Asphalt in Bags — Best Bagged Cold Patch, Brands, Prices & Coverage (2026)

Q: What is asphalt in bags?

Asphalt in bags is pre-mixed cold patch asphalt repair material sold in 50–60 lb bags at home improvement stores. It contains aggregate, asphalt binder, and chemical additives that keep the mix workable at ambient temperature — unlike hot mix asphalt which requires 300°F delivery. Bagged asphalt is designed for small patch jobs: potholes, cracks over 1 inch wide, and small driveway damage. Every bagged product is cold patch — hot mix is not available in bags because it cools and hardens within minutes.

Q: How much does a bag of asphalt cost?

A 50 lb bag of bagged asphalt cold patch costs $10–$25 at Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards for standard products like Sakrete Blacktop Repair and Quikrete Asphalt Cold Patch. Premium polymer-modified products like UPM ($20–$35 per 50 lb bag) and Aquaphalt 4.0 ($35–$55 per 50 lb pail) cost more but are rated as permanent repairs. Buying by the pallet (50+ bags) typically drops per-bag cost 20–30%.

Q: How much area does a bag of asphalt cover?

One 50 lb bag of cold patch asphalt fills approximately 0.5 cubic feet, or about 6 square feet at 1 inch thick — enough for a small pothole around 12×12 inches. For a 2-inch deep patch, one 50 lb bag covers 3 square feet. Compacted asphalt is roughly 145 lb per cubic foot, so a 50 lb bag yields about 0.34 cu ft compacted — always buy 15–20% extra to account for waste and compaction.

Q: Where can I buy asphalt in bags?

Bagged asphalt is sold at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, and Amazon. Home Depot carries Sakrete, Quikrete, and Latex-ite; Lowes carries Sakrete, Quikrete, and sometimes UPM; Menards stocks several private-label and national brands. For premium products like Aquaphalt 4.0 or contractor-grade UPM, online ordering from the manufacturer or specialty pavement suppliers often gives better pricing and fresher stock.

Q: How long does a bag of asphalt last?

Unopened bagged asphalt has a shelf life of 1–2 years when stored in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. Standard cold patch (Sakrete, Quikrete) can dry out and harden faster — use within 12 months. Premium polymer-modified products (UPM, Aquaphalt) last longer and remain workable for 2+ years in unopened bags. Once opened, the bag should be used within a few weeks — reseal tightly and store in a cool garage to extend life.

Q: Is bagged asphalt a permanent fix?

Depends on the product. Premium polymer-modified bagged asphalt (UPM, Aquaphalt 4.0, EZ Street) is rated as a permanent repair and often lasts 5–10+ years when applied correctly. Standard bagged cold patch (Sakrete, Quikrete) is a temporary to semi-permanent repair — typically lasts 1–3 years in driveway service and should eventually be replaced with hot mix asphalt for long-term durability.

By Mohamed Skhiri · April 25, 2026 · 10 min read

Stack of five 50-pound bags of cold patch asphalt repair mix on a residential driveway with one bag torn open showing dark black asphalt aggregate spilling out and an orange trowel beside the pile

Quick Answer: Asphalt in Bags

Asphalt in bags is pre-mixed cold patch sold in 50–60 lb bags for pothole and crack repair. Costs $10–$25 per bag for standard brands (Sakrete, Quikrete, Latex-ite) and $20–$55 for premium polymer-modified products (UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street). One 50 lb bag fills roughly 6 sq ft at 1 inch deep. Buy at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, or Tractor Supply. Every bagged product is cold patch — hot mix asphalt cannot be bagged because it hardens too fast.

What "Asphalt in Bags" Actually Is

All asphalt sold in bags is cold patch asphalt — a specially formulated mix of aggregate, asphalt binder, and chemical additives (solvents, rejuvenators, or polymers) that keep the material workable at ambient temperatures from 0°F to 90°F. It is engineered to stay soft in the bag, fill in when troweled, and harden over time through traffic compaction and solvent evaporation.

Hot mix asphalt (HMA) — the same material used for driveways, roads, and parking lots — is not sold in bags. HMA is produced at 300°F, starts hardening as soon as it cools below 175°F, and becomes unworkable within 30–60 minutes. It must be delivered by truck and placed immediately. If you need HMA in small quantities, call a local asphalt plant — some will sell loose tonnage for walk-in pickup.

          Quick identification: If you see "cold patch," "all-weather patch," "permanent patch," "all-season asphalt repair," or "blacktop repair" on the bag, it's cold patch. All of these are variations of the same product category — the differences are in aggregate size, binder quality, and polymer modifiers.
        

Best Bagged Asphalt Brands Compared

Flat lay overhead view of six different 50-pound bagged asphalt cold patch products arranged in a 2x3 grid on a clean concrete floor with distinct color schemes and bold labels

Brand	Type	Bag Size	Typical Price	Rated As	Best For
UPM	Polymer-modified cold patch	50 lb bag	$20–$35	Permanent	Potholes, utility cuts, long-life DIY repair
Aquaphalt 4.0	Water-activated polymer cold patch	50 lb pail	$35–$55	Permanent	Wet weather, deep potholes, highest quality
EZ Street	Polymer-modified cold patch	50 lb bag	$18–$30	Permanent	Potholes, utility cuts, winter repairs
Sakrete Blacktop Repair	Standard cold patch	50 lb bag	$10–$16	Semi-permanent	Budget DIY, small potholes, cracks
Quikrete Asphalt Cold Patch	Standard cold patch	50 lb bag	$10–$18	Semi-permanent	Budget DIY, widely available
Latex-ite Trowel Patch	Trowel-grade patch	3.5 gal pail (~45 lb)	$30–$45	Semi-permanent	Small cracks, driveway edges, feather-edging
Red River / Gorilla	Polymer-modified cold patch	50 lb bag	$18–$28	Permanent	Tractor Supply DIY alternative to UPM

For a permanent repair that will outlast the surrounding pavement, the polymer-modified brands (UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street) are worth the 2–3× price premium over standard cold patch. For a temporary fix that you plan to replace with hot mix within a year or two, Sakrete and Quikrete are fine — just do not expect them to last through multiple freeze-thaw cycles.

Where to Buy Asphalt in Bags — Retailer Comparison

Retailer	Brands Carried	Typical Price Range	Bulk Discount?	Notes
Home Depot	Sakrete, Quikrete, Latex-ite, occasional UPM	$10–$25 per bag	Yes — pallet pricing on contractor account	Most widely available; good in-stock availability
Lowes	Sakrete, Quikrete, sometimes UPM	$10–$30 per bag	Yes — Lowes Pro Services	Selection varies by region
Menards	Menards private-label, Sakrete, Quikrete	$9–$22 per bag	Yes — often best on-shelf pricing	Regional (Midwest); 11% rebate events common
Tractor Supply	Red River, Sakrete, Quikrete, Gorilla	$12–$28 per bag	Some bulk options	Good rural availability
Ace Hardware	Sakrete, Quikrete (select stores)	$12–$22 per bag	Varies by store	Convenient for small quantities
Amazon	UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street, some Sakrete	$15–$65 per bag (shipped)	Varies by seller	Best for premium brands not in stores; watch shipping cost
Manufacturer direct	UPM, Aquaphalt (by pallet)	$15–$40 per bag	Yes — pallet discounts standard	Best pricing for premium brands if you need 30+ bags

Tip: Premium bagged asphalt (UPM, Aquaphalt) is often cheaper per bag direct from the manufacturer when you buy by the pallet (typically 40–56 bags). If you have multiple potholes or a commercial property, a pallet drops per-bag cost by 25–40% compared to retail.

How Many Bags of Asphalt Do You Need?

One 50 lb bag of cold patch yields approximately 0.34 cubic feet compacted. Use this table to estimate bags for typical repairs:

Repair Size (L × W × Depth)	Volume (cu ft)	50 lb Bags Needed	With 15% Waste Factor
Small pothole — 6 × 6 × 2 in	0.04	0.12 (1/8 bag)	1 bag
Medium pothole — 12 × 12 × 2 in	0.17	0.50 (1/2 bag)	1 bag
Large pothole — 18 × 18 × 3 in	0.56	1.65	2 bags
Small crack fill — 4 × 2 × 1 in (per linear ft)	0.06 per ft	~0.17 per ft	1 bag per 6 linear ft
Utility cut — 24 × 12 × 4 in	0.67	1.97	3 bags
Driveway edge repair — 48 × 6 × 2 in	0.33	0.97	2 bags
Large damage area — 36 × 36 × 3 in	2.25	6.6	8 bags
Trench patch — 10 ft × 1 ft × 3 in	2.5	7.4	9 bags

          Rule of thumb: A 50 lb bag of bagged asphalt covers roughly 6 square feet at 1 inch thick or 3 square feet at 2 inches thick. Always round up and buy 15–20% extra — leftover bags can be stored in a dry garage for up to a year.
        

For a detailed calculation including waste factors and regional pricing, use our pothole repair cost calculator or asphalt repair cost calculator.

Permanent vs Temporary Bagged Asphalt

Factor	Standard Cold Patch (Sakrete, Quikrete)	Polymer-Modified (UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street)
Expected lifespan	1–3 years	5–10+ years
Cost per bag	$10–$18	$20–$55
Cost per sq ft (2" deep)	$3–$5	$7–$18
Works in rain?	No — surface must be dry	Aquaphalt: yes; UPM: yes on damp surface
Cold weather performance	Down to 20°F	Down to 0°F or lower (varies)
Freeze-thaw cycles	Breaks down within 1–2 winters	Designed for multi-year freeze-thaw exposure
Manufacturer warranty	Usually none	Often 3–10 years with proper installation
Best for	Temporary fixes, selling a property, budget repairs	Permanent repairs on properties you'll keep

The price difference sounds big per bag, but for a single pothole (typically 1–2 bags), the premium product costs $20–$50 extra total and lasts 3–5× longer. For more on polymer-modified repair products, see our rapid set asphalt repair mix guide.

How to Apply Bagged Asphalt — 6 Steps

Close-up of gloved hands pouring black bagged asphalt cold patch mix from a torn 50-pound bag into a rectangular pothole in a residential driveway with hand tamper and shovel visible beside the pothole

Clean the pothole or crack: Remove all loose debris, dirt, and vegetation with a stiff broom or shop vac. Chip out any loose or crumbling asphalt at the edges with a cold chisel and hammer until you reach solid pavement. A clean, solid edge is the #1 factor in a lasting patch.
Square up the edges (for premium bags): UPM, Aquaphalt, and other permanent-rated products work best when the hole has vertical sides. Use the cold chisel to square off angled edges. Skip this for standard cold patch — it's not worth the effort since the patch won't last regardless.
Dry the area (for standard cold patch only): Sakrete and Quikrete require a dry surface. Aquaphalt and some UPM grades work in wet conditions — check the bag. Let the hole dry for at least a few hours after rain before applying standard cold patch.
Pour in 1–2 inch lifts: Open the bag and pour material in, filling to no more than 2 inches at a time. Each lift must be compacted before the next goes in. For a 4-inch deep pothole, apply two 2-inch lifts.
Compact each lift: Use a hand tamper, the flat side of a shovel, or simply drive over the patch with your car tire (works surprisingly well — drive forward and back over it 4–6 times). Target a finished patch that sits about 1/4 inch above surrounding pavement — it will settle after a few days of traffic.
Seal the edges (optional): For maximum longevity, brush a thin layer of asphalt sealer around the perimeter of the patch where it meets existing pavement. This seals the joint against water infiltration, which is the primary failure mode for patches.

When bagged asphalt won't work: If your pavement has extensive alligator cracking (interconnected cracks covering more than a few sq ft), large sunken areas, or failed sub-base (visible pumping or soft spots), bagged asphalt is a waste of money. These conditions indicate structural failure — the asphalt patch will crack and sink along with the rest. Get a professional assessment and consider hiring a local asphalt patching service or full replacement.

Shelf Life and Storage

Unopened bags: 1–2 years for standard cold patch, 2+ years for premium polymer-modified products. Check bag for manufacture date.
Opened bags: Use within a few weeks. Reseal tightly with heavy tape or transfer to a 5-gallon bucket with a lid.
Storage conditions: Cool, dry, out of direct sunlight. An unheated garage is fine; a hot attic will accelerate hardening. Keep bags flat on a pallet to prevent moisture wicking from concrete floors.
Signs of failure: If the bag feels hard and rock-like, the solvents have evaporated and the material won't compact properly — discard. If it still breaks apart when squeezed, it is usable.
Freezing: Cold patch can freeze and thaw without damage. Let it warm up to above 40°F before using for best workability.

Bagged Asphalt vs Alternatives

Product	Best For	Cost (small repair)	Lifespan
Bagged cold patch (standard)	Small-medium potholes, DIY temporary	$10–$20	1–3 years
Bagged cold patch (premium)	Small-medium potholes, DIY permanent	$25–$60	5–10+ years
Hot mix asphalt (loose, by weight)	Large repairs, contractor work	Minimum order often applies	15–25 years (hot, laid properly)
Crack filler (liquid)	Cracks under 1/2 inch wide	$5–$15 per tube	3–5 years
Asphalt repair kit	Multi-repair projects, small cracks	$30–$80	Varies by product
Professional patching	Anything over 10 sq ft	$150–$400 minimum service call	10+ years

For anything larger than a single pothole or a few cracks, a professional is usually more cost-effective per square foot. For more on the repair product category, see our asphalt repair kit guide.

Asphalt in Bags FAQs

What is asphalt in bags?

Pre-mixed cold patch asphalt repair material in 50–60 lb bags, designed to stay workable at ambient temperature. Used for pothole and crack repair on driveways, parking lots, and roads. All bagged asphalt is cold patch — hot mix can't be bagged because it hardens within minutes of cooling.

How much does a bag of asphalt cost?

$10–$25 per 50 lb bag for standard brands (Sakrete, Quikrete) at Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards. $20–$55 per bag for premium polymer-modified products (UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street). Pallet purchases drop per-bag cost 25–40%.

How much area does a bag of asphalt cover?

A 50 lb bag yields approximately 0.34 cubic feet compacted — roughly 6 sq ft at 1 inch deep or 3 sq ft at 2 inches deep. Always add 15–20% extra for waste and compaction.

Where can I buy asphalt in bags?

Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, and Amazon all carry bagged asphalt. For premium brands like UPM and Aquaphalt, online ordering direct from the manufacturer often gives better pricing on pallet quantities.

How long does a bag of asphalt last?

Unopened: 1–2 years for standard cold patch, 2+ years for premium products. Once opened, use within a few weeks — reseal and store in a cool, dry garage.

Is bagged asphalt a permanent fix?

Premium polymer-modified products (UPM, Aquaphalt, EZ Street) are rated permanent and can last 5–10+ years. Standard cold patch (Sakrete, Quikrete) is temporary to semi-permanent — typically 1–3 years before replacement is needed.

Can I apply bagged asphalt in the rain?

Depends on product. Aquaphalt is water-activated and works on wet surfaces. UPM works on damp surfaces. Standard Sakrete and Quikrete cold patch require a dry surface and dry weather during application. Always check the bag.

What do I do with leftover bagged asphalt?

Reseal the bag tightly and store in a cool, dry place — it can last another 6–12 months. If completely unusable (hardened), see our asphalt disposal guide — it can go in a C&D dumpster or to a recycling facility.