Enter the size and depth of your path, patio, play area or dog run to see how much pea gravel you need in cubic yards and tons, and what it will cost at your supplier’s price.
How to use the pea gravel calculator
- Pick a rectangle or a circle and enter the size of the area. Break L-shapes and curves into simpler pieces and add the results.
- Enter the depth you want once the material is spread and levelled. Depth is usually easiest in inches.
- Keep an allowance for settling and low spots unless the ground is already flat and firm.
- Check the weight per cubic yard against your supplier’s figure, then add a price to get a cost estimate.
Pea gravel formulas
Volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 Tons = cubic yards × weight per yd³ (lb) ÷ 2,000 With extra = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
Suppliers price pea gravel by the ton or by the cubic yard, so the calculator gives both. Enter the weight per cubic yard your yard quotes if it differs from the default, because that number is what turns yards into tons.
Worked example: 20 × 10 ft at 3 in deep
- Volume: 20 ft × 10 ft × 0.250 ft = 50.0 ft³.
- Add 10% extra: 50.0 × 1.10 = 55.0 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 55.0 ÷ 27 = 2.04 yd³.
- Tons: 2.04 × 2,800 ÷ 2,000 = 2.85 tons.
How deep to go
Pea gravel is usually spread 2–3 in deep over a walking surface and 3–4 in where it has to stay put. Deeper than about 4 in it shifts underfoot.
Coverage at each depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | One ton covers | Per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 116 ft² | 0.62 yd³ |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 77 ft² | 0.93 yd³ |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 58 ft² | 1.23 yd³ |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 39 ft² | 1.85 yd³ |
Figures use 2,800 lb per cubic yard. Change the weight in the calculator and the numbers move with it.
Questions
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,700–2,900 lb, or roughly 1.4 tons, per North Bay Materials’ density chart for sand, gravel and crushed rock.
How many square feet does a ton of pea gravel cover?
About 77 ft² at 3 in deep and 116 ft² at 2 in, using 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
How deep should pea gravel be?
2–3 in over a prepared base for a path or patio, and 3–4 in for a play area or dog run. Going much deeper makes it hard to walk on.
Do I need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
It is not required, but fabric over the subgrade keeps the stone from sinking into soft soil and slows weeds, so most paths last longer with it.
How much pea gravel do I need for 100 square feet?
At 3 in deep, 100 ft² takes 25 ft³, or 0.93 cubic yards, about 1.3 tons at 2,800 lb per yard. At 2 in deep it is 0.62 yd³, about 0.9 tons.
Sources
- Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, crushed rock, soil and mulch. - NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot and cubic yard conversions.