Material takeoff
How much asphalt millings do I need?
Set your finished compacted depth. The result adds the compaction allowance, because loose millings shrink when you roll them.
How the math works
compacted cubic yards = square feet × finished depth ÷ 324
loose cubic yards = compacted × (1 + compaction allowance)
tons = loose cubic yards × density
Millings compact meaningfully under a roller, so a fifteen percent allowance over the finished depth is a reasonable starting point. Density runs around 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, varying with how fine the grind is and how much moisture it holds.
All of these are estimates. Millings are a recycled product and vary between loads more than quarry stone does.
Getting them to set up
Millings bind best when they are warm and compacted. Spread and roll on a hot day and the residual asphalt softens enough to knit the material together. The same load spread in November stays loose much longer.
A vibratory roller does far more than a plate compactor on a driveway-sized area, and it is a worthwhile rental.
They need a base like any other driveway material. Spread over soft ground, millings rut.
Millings do darken and can track onto concrete, especially in the first hot weeks. Keep that in mind where the driveway meets a garage floor or sidewalk.
Where people get it wrong
- Ordering for the finished depth
- Loose material compacts down. Order for loose volume or you will end up thin.
- Spreading without compacting
- Uncompacted millings stay loose and behave like gravel. The compaction is what makes the surface.
- Cold weather placement
- Millings placed in cold weather take much longer to bind, if they bind at all.
- No drainage crown
- Water sitting on any driveway surface shortens its life. Crown the middle or slope to one side.
Background
Recycled asphalt millings are ground-up road surface, sold cheap by the ton. Laid and compacted, they knit into a semi-solid surface that costs a fraction of new asphalt. The calculation has one wrinkle that catches people: the depth you want when you're done is not the depth you order for.
What you need for the job
Common questions
How many tons of asphalt millings do I need?
A 12 by 50 foot driveway at 3 inches compacted is roughly 6.4 cubic yards loose, about 9 to 10 tons. Use the calculator for your dimensions.
How much does a yard of asphalt millings weigh?
Roughly 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, varying with grind size and moisture.
How deep should asphalt millings be?
Three to four inches compacted over a solid base is typical for a residential driveway.
Are asphalt millings cheaper than gravel?
Often comparable per ton, and sometimes cheaper depending on local availability. The advantage is that compacted millings form a firmer, less migratory surface than loose gravel.
Do asphalt millings harden like asphalt?
They knit together when compacted, particularly in warm weather, but they do not cure into a solid mat the way hot-mix asphalt does. Expect a firm, semi-bound surface rather than a paved one.
Measuring by hand is where estimates go wrong
Trace your beds, driveway, or lawn on satellite imagery and the square footage comes straight from the shape you drew. Subtract the house and driveway, map every project on the property at once, and get one combined order list.
Measure my yardFree. No account, no email.
Keep this free
PlotMyYard has no paywall, no signup, and no limits. If it saved you a wasted trip to the supply yard, you can chip in for the hosting — and there is a message box on that page if you have a correction or a material you wish it handled.
Leave a tip