Bitumen Calculator – Volume, Weight & Drums
Use this tool to estimate how much bitumen you need for paving and surfacing. Enter the project area and thickness, add a waste allowance, and the calculator returns volume in both metric and imperial units, estimated weight, and how many 20 L or 200 L containers to order.
Features
- Supports metric and imperial inputs
- Editable bitumen density for accurate weight
- Waste factor to account for handling losses
- Drum/jerrycan counts for easy ordering
How It Works
The calculator multiplies area by thickness to get volume, applies your waste percentage, then converts to weight using the selected density. Results are shown in m³ and yd³ for volume, and tonnes and short tons for weight.
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FAQs
How do you calculate bitumen quantity?
Area × thickness = volume. Apply waste, then multiply by density to get weight.
What density should I use?
If you don’t have a spec sheet, 1,010–1,050 kg/m³ is typical for paving-grade binders.
Liters to drums?
Divide total liters by your chosen container size (20 L or 200 L) and round up.
Important Estimate Disclaimer
Estimates are intended for general planning only and should not be considered paving or engineering specifications. Actual quantities may vary based on compaction, base preparation, climate, and traffic load.
Refer to our Methodology and Data Sources for calculation assumptions.
Asphalt depth, sub-base stability, and drainage conditions may materially impact performance and required material thickness.