Concrete Calculators › Masonry, Block & Asphalt
Asphalt Patch Calculator
The only asphalt patch calculator that asks for depth. Enter length, width, AND depth to get the actual volume of material needed. Outputs 50-lb cold patch bags alongside hot mix tons. Repair type guide recommends cold patch, infrared, or hot mix based on your total area. Up to 4 patches with per-patch breakdown. Preloaded: 2×2 ft, 2-in deep = 2 bags.
Asphalt Patch Calculator
Quick Presets
Patch Dimensions (Length x Width x Depth)
Cost Estimate (Optional)
$
US 2026 avg: EZ Street cold patch 50 lb approx. $18. Quikrete Blacktop Patch approx. $14.
Your Asphalt Patch Estimate
Cold Patch Bags (50 lb)
2
bags 50 lb cold patch (0.50 cu ft/bag)
Total Patch Area
4.0 sq ft
length x width
Void Volume
0.67 cu ft
length x width x depth / 12
HMA Equivalent (Contractor)
0.049 tons HMA
hot mix reference for contractors
Per-Patch Breakdown
Patch 12×2 ft @ 2-in deep2 bags | 0.67 cu ft
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Patches | 1 patch | total area 4.0 sq ft |
| Total Volume | 0.667 cu ft total void volume |
| Cold Patch Bags (50 lb) | 2 bags 50-lb cold patch (0.50 cu ft per bag) |
| HMA Equivalent (tons) | 0.049 tons hot mix asphalt |
| Cold Patch Cost | — |
| Recommendation | Cold patch bags from a hardware store |
Asphalt Patch Summary
Patches1 patch, 4.0 sq ft, avg 2.0-in deep
Cold patch2 bags 50-lb cold patch
HMA (contractor)0.049 tons HMA equivalent
RecommendationCold patch bags appropriate
▮ Cold Patch Bags by Patch Area — 1-in, 2-in, and 3-in Depth
Total patch area 4.0 sq ft (0.67 cu ft void) requires 2 bags of 50-lb cold patch. HMA equivalent: 0.049 tons.
Why Asphalt Patch Calculators Give You the Wrong Bag Count — Depth Is the Missing Variable
Every asphalt patch calculator online asks for the length and width of your pothole. None of them ask for the depth. A 2×2-ft pothole that is 2 inches deep needs 2 bags of cold patch. The same 2×2-ft pothole that is 4 inches deep needs 4 bags. If you calculate your bags from area alone and your pothole is deeper than assumed, you will be at the hardware store a second time the same afternoon. Our calculator asks for length, width, AND depth for each patch so you get the actual cubic foot volume of the hole — not a blind estimate based on area that assumes a standard depth the calculator has already guessed for you.
How the Asphalt Patch Calculator Works
Volume = length (ft) x width (ft) x depth (in) / 12 = cubic feet. Cold patch bags = volume / 0.50 (each 50 lb bag yields 0.50 cubic feet of compacted material at approximately 100 lbs/cu ft). HMA tons = area (sq yd) x depth (in) x 0.055 (110 lbs/sq yd/in standard density). Recommendation: under 10 sq ft = cold patch bags; 10 to 50 sq ft = infrared repair; over 50 sq ft = hot mix asphalt.
3 Real US Asphalt Patch Examples
Example 1: Driveway Pothole, Columbus, OH
Size2×2 ft, 2-in deep
Volume0.67 cu ft
Cold patch2 bags 50 lb
RecCold patch from hardware store
Example 2: Parking Lot, Nashville, TN
Size3 patches, ~30 sq ft total
Volume~4.5 cu ft at 2-in avg
Cold patch9 bags (or infrared repair)
RecInfrared repair more cost-effective
Example 3: Street Repair, Denver, CO
Size10×6 ft, 3-in deep
Volume15 cu ft
Cold patch30 bags (very expensive)
RecHot mix asphalt from contractor
3 Expert Tips for DIY Asphalt Pothole Repair
01
Clean and Square the Pothole Before Filling — Never Patch a Muddy Hole
The most common reason a cold patch repair fails within weeks is that the patch was placed in a wet, dirty pothole without proper preparation. Cold patch asphalt relies on mechanical adhesion between the patch material and the existing pavement edges. Mud, water, loose gravel, and crumbling asphalt edges all prevent that bond from forming. Before filling: blow out or sweep all loose debris from the hole; chisel back any edges that are crumbling or feathering so the hole has clean, vertical walls rather than sloped, breaking edges; if the pothole has standing water, pump it out or let it dry, and never place cold patch on a wet surface. Square-cut edges (rather than irregular broken edges) give the patch the maximum bonded surface area on each side, dramatically extending the repair’s life. On larger patches, an angle grinder with a diamond blade or a cold chisel and hammer can square up irregular pothole edges in a few minutes. The preparation adds 10 to 15 minutes but typically triples the service life of the repair compared to just dumping material into an unprepared hole.
02
Overfill by 10 to 20 Percent — Then Compact Firmly
Cold patch is placed in a loose state and compacts when pressed. If you fill the pothole exactly to the surrounding pavement level, the compacted surface will be 10 to 20 percent lower than surrounding pavement — creating a depression that collects water and accelerates re-cracking. Overfill the patch above the surrounding pavement surface by approximately 10 to 20 percent of the hole depth. For a 2-inch deep pothole, fill to about 2.25 to 2.4 inches above the subgrade (or roughly 0.25 to 0.4 inch above the surrounding pavement). Compact using: a hand tamper or the back of a flat shovel for small patches; driving your vehicle tire back and forth over the filled area for larger patches (parking and driving off a few times gives good initial compaction); or a plate compactor rented from a home improvement store for large or multiple patches. Compact in layers for holes deeper than 3 inches — fill and compact 2-inch lifts rather than filling the full depth at once. Our calculator automatically rounds up to the nearest bag to give you enough material for proper overfill.
03
Cold Patch Is a Temporary Repair — Plan for Permanent Repair in Warmer Weather
Cold patch asphalt (the product in bags from a hardware store) is a legitimate temporary-to-semi-permanent pothole repair, but it is not a permanent fix equivalent to professionally installed hot mix asphalt. Cold mix products use cutback or emulsified asphalt that remains somewhat flexible and is more prone to rut and displacement under heavy traffic than properly compacted HMA at 300 degrees F. This is intentional — cold patch is designed to work in winter when hot mix plants are closed and potholes are most numerous. Use cold patch to fill potholes in autumn and winter when the ground is cold and contractor availability is limited, then plan to remove the cold patch and perform a proper hot mix repair once temperatures rise above 50 degrees F in spring. Some cold patch brands (notably EZ Street) perform significantly better than generic products under traffic and can serve as durable semi-permanent repairs under light traffic when properly installed. Cold patch from major brands costs more per bag than generic products but justifies the premium in multi-season performance. Our repair type recommendation helps you identify when cold patch is appropriate versus when calling a contractor is the smarter investment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asphalt Patching
How many bags of cold patch do I need for a pothole?+
Calculate the volume of the pothole: Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (in) / 12. One 50-lb bag of cold patch covers approximately 0.50 cubic feet of compacted material. Bags = Volume / 0.50, rounded up. For a 2×2-ft pothole 2 inches deep: 2 x 2 x (2/12) = 0.667 cu ft / 0.50 = 1.33, rounded up to 2 bags. For a 3×3-ft pothole 3 inches deep: 3 x 3 x (3/12) = 2.25 cu ft / 0.50 = 4.5, rounded up to 5 bags. Depth is the critical input that most calculators skip — a deeper pothole of the same surface area needs proportionally more bags. Our calculator requires depth as an input for this reason.
What is the difference between cold patch and hot mix asphalt?+
Cold patch (cold mix asphalt) is produced at ambient temperature using emulsified or cutback asphalt as the binder, allowing it to be used directly from the bag without heating. It can be applied at any temperature (some products like EZ Street are specifically formulated for use in wet or freezing conditions) but reaches lower final strength than hot mix. Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is produced at 250 to 350 degrees F at a batch plant, placed while hot, and compacted while still warm. It reaches higher strength (3,000 to 5,000 psi) than cold patch, is more resistant to rutting and traffic, and produces a smoother, more permanent surface. Cold patch is appropriate for residential pothole repair, utility cut filling, and temporary repairs. Hot mix is used for all new paving and large-area patch repairs where durability is the priority. Cost comparison: cold patch at hardware store prices runs $14 to $20 per 50-lb bag = $28 to $40 per cubic foot. HMA from a contractor at 10 sq yd minimum runs approximately $150 to $300 per ton installed = $4 to $8 per cu ft. Cold patch is expensive per unit volume for large repairs.
How do I use cold patch asphalt?+
Step-by-step cold patch installation: (1) Clean the pothole thoroughly — remove all loose debris, standing water, and crumbling asphalt. Sweep or blow out the hole. (2) Square the edges — chisel back any feathering or sloping edges to create clean vertical walls. (3) Pour the cold patch into the hole in 2-inch layers for holes deeper than 2 inches, or all at once for shallow holes. (4) Overfill slightly — fill the patch 10 to 20 percent above the surrounding pavement level to allow for compaction. (5) Compact — drive your vehicle tire over the patch several times, or use a hand tamper or rented plate compactor. (6) Recheck the height — after initial compaction, add more material if the patch is low, recompact. The patch should finish flush with or very slightly above the surrounding pavement. (7) Traffic can use the repaired area immediately after installation — cold patch is designed for immediate trafficking. Leave the area coned for 15 to 30 minutes after compaction to allow the surface to set slightly before reopening.
What is infrared asphalt repair?+
Infrared asphalt repair is a professional repair technique that uses an infrared heater mounted on a truck or trailer to heat the existing asphalt surface to 300 to 350 degrees F, softening it back to a workable state. The contractor then rakes in additional HMA if needed to fill the depression, re-grades, and compacts with a roller. Because the existing asphalt is recycled in place (rather than removed and replaced), infrared creates a seamless, thermally bonded repair with no cold joints at the edges. Infrared repair produces a result comparable to new HMA placement but at 40 to 60 percent of the cost of full-depth mill and fill repair. It is ideal for areas of 10 to 200 square feet with depression, alligator cracking, or localized damage where the subbase is still sound. Infrared cannot repair areas with a failed subbase (the patching equipment is not designed for base repair) or areas with gasoline or oil contamination (petroleum dissolves the asphalt binder and prevents reheat bonding). For homeowners with 10 to 50 sq ft of driveway damage, calling a local paving contractor with infrared equipment is often the most cost-effective permanent repair solution.
How much cold patch do I need per square foot?+
Coverage per 50-lb bag at various depths: at 1 inch compacted depth = 6 sq ft per bag; at 1.5 inches = 4 sq ft per bag; at 2 inches = 3 sq ft per bag; at 3 inches = 2 sq ft per bag; at 4 inches = 1.5 sq ft per bag. These figures assume 0.50 cubic feet per 50-lb bag (100 lbs/cu ft density). Actual coverage varies slightly by product and compaction effort. Some premium cold patch products are denser (closer to 110-115 lbs/cu ft) which reduces coverage slightly per bag. Add 10 to 20 percent to the calculated bag count to account for the overfill needed before compaction and for patching any edges that need additional material after initial compaction. Our calculator automatically rounds up to the nearest whole bag and the small rounding buffer provides an adequate overfill allowance for most patches.
How long does a cold patch repair last?+
A cold patch repair installed with proper preparation (clean, dry hole, squared edges, adequate compaction) typically lasts 1 to 3 years under normal residential driveway traffic, and 6 to 18 months in a heavily trafficked commercial parking lot or street. Premium cold patch products (EZ Street, Unique Paving Materials, and similar) last significantly longer than generic big-box store cold patch products under equivalent conditions — some premium repairs in light-traffic residential settings last 5 or more years. Factors that shorten cold patch life: wet or poorly prepared hole at installation, inadequate compaction, heavy traffic from trucks or repeated heavy loads, freeze-thaw cycling in cold climates, and gasoline or oil spills on the repair (petroleum softens the cold patch binder). Cold patch is not a permanent repair for commercial or municipal applications — public works departments use cold patch only as a temporary winter repair, with permanent hot mix restoration planned for warmer months. For residential driveways, a properly installed premium cold patch in a prepared hole is often the most practical and economical repair for isolated potholes.
Can I patch asphalt in the rain or cold weather?+
Cold patch (bags from a hardware store) is specifically designed to work in wet and cold conditions — this is one of its primary advantages over hot mix asphalt, which cannot be placed in rain or when temperatures are below 35 to 40 degrees F. Most cold patch products can be applied in light rain and temperatures down to 20 degrees F (-6 degrees C). However, the patch will perform better and last longer if placed in a dry pothole rather than a wet one — even if the surrounding area is wet, sweeping or blowing standing water out of the hole before placing material improves adhesion. Some premium products (EZ Street in particular) are designed specifically for underwater or very wet installation where standard products fail. For hot mix asphalt (contractor repair): do not place HMA in rain (water in the asphalt causes steam explosions of the mix and prevents proper compaction) and do not place when air temperature is below 35 to 40 degrees F (the mix cools too quickly for adequate compaction). Most paving contractors in northern US states do not operate in the winter months (November through March) for this reason, which is exactly why cold patch products fill the seasonal gap in maintenance capability.
What is the best cold patch asphalt product?+
Top cold patch products in the US (2026): EZ Street Cold Asphalt Patch is widely regarded as the most durable consumer cold patch available — it uses a polymer-modified cutback formulation that bonds aggressively in wet and cold conditions, is specifically marketed as a permanent repair product (not temporary), and is sold in 50-lb bags at most home improvement stores. Unique Paving Materials Cold Patch is another professional-grade product available at some specialty supply stores. Quikrete Blacktop Patch and SAKRETE Blacktop Patch are widely available generic alternatives at a lower price — they perform adequately for residential use but do not match the traffic durability of EZ Street in commercial applications. For municipalities and commercial property managers, professional-grade products like QPR (Quality Patch and Repair) are available through paving supply distributors and are specified for permanent utility cut repair work. When purchasing, check the bag for asphalt content percentage — higher asphalt binder content (above 7%) generally indicates better durability. Avoid very cheap cold patch products that have a high filler content and low binder ratio, as these fail rapidly under traffic.
Do I need to prime the pothole before cold patching?+
Most cold patch bag products do not require a primer coat on the existing pavement. The cold mix formula already contains volatile cutback agents or emulsifiers that provide some adhesion to the existing pavement without a separate tack coat. However, applying a light tack coat (asphalt emulsion SS-1 or CSS-1h) to the vertical walls and floor of the pothole before placing cold patch improves bond significantly, especially in dry, aged asphalt where the existing surface is very oxidized and non-receptive. Tack coat is sold in 5-gallon pails from paving supply distributors and applied with a paintbrush or roller to the interior surfaces of the pothole. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the tack to break (the water evaporates and the asphalt turns from brown to black) before placing the cold patch material. For residential homeowner applications, tack coat is an optional step that extends repair life but is not required with most cold patch products. For commercial property managers maintaining parking lots, tack coat before cold patch is a best practice that reduces callbacks and repeat repair frequency.
What size pothole requires a professional repair?+
Our calculator uses these thresholds as a general guide: under 10 square feet of total patch area — cold patch bags from a hardware store are practical and cost-effective; 10 to 50 square feet — consider infrared repair or contact a small paving contractor, as cold patch at this scale becomes expensive and a professional repair will last 5 to 10 times longer per dollar; over 50 square feet — hot mix asphalt from a contractor is the economically correct choice, as even with a minimum delivery charge for a small load of HMA, it will cost less per square foot than the equivalent volume of cold patch bags. Beyond the cost comparison, depth matters as much as area: a 2×2-ft pothole that is 6 inches deep (a full-depth failure) requires a base repair before patching — if the subbase has softened, crumbled, or washed out, filling the hole with cold patch will simply settle again within months regardless of how many bags you use. Any pothole with soft, wet, or unstable material at its base should be assessed by a paving contractor who can determine whether the problem is a surface crack, a localized base failure, or a drainage issue requiring more extensive repair.
How much does professional pothole repair cost?+
Professional asphalt pothole repair costs in the US (2026): single pothole repair (cold-patch fill or hand patch) by a paving contractor runs $75 to $250 per patch for small isolated holes in residential settings. Infrared asphalt repair for areas up to 50 square feet runs $3 to $8 per square foot installed (minimum charge of $200 to $400 per mobilization). Full-depth hot mix mill and fill repair for larger areas runs $4 to $12 per square foot with minimum charges of $500 to $1,500 per mobilization for residential driveways. For comparison: DIY cold patch with 2 bags (50 lb) of EZ Street at $20 per bag = $40 total for a 2×2-ft patch. The professional infrared repair of the same area would cost $150 to $200 minimum — significantly more for a single pothole. For single small potholes (under 4 sq ft), DIY cold patch is clearly the most economical choice. For multiple potholes, larger areas, or areas showing progressive deterioration, professional repair quickly becomes the better economic value because it produces a durable result that eliminates the repeat-purchase cycle of re-patching the same pothole every year or two.
Can I use cold patch to fill large cracks as well as potholes?+
Cold patch can fill wide cracks (above approximately 1 inch wide) but it is not the correct product for hairline, narrow, or alligator cracks. For cracks under 1/2 inch wide: use asphalt crack filler or rubberized crack sealant from a caulk gun or pour-pot, not cold patch. The aggregate in cold patch mix is too coarse to fill narrow cracks adequately. For alligator cracking (interconnected map-cracking pattern over a large area): do not patch over alligator cracking with cold patch — alligator cracking indicates a structural failure of the base or subgrade. Filling over alligator cracking is a temporary cosmetic repair only; the underlying base failure will re-crack the patch. The correct repair for alligator cracking is full-depth reclamation or removal and replacement of the failed section including base repair. For large, wide cracks above 1 inch wide (utility cuts, edge cracks, isolated splits): cold patch can be packed into the crack in layers and compacted. Use a board or the back of a shovel to tamp the material firmly into the crack in thin lifts. Our calculator handles any shape of void — enter the actual dimensions of the crack as length, width, and depth to calculate the bags needed.
How deep should I fill a pothole with cold patch?+
Fill the pothole to its full depth — do not leave a void below the cold patch layer. If the pothole is deep (4 inches or more), fill in 2-inch compacted lifts: add 2 inches of cold patch, compact firmly, then add another 2 inches on top and compact again. Each lift must be compacted before the next layer is added — placing all the material at once and compacting only the surface leaves a loose, poorly bonded lower layer that will collapse under traffic. After filling to the existing pavement depth, overfill by approximately 10 to 20 percent of the patch depth (add 0.2 to 0.4 inch of extra material above the surrounding pavement surface) to allow for final compaction to bring the patch flush with or slightly above the surrounding pavement. A patch that is slightly high (0.1 to 0.2 inch above the surrounding surface) after compaction is ideal — it will compact flush under traffic over the first few weeks of use. A patch that is already flush or slightly low after installation will develop a depression that collects water, accelerates freeze-thaw damage, and requires re-patching much sooner.
What permits do I need to repair a pothole?+
For repairs on private property (your own driveway or parking lot), no permit is required for standard pothole patching with cold patch or hot mix asphalt, provided the work does not change the drainage patterns or impervious surface footprint. For repairs in the public right-of-way (street potholes, sidewalk-adjacent pavement, or any work that requires blocking a travel lane), you need a Right-of-Way Permit from the applicable road authority: city public works for city streets, county roads department for county roads, state DOT (TxDOT, Caltrans, FDOT, etc.) for state highways and US routes. Utility companies that damage pavement during underground work are typically required under their franchise agreements to restore the pavement to pre-excavation condition under a utility cut permit. DIY repair of public street potholes without a permit is technically not authorized — contact your city’s public works department to report a pothole for city repair. Most cities have online pothole reporting portals or 311 service request lines.
How do I calculate the volume of an irregularly shaped pothole?+
For potholes that are not a simple rectangle, use one of these approaches: (1) Bounding rectangle: measure the longest length and widest width of the hole, calculate as a rectangle, then reduce by 20 to 30 percent for an irregular oval or round shape. This is the quick-and-dirty method. (2) Multiple sections: divide the irregular hole into 2 or 3 overlapping rectangles that together cover the full area, calculate each section’s volume, and add them. Reduce for any overlap between sections. (3) Average depth: for a pothole with varying depth, measure the depth at several points (4 corners, center, midpoints of sides) and average the values for the depth input. Our calculator’s multi-patch mode supports up to 4 separate patches — for an irregular shape, you can break it into rectangular sections, enter each one separately, and get a combined total. This approach is more accurate than a single rectangle for L-shaped or deeply irregular potholes.
What is alligator cracking and how is it repaired?+
Alligator cracking (also called fatigue cracking or crocodile cracking) is an interconnected pattern of cracks in asphalt that resembles alligator skin. It occurs when the pavement has been subjected to repeated load cycles beyond its structural capacity — the asphalt has fatigued and begun to fracture from the bottom up through the full thickness of the asphalt layer. Causes include: inadequate pavement thickness for the traffic loads it receives, base or subgrade failure (soil support has softened), poor original construction, and general aging of the asphalt binder. Alligator cracking is not repairable by cold patch or any surface treatment — the failed asphalt and often the failed base material must be completely removed and replaced. Repair process: mill or excavate the alligator-cracked area plus 6 to 12 inches beyond the visible cracks, assess and repair the subgrade (re-compact, add base material, or stabilize with lime/cement if needed), replace with new aggregate base, and pave with hot mix asphalt. Overlaying or cold-patching over alligator cracking is money wasted — the cracks will reflect through any patch within 3 to 6 months. Our calculator is designed for individual pothole or crack repairs; alligator cracking requires professional evaluation and full-depth repair.
Related Asphalt and Pavement Calculators
Disclaimer and Editorial Transparency: Cold patch coverage: 0.50 cu ft per 50-lb bag (100 lbs/cu ft density). HMA equivalent: 110 lbs/sq yd/in standard density. Repair type thresholds: under 10 sq ft = cold patch; 10 to 50 sq ft = infrared; over 50 sq ft = HMA. Actual cold patch coverage varies by brand, compaction, and installation conditions. Add 10-20% overfill for proper compaction. Reference: National Asphalt Pavement Association — Pavement Preservation | FHWA — Pothole Patrol Guide.