How thick should parking lot asphalt pavement be?

The parking lot is an important but often overlooked aspect of any property. Whether an apartment complex, office building, or HOA community, the parking lot is one of the first areas people see when they check out your property. Keeping it safe and appealing is necessary for curb appeal.

A main part of asphalt installation is ensuring proper asphalt parking lot thickness and that your asphalt parking lot is installed properly.

Preventive repairs and maintenance may be standard, but if your pavement does not meet the proper specifications, it will be more susceptible to issues.

Asphalt Parking Lot Thickness Measurements

The right parking lot thickness generally depends on the type of traffic and soil. If you expect heavier traffic from trucks and loaded vehicles, your parking lot needs to be thicker to provide adequate support for these traffic conditions.

Here are the general guidelines to help you understand the ideal pavement thickness for varying cases.

Commercial Lots

Standard commercial lots should be made with an 8.0-inch dense aggregate base layer to provide a stable sub-base foundation. There should be a binder layer of about 1.5 to 2.0 inches in thickness, depending on how much traffic you expect in the lot. Finally, there will be a final asphalt layer of smaller stone, also 1.5 to 2.0 inches thick.

The exact measurements vary based on site conditions and the amount of traffic you can expect on your lot. You can expect the asphalt thickness to fall under the range specified above, if the underlying soil has good drainage.

Heavy-Duty vs. Light-Duty Lots

For full-depth, light-duty parking lots, you should use 1.5 to 2 inches of compacted hot mix asphalt applied to the subgrade. Full-depth heavy-duty lots should contain around 2 – 3 inches of hot mix asphalt on the subgrade.

The suggested asphalt parking lot thickness will differ if your parking lot has an aggregate base layer. There should be 2 inches of hot mix asphalt on 6.0 inches of aggregate base for light-duty lots. For heavy-duty lots, there should be 3 inches of hot mix asphalt on 8.0 inches of aggregate base.

Find Professional Contractors to Build Durable Parking Lots and Asphalt Paving Services

Paving your parking lot to the proper thickness is essential to maintain its durability and longevity. ACPLM has experience in asphalt parking lot installation, repairs, and maintenance. You can rely on us to help you with all your parking lot needs. We will inspect your site and determine the ideal asphalt parking lot thickness to ensure your parking lot will last.

For more information, contact us now at 888-959-9637, to schedule a free consultation.