Calculate the exact number of cold patch bags required for your asphalt repair based on dimensions, bag weight, and waste factor.
The calculator rounds up to the nearest whole number to ensure you have enough material.
For a pothole measuring 2 ft by 3 ft with a depth of 2 inches, using 50 lb bags and a 5% waste factor:
The Cold Patch Calculator is a precise planning tool for anyone undertaking asphalt repair projects, from homeowners fixing a single pothole to maintenance crews managing multiple properties. Its primary function is to eliminate the guesswork involved in determining how much cold patch material is needed for a given job. By inputting the dimensions of the repair area, the calculator computes the exact number of bags required, preventing both wasteful over-purchasing and frustrating mid-project material shortages. This tool is essential for efficient project planning, accurate budgeting, and achieving a durable, professional-quality repair.
What sets the Cold Patch Calculator apart is its reliance on practical, real-world data. The calculation is based on the manufacturer-specified compacted yield—the actual volume a bag of material will fill after being properly tamped down. A common industry standard is that a 50 lb bag yields approximately 0.32 cubic feet. Our calculator uses this as a baseline and intelligently adjusts for different bag weights. Furthermore, it incorporates a crucial waste factor, allowing you to account for the inevitable material spillage and the irregular shapes of most potholes. The Cold Patch Calculator also includes a vital application advisory, warning users when a repair's depth exceeds 2 inches and recommending compaction in multiple layers (lifts) to ensure structural integrity.
Using the Cold Patch Calculator is straightforward. It features a robust unit conversion engine that seamlessly handles inputs in both feet and inches, converting them to a consistent internal standard to prevent errors. The output is clear and actionable, providing not just the number of bags but also the total material weight and the final compacted volume. For those interested in the technical aspects of pavement repair, resources from industry bodies like the Asphalt Institute offer in-depth guides, while Wikipedia's article on Asphalt Concrete provides a comprehensive overview of the material itself. By bridging the gap between a problem (a pothole) and the solution (the right amount of material), this tool empowers users to tackle repairs with confidence.
Ultimately, the Cold Patch Calculator serves as a vital first step in any asphalt repair. It ensures you arrive at the job site with the correct quantity of materials, saving time, money, and effort. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional, use this calculator to plan your work accurately and achieve a long-lasting, reliable patch every time.
Explore all remaining calculators in this Maintenance & Repair category.
Explore specialized calculators for your industry and use case.
Compacting in 1-2 inch layers ensures that the entire depth of the patch becomes dense and solid. If you fill a deep hole all at once and only tamp the top, the bottom will remain loose and weak, leading to premature failure of the repair.
A waste factor of 5% to 10% is recommended for most projects. Potholes are rarely perfect rectangles, and some material is always lost to spillage or gets stuck to tools. A higher waste factor is safer for very irregular shapes.
This calculator is highly accurate as it's based on standard material yields provided by manufacturers. The final result depends on the accuracy of your measurements and proper compaction on-site.
No, this calculator is specifically designed for bagged cold patch asphalt. Hot mix asphalt has a very different density and is sold by weight (tons), not by the bag. Use our other asphalt calculators for hot mix projects.