Formula Reference Cards
Core asphalt paving formulas — print and keep on the job site.
PaveRate — Formula Reference
paverate.com
Spread Rate from Thickness
Rate (lbs/SY) = Thickness (in) × 110
- Rate — target spread rate in lbs per square yard
- Thickness — compacted lift thickness in inches
- 110 — empirical factor (lbs/SY per inch)
Ex: 2 in. lift → 2 × 110 = 220 lbs/SY
Spread Rate Placed (Reality Check)
Rate = (Tons − Retention) × 2000 ÷ (L × W ÷ 9)
- Tons — tons delivered (from tickets)
- Retention — material held in paver/shuttle (tons)
- L × W ÷ 9 — area in square yards
- 2000 — lbs per ton
Ex: 22 tons, 14 T retention, 500 ft × 12 ft → (22−14)×2000 / (500×12/9) = 24 lbs/SY
Tonnage to Order
Tons = (L × W ÷ 9) × Rate ÷ 2000 × (1 + Waste%)
- L, W — length and width in feet
- Rate — spread rate in lbs/SY
- 2000 — lbs per ton
- Waste% — overage factor (e.g. 0.05 for 5%)
Ex: 1000 ft × 12 ft @ 220 lbs/SY, 5% waste → (1000×12/9)×220/2000×1.05 = 153.8 tons
Stick Check (Screed Reading)
Loose Height = Compacted Thickness × 1.20
- Loose Height — what the screed reads (inches)
- Compacted Thickness — target after rolling (inches)
- 1.20 — compaction factor (20% oversize)
Ex: 2 in. compacted → 2 × 1.20 = 2.4 in. screed reading
Tack Coat Gallons
Gallons = (L × W ÷ 9) × Shot Rate (gal/SY)
- L, W — length and width in feet
- Shot Rate — application rate in gal/SY
Ex: 500 ft × 12 ft @ 0.07 gal/SY → (500×12/9)×0.07 = 46.7 gal
Feet Remaining from Tons
Feet = Tons × 2000 × 9 ÷ (Width × Rate)
- Tons — tons available (ordered minus placed)
- Width — paving width in feet
- Rate — spread rate in lbs/SY
- 2000 × 9 — converts tons to lbs then to SY-feet
Ex: 10 tons left, 12 ft wide @ 220 lbs/SY → 10×2000×9/(12×220) = 68.2 ft
Area in Square Yards
SY = (Length ft × Width ft) ÷ 9
- Length, Width — dimensions in feet
- 9 — square feet per square yard
Ex: 500 ft × 12 ft ÷ 9 = 666.7 SY
Intersection Area (Two Roads)
Total SY = Road1 SY + Road2 SY − Overlap SY
- Road1 SY = L1 × W1 ÷ 9
- Road2 SY = L2 × W2 ÷ 9
- Overlap SY = W1 × W2 ÷ 9 (box in center, counted once)
Ex: 200×12 + 200×12 − 12×12 (all /9) = 517.3 SY
Quick Constants
1 SY = 9 sq ft
1 Ton = 2,000 lbs
Thickness factor = 110 lbs/SY/in
Stick factor = 1.20× (screed reads 20% high)
Tack — New AC to New AC = 0.05–0.08 gal/SY
Tack — New AC to Milled/Aged = 0.06–0.12 gal/SY
Paver retention = 14 tons (first pass)
Shuttle Buggy retention = 24 tons (first pass)