Metric vs Imperial Units in Asphalt Work
Most of the world uses metric (SI) units for engineering. The USA, and sometimes the UK and Australia for older projects, uses imperial units. Our calculator supports both systems.
Length & Area Conversions
| Metric | Imperial | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 metre (m) | 3.2808 feet (ft) | 1 ft = 0.3048 m |
| 1 centimetre (cm) | 0.3937 inches (in) | 1 in = 2.54 cm |
| 1 millimetre (mm) | 0.03937 inches | 1 in = 25.4 mm |
| 1 m² | 10.764 ft² | 1 ft² = 0.0929 m² |
| 1 km | 0.6214 miles | 1 mile = 1.609 km |
Volume Conversions
| Metric | Imperial | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 m³ | 35.315 ft³ | 1 ft³ = 0.02832 m³ |
| 1 m³ | 1.3080 cubic yards (yd³) | 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³ |
| 1 litre | 0.2642 US gallons | 1 US gal = 3.785 L |
Weight Conversions
| Metric | Imperial | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tonne (metric ton) | 2,204.6 lbs | 1 lb = 0.000454 t |
| 1 tonne | 1.1023 short tons (US) | 1 short ton = 0.9072 t |
| 1 tonne | 0.9842 long tons (UK) | 1 long ton = 1.016 t |
| 1 kg | 2.2046 lbs | 1 lb = 0.4536 kg |
Note on US tons: In the USA, "ton" usually means a short ton (2,000 lbs), not a metric tonne (2,204.6 lbs). When buying asphalt in the US, confirm whether prices are per short ton or metric tonne — this is a 10% difference.
Density Conversions
| kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | lb/yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 2,200 | 137.3 | 3,707 |
| 2,320 | 144.8 | 3,910 |
| 2,400 | 149.8 | 4,043 |
| 2,450 | 152.9 | 4,126 |
Typical HMA: 2,320 kg/m³ = 145 lb/ft³ = 3,915 lb/yd³
Common Asphalt Quantity Conversions
Tonnes to cubic yards:
cubic yards = tonnes ÷ density(t/m³) × 1.308
Example: 10 tonnes of HMA (density 2.32 t/m³):
10 ÷ 2.32 × 1.308 = 5.64 cubic yards
Cubic yards to tonnes:
tonnes = cubic yards × density(t/m³) ÷ 1.308
Quick Thickness Reference
| Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|
| 25 mm | 1 inch |
| 38 mm | 1.5 inches |
| 50 mm | 2 inches |
| 75 mm | 3 inches |
| 100 mm | 4 inches |
Our calculator handles all conversions automatically. Select "Imperial (ft / in)" to enter feet and inches.
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