Material calculator
Asphalt Millings Calculator
Recycled asphalt millings are the cheapest way to harden a driveway. Work out tonnage, cubic yards and installed cost here.
Your project
Residential driveways are usually 2-3". Truck traffic needs 4" or more.
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Millings usually cost $12–$40 per ton, and some crews give them away if you haul them.
Asphalt millings needed
10.67
US tons
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 5.93 cubic yards
- Material cost
- $267
- Installed cost range (pro)
- $960 – $2,400
- Truckloads (20-ton)
- 1
Millings compact best when laid warm and rolled. Expect roughly 20% settlement if you spread them loose and let traffic do the work.
What are asphalt millings?
Millings are old asphalt pavement that has been ground up during a resurfacing job. The material still contains its original bitumen binder, so once it is spread and compacted — ideally in warm weather — it re-binds into a semi-solid surface.
They cost a fraction of new hot mix, typically $12–$40 per ton against $100–$200 for virgin asphalt, which makes them the default choice for long rural driveways, farm lanes and overflow parking.
How thick should millings be?
Plan on 3–4 inches compacted over a stable base for a driveway, and 4–6 inches if trucks or tractors will use it. Anything under 3 inches tends to rut and scatter.
Millings weigh less than virgin hot mix — about 127 lb/ft³ compacted versus 145 — because the grinding process introduces voids that never fully close.
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of millings do I need per square foot?
At 4 inches compacted, one ton of millings covers about 47 square feet. A 1,000 sq ft driveway needs roughly 21 tons.
+Do asphalt millings harden like real asphalt?
Partially. The residual binder reactivates in warm weather and under compaction, producing a firm surface, but it never reaches the strength or smoothness of new hot mix.
+Are millings cheaper than gravel?
Per ton they are often similar to or cheaper than crushed stone, and they hold together far better, so they resist washout and produce less dust.