Hot Mix Asphalt Price Per Ton
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Hot Mix Asphalt Price Per Ton
Hot mix asphalt (HMA) costs between $85 and $160 per ton in the United States as of 2024, with a national average of roughly $110–$125 per ton for standard binder and surface mixes. Regional pricing varies sharply: contractors in the Northeast and West Coast typically pay $130–$160 per ton, while the Midwest and Southeast see prices of $85–$115 per ton. Delivery distance, mix design (binder vs. wearing course), and order volume above 500 tons can shift the final figure by 20–35%.
What Drives the Hot Mix Asphalt Price Per Ton
The price of HMA is not a single fixed number. It is the sum of raw materials, plant operations, hauling, and market conditions — and each input moves independently. Understanding these levers helps contractors and procurement managers benchmark quotes and negotiate from data rather than guesswork.
Aggregate and asphalt binder make up 85–92% of the total HMA cost per ton.
| Component | Share of Total Cost | 2024 Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate (stone, sand, gravel) | 40–50% | $12–$28 per ton |
| Asphalt binder (PG 64-22, etc.) | 35–45% | $450–$650 per ton |
| Additives (polymers, fibers, warm-mix) | 3–8% | $8–$25 per ton of mix |
| Plant fuel and electricity | 5–10% | $6–$14 per ton of mix |
Asphalt binder is the most volatile input. A $50 per ton move in binder price translates to roughly $2.75–$3.25 per ton change in finished HMA, since binder is about 5.5–6.5% of mix weight. When crude oil prices spike — as in mid-2022 when Brent crossed $120/barrel — binder contracts reprice within 30–60 days, and HMA quotes follow.
Location matters more than most buyers expect. The table below shows 2024 average HMA prices for a standard 12.5mm surface mix, picked up at the plant (FOB) versus delivered.
| Region | FOB Plant ($/ton) | Delivered ($/ton) | Typical Haul Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (NY, NJ, MA) | $125–$150 | $140–$170 | 20–40 miles |
| Mid-Atlantic (PA, VA, MD) | $105–$130 | $120–$145 | 15–35 miles |
| Southeast (GA, FL, TN) | $85–$110 | $100–$125 | 20–50 miles |
| Midwest (OH, IL, MI) | $90–$115 | $105–$130 | 15–40 miles |
| South Central (TX, OK, AR) | $88–$112 | $102–$128 | 25–60 miles |
| Mountain (CO, UT, AZ) | $100–$125 | $118–$145 | 30–70 miles |
| West Coast (CA, OR, WA) | $135–$160 | $155–$185 | 20–50 miles |
The West Coast premium reflects stricter air-quality rules that raise plant operating costs, plus limited refinery capacity for specification-grade binder. The Southeast advantage comes from abundant aggregate quarries and lower fuel and labor costs.
Not all HMA is priced the same. The mix design — aggregate gradation and binder content — changes both material cost and performance requirements.
- Binder course (19mm or 25mm): $85–$125 per ton. Lower binder content (4.5–5.5%), coarser aggregate.
- Surface course (9.5mm or 12.5mm): $105–$150 per ton. Higher binder content (5.5–6.5%), finer aggregate, often polymer-modified.
- Stone matrix asphalt (SMA): $140–$190 per ton. Premium polymer binder, gap-graded aggregate, used on high-traffic interstates.
- Warm mix asphalt (WMA): $95–$140 per ton. 20–40°F lower production temperature, 10–15% fuel savings, increasingly price-competitive with HMA.
A typical two-lane road resurfacing project uses both binder and surface course. A 1-mile, 24-foot-wide road at 1.5-inch compacted thickness needs about 1,200–1,400 tons per lift. At a blended $115 per ton, that is $138,000–$161,000 in material alone — before milling, trucking, paving, and compaction.
How Tonnage and Project Size Affect Price
Volume discounts are real in asphalt. Plants quote differently for a 50-ton patch job versus a 5,000-ton highway contract.
| Order Size | Typical Discount vs. List | Price per Ton (Surface Mix) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 tons (small patch) | 0% (often +10–20% surcharge) | $130–$180 |
| 50–500 tons | 0–5% | $110–$150 |
| 500–2,000 tons | 5–12% | $100–$135 |
| 2,000–10,000 tons | 10–18% | $92–$125 |
| Over 10,000 tons (state DOT) | 15–25% | $85–$115 |
Small orders carry a premium because the plant still has to fire up, run a batch, and clean out — fixed costs spread over fewer tons. A 20-ton driveway repair might be quoted at $160–$200 per ton delivered. State DOT contracts, by contrast, lock in annual prices through sealed bids and routinely land 15–25% below retail.
Asphalt is seasonal in most of the U.S. Plants in cold-weather states run April through November; in the Sun Belt, they run nearly year-round but slow in the hottest weeks.
- Peak season (June–September): Prices at their highest, $10–$20 per ton above spring. Plants are booked 2–4 weeks out.
- Shoulder season (April–May, October): 5–10% lower, better scheduling availability.
- Off-season (December–March, northern states): Plants may be idle, and hot mix cannot be stored more than a few hours. Cold-patch or temporary mixes cost $200–$400 per ton for small quantities.
If a project can be scheduled in the shoulder season, the savings on a 1,000-ton job can reach $10,000–$20,000.
Hot Mix Asphalt vs. Alternatives: Price Comparison
Buyers often compare HMA against other paving options. The table below normalizes cost per ton and per square foot for a 1.5-inch lift.
| Material | Cost per Ton | Cost per Sq. Ft. (1.5" lift) | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot mix asphalt (HMA) | $85–$160 | $1.10–$2.10 | 15–25 years |
| Warm mix asphalt (WMA) | $95–$140 | $1.20–$1.85 | 15–25 years |
| Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) blend | $60–$100 | $0.80–$1.30 | 10–20 years |
| Concrete (6" slab) | N/A ($5–$8/sq. ft.) | $5.00–$8.00 | 30–50 years |
| Chip seal | N/A ($0.20–$0.40/sq. ft.) | $0.20–$0.40 | 5–7 years |
RAP blends — where 10–30% of the mix is reclaimed asphalt — cut costs by 15–30% without sacrificing much performance for low-traffic roads. Many state DOTs now allow 20–25% RAP in surface mixes and 40%+ in base layers.
What Is Included in a Hot Mix Asphalt Price Quote
A quote of "$115 per ton" can mean very different things. Always confirm what is bundled.
- FOB plant: You pick up the mix. Trucking is your responsibility. Cheapest line item but requires your own fleet and tight scheduling — HMA must be placed within 90–120 minutes of production.
- Delivered (FOB job site): Plant trucks the mix. Add $12–$30 per ton depending on distance and traffic. Most common for projects under 1,000 tons.
- Placed and compacted: Full-service paving. Add $25–$55 per ton on top of delivered price. Includes paver, rollers, labor, and sometimes tack coat.
- Tack coat and prime: $0.10–$0.35 per square yard, often quoted separately.
- Milling (if required): $0.50–$1.50 per square yard for 1–2 inches of removal. Not part of the HMA price.
A $115 per ton FOB quote can become $170+ per ton installed. Knowing which components are in the quote prevents budget surprises.
Many 2024 contracts include an asphalt binder escalation clause tied to the PG binder index published by state DOTs. If binder moves more than 5% between bid and delivery, the price adjusts. This protects suppliers from crude oil swings but shifts risk to the buyer. Fixed-price contracts typically carry a 3–7% premium over escalator contracts.
FAQ: Hot Mix Asphalt Price Per Ton
How much does a ton of hot mix asphalt cost in 2024?
Hot mix asphalt costs an average of $110–$125 per ton in the U.S. in 2024, ranging from $85 per ton in the Southeast to $160 per ton on the West Coast for standard surface mixes. Delivered and installed prices run $140–$185 per ton.
Why is hot mix asphalt so expensive right now?
Asphalt binder prices, tied to crude oil, rose 25–40% between 2021 and 2023, and aggregate costs increased 8–15% due to fuel and labor. These two inputs make up over 85% of HMA cost, so finished mix prices followed.
How many tons of hot mix asphalt do I need for 1,000 square feet?
For a 2-inch compacted lift, you need about 12–13 tons per 1,000 square feet (assuming 145–150 lbs per cubic foot). At $115 per ton, that is roughly $1,380–$1,500 in material for 1,000 square feet.
Is warm mix asphalt cheaper than hot mix asphalt?
Warm mix asphalt is often $5–$15 per ton cheaper to produce because it uses 20–40°F less heat, saving 10–15% on plant fuel. However, some suppliers price WMA at parity with HMA due to additive costs, so savings are not guaranteed.
How much does it cost to pave 1 mile of road with hot mix asphalt?
A 1-mile, two-lane road (24 feet wide) with two 1.5-inch lifts needs about 2,600–2,800 tons of HMA. At a blended $115 per ton delivered, material costs $300,000–$322,000; with placement and compaction at $35–$55 per ton, the total runs $390,000–$475,000.
Calculate Your Exact Hot Mix Asphalt Cost with 6Tar
Stop guessing at per-ton pricing. The 6Tar cost calculator lets you plug in your project tonnage, mix type, region, and delivery distance to get a real-time HMA budget in under 60 seconds. Whether you are pricing a 50-ton driveway patch or a 5,000-ton highway overlay, it turns volatile binder and aggregate markets into a number you can defend. Run your next asphalt estimate through 6Tar before you sign a quote.