Pea Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and depth to estimate how much pea gravel you need for a path, patio, or play area. Get cubic yards and tons.
Results
- Volume needed
- 0.93 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 1.02 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 25 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 0.71 m³
- Estimated weight
- 1.43 tons
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Pea gravel is sold by the cubic yard or by the ton, so this calculator turns your area and depth into both figures plus a bag count for small jobs.
Because the stones are round and roughly 3/8 inch, pea gravel settles very little but migrates easily. Plan on edging and a landscape fabric base for any walkway or patio.
Also works as a pea stone calculator, pea gravel patio calculator, and playground gravel estimator.
How to use the pea gravel calculator
- Enter the shape.
- Enter the length in ft.
- Enter the width in ft.
- Enter the depth in in.
- Enter the waste factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Shape
- Rectangle / Square
- Length
- 15 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 2 in
- Waste factor
- 10 %
Results
- Volume needed
- 0.93 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 1.02 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 25 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 0.71 m³
- Estimated weight
- 1.43 tons
Using the example values above, the pea gravel calculator returns 0.93 cu yd (volume needed). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
How deep should pea gravel be?
Use 2 inches for decorative beds, 3 inches for walkways and patios, and 4 to 6 inches over a compacted base for driveways or heavy foot traffic.
Playground surfacing is the exception: safety guidance calls for 9 to 12 inches of loose pea gravel under equipment to absorb falls.
Pea gravel weight and coverage
One cubic yard of pea gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons and covers about 160 square feet at 2 inches deep, or 108 square feet at 3 inches deep.
A half ton pickup can safely haul about half a cubic yard, so bulk orders above one yard usually need delivery.
How much extra should I order?
Always order a little extra. A 5% waste factor suits simple, square projects; 10% is right for most jobs; bump it to 15–20% for irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or uneven ground. Running short almost always costs more than the leftover material.
Weight per cubic yard
| Material | Tons per cu yd |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone / gravel | 1.4 |
| Pea gravel | 1.4 |
| Sand (dry) | 1.35 |
| River rock | 1.3 |
| Topsoil (moist) | 1.1 |
Formula
Volume (cu ft) = area × depth ÷ 12. Cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27. Waste-adjusted = volume × (1 + waste%).
Frequently asked questions
- How deep should pea gravel be?
- Use 2–3 inches over landscape fabric; deeper gravel shifts underfoot.
- How much area does a ton of pea gravel cover?
- At 2 inches deep, a ton covers about 100 square feet.
- How many tons of pea gravel do I need?
- Multiply your cubic yards by 1.4. A 200 sq ft patio at 3 inches deep is about 1.85 cubic yards, roughly 2.6 tons.
- Does pea gravel need a base?
- Yes for walkways and patios. Compact 3 to 4 inches of crushed stone underneath, then add fabric and the pea gravel on top so it does not sink into the soil.
- How many bags of pea gravel in a cubic yard?
- About 54 bags at 0.5 cubic feet per bag. Bulk becomes cheaper past roughly 20 bags.
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