Pavement fails from the bottom up, so the base layer gets its own math. Enter the area and compacted base thickness to get aggregate tonnage in US tons and cubic yards — the two units base suppliers quote in — with an order allowance and a thickness guide for common traffic cases.
Base tons = (Area sq ft × Thickness in ÷ 12) × Unit weight lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000 • Order = Net × (1 + Allowance %)
| Symbol | Variable | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Base area | sq ft | Usually the pavement area; some specs widen the base beyond pavement edges. |
| T | Compacted thickness | in | Thickness after rolling the aggregate, per spec. |
| γ | Unit weight | lb/ft³ | Compacted aggregate density; planning default shown at right of the input. |
| W | Net base weight | US tons | Pounds ÷ 2,000. |
Every number below is produced by the same engine at build time — not typed by hand.
Base to order: 18.24 US tons
Base to order: 99.15 US tons
Common specs: 4–6 in of compacted crushed aggregate for residential driveways, 6–8 in where RVs or heavy pickups park, more for commercial traffic over weak subgrade. The thickness guide above converts each case to tons and cubic yards for your area.
Multiply area × compacted thickness ÷ 12 × unit weight ÷ 2,000. The FHWA Federal Lands estimating table gives 139 lb/ft³ for compacted aggregate base; at that value, 100 sq ft of 6-in base is about 3.5 net tons.
Both appear on tickets depending on the yard. This calculator gives you compacted tons and cubic yards side by side so either quote can be checked. Remember loose truck volume exceeds compacted volume.
Usually not — an existing sound pavement is the base. Mill-and-fill and full-depth replacement projects do; the overlay thickness itself belongs in the square-feet-to-tons converter.