to a slightly heavier assumed density near 161 lb/ft³ and builds in a margin; the more conservative 0.0544 figure is the strict arithmetic result. Several state DOTs standardise on 110 lb per square yard per inch, which gives 0.055 tons.
Use your DOT's stated factor for bid work. For ordering, use the calculator above, which applies your actual mix density.
Square yards to tons reference
| Square yards | 1" thick | 1.5" | 2" | 2.5" | 3" | 4" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 5.4 t | 8.2 t | 10.9 t | 13.6 t | 16.3 t | 21.8 t |
| 250 | 13.6 t | 20.4 t | 27.2 t | 34.0 t | 40.8 t | 54.4 t |
| 500 | 27.2 t | 40.8 t | 54.4 t | 68.0 t | 81.6 t | 108.8 t |
| 1,000 | 54.4 t | 81.6 t | 108.8 t | 136.0 t | 163.1 t | 217.5 t |
| 2,500 | 136.0 t | 204.0 t | 272.0 t | 339.9 t | 407.9 t | 543.9 t |
| 5,000 | 272.0 t | 407.9 t | 543.9 t | 679.9 t | 815.9 t | 1,087.8 t |
| 10,000 | 543.9 t | 815.9 t | 1,087.8 t | 1,359.8 t | 1,631.7 t | 2,175.6 t |
Dense-graded hot mix at 145 lb/ft³, strict arithmetic (0.0544 t per sq yd per inch), before any waste buffer.
Square yards per ton
| Thickness | Sq yd per ton | Sq ft per ton | m² per tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 18.4 | 165.5 | 18.6 |
| 1.5" | 12.3 | 110.3 | 12.4 |
| 2" | 9.2 | 82.8 | 9.3 |
| 2.5" | 7.4 | 66.2 | 7.4 |
| 3" | 6.1 | 55.2 | 6.2 |
| 4" | 4.6 | 41.4 | 4.6 |
| 6" | 3.1 | 27.6 | 3.1 |
Area unit conversions
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Square yards | Square feet | 9 |
| Square feet | Square yards | 0.1111 |
| Square yards | Square metres | 0.83613 |
| Square metres | Square yards | 1.19599 |
| Square feet | Square metres | 0.09290 |
| Square metres | Square feet | 10.7639 |
| Acres | Square feet | 43,560 |
| Acres | Square yards | 4,840 |
| Hectares | Square metres | 10,000 |
Working from a DOT bid schedule
Highway resurfacing contracts are typically written with the asphalt pay item in tons and the surface preparation items in square yards, so you end up converting in both directions within a single bid.
| Typical pay item | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milling existing pavement | Square yards | Sometimes SY-inch for variable depth |
| Tack coat | Gallons or square yards | Rate stated as gal/SY residual |
| Superpave surface course | Tons | Converted from SY × depth × factor |
| Superpave intermediate course | Tons | Same |
| Aggregate base | Tons or cubic yards | Varies by state |
| Pavement markings | Linear feet or each | |
| Traffic control | Lump sum or per day |
Two cautions when bidding. First, use the DOT's own conversion factor for the pay quantity even if you believe it is slightly off — the contract quantity is what you get paid on. Second, order against your actual mix density, which may differ from the contract factor, so track both numbers separately.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert square yards to tons of asphalt?
Multiply square yards by the thickness in inches and by 0.0605 for dense-graded hot mix. 1,000 sq yd at 2 inches is 1,000 × 2 × 0.0605 = 121 tons.
How many tons is 1 square yard of asphalt?
0.0605 tons per inch of thickness. At 2 inches that is 0.121 tons; at 4 inches, 0.242 tons.
How many square yards will a ton of asphalt cover?
16.5 sq yd at 1 inch, 8.3 sq yd at 2 inches, 5.5 sq yd at 3 inches and 4.1 sq yd at 4 inches.
Why do DOTs bid asphalt in square yards?
Because paving is a surface operation and the pay quantity that matters for a resurfacing contract is the area covered at a specified thickness. It also makes bids directly comparable regardless of the mix density each contractor proposes.
How many square feet in a square yard?
9. One square yard is a 3 × 3 ft square. To convert square feet to square yards, divide by 9.
What is the SY to tons conversion factor?
0.0605 tons per square yard per inch for dense-graded hot mix at 145 lb/ft³. Some specifications use 110 lb per square yard per inch, which works out to 0.055 tons — a slightly more conservative figure used by several DOTs.
How do I convert square yards to square metres?
Multiply by 0.8361. Going the other way, multiply square metres by 1.196.
Sources and further reading
Related calculators and guides
Tonnage calculator
General tonnage from dimensions.
How to calculate
The underlying formulas.
Cost calculator
Bid pricing.
Density guide
The density behind the factor.