Before you use the result
Crack sealing is the highest-return maintenance you can do to asphalt — it keeps water out of the base, where most pavement failure actually starts. This calculator estimates how much hot-pour sealant a job needs by turning your total crack length and average cross-section into a volume, then a weight.
Sealant is sold by weight (boxes of hot-pour blocks, or pails of cold-pour), so the estimate is given in pounds and boxes. Wide, alligator-cracked areas aren't candidates for crack sealing — they need patching — so measure only the cracks a bead of sealant can actually fill.
Transparent assumptions
How this calculator works
Cross-section × length = volume. Average crack width times fill depth gives a cross-sectional area; multiplied by total linear feet, that's the volume of sealant the cracks will hold.
Volume to weight. The calculator converts volume to gallons, then to pounds using a planning density for melted rubberized sealant, and divides by a typical box weight to estimate boxes.
Labor and cost. A rough production rate (feet per crew-hour) estimates labor time, and your sealant price and crew rate produce a preliminary total. Routing cracks first uses more material but lasts longer.
Formula used
- Volume (ft³) = Width (in) × Depth (in) ÷ 144 × Length (ft)
- Pounds = Volume × 7.48 gal/ft³ × ~10 lb/gal
- Boxes = Pounds ÷ 30 lb | Labor hrs = Length ÷ ~250 ft/hr
Quick reference
Crack filler needed by lot size
Very rough planning figures at a 1/2 in × 1/2 in average cross-section. Actual crack density varies enormously — measure your real linear footage.
| Total crack length | Approx. sealant | Approx. boxes |
|---|---|---|
| 500 lin ft | ~13 lb | ~0.5 box |
| 1,000 lin ft | ~26 lb | ~1 box |
| 2,500 lin ft | ~65 lb | ~2 boxes |
| 5,000 lin ft | ~130 lb | ~4–5 boxes |
Frequently asked questions
How much crack filler do I need?
It depends on total crack length and how wide and deep the cracks are. As a rough planning figure, 1,000 linear feet of half-inch cracks needs on the order of 25–30 pounds of hot-pour sealant — about one box. Enter your measurements above for a specific estimate.
How much does crack sealing cost per linear foot?
Professional crack sealing commonly runs a small fraction of a dollar to over a dollar per linear foot, depending on crack width, whether cracks are routed, mobilization, and region. It's inexpensive relative to the base damage it prevents — enter your sealant and labor rates above for a preliminary total.
What's the difference between crack filling and crack sealing?
Crack filling places material into non-working (stable) cracks, often cold-pour. Crack sealing uses a hot-applied, flexible material in working cracks that expand and contract with temperature, and generally lasts longer. Both keep water out of the base.
Should I crack seal before sealcoating?
Yes. Crack sealing always comes first — sealcoat is a thin surface coating and won't bridge or fill cracks. Seal the cracks, let them set, then sealcoat over the top for a uniform finish and full protection.
When is a crack too wide to seal?
Once cracks widen into interconnected 'alligator' patterns or the edges are crumbling, sealant won't hold — that's a sign of base failure, and the area needs patching or removal and replacement instead. Crack sealing is for isolated linear cracks in otherwise sound pavement.
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