Pea Gravel Calculator — How Much Pea Gravel Do You Need?
The calculator below is pre-set for pea gravel (≈1.4 tons per cubic yard). Enter your path, patio or play-area dimensions to get cubic yards, tons, bags and cost instantly.
Gravel calculator
Density shown is an industry-typical value and varies by supplier — confirm before ordering.
You need
Includes +10% extra
36.0
cubic feet
1.33
cubic yards
1.87
tons (2,000 lb)
72
bags (0.5 cu ft)
≈ 0.76 m³
Estimated cost: $0.00 (at $0/ton)
Order 5–10% extra for compaction and settling — loose gravel always settles to less volume after compaction.
How much pea gravel do you need? Multiply area in square feet by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply by about 1.4 to get tons. A typical 100 sq ft path at 2 inches deep takes 0.62 cubic yards — roughly 0.86 tons, or 34 half-cubic-foot bags of pea gravel. The calculator above runs this for your exact measurements.
What is pea gravel?
Pea gravel is small, naturally rounded stone — typically 3/8 inch across — smoothed by water, which is what makes it comfortable to walk on. It is usually sold as a washed, natural-toned mix of tans, grays and whites. Unlike crushed stone, the pieces never lock together: pea gravel stays loose and drainable forever — which explains nearly every pro and con below. A cubic yard weighs roughly 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) as an industry-typical value.
Best uses and recommended depth
Use pea gravel at 2–3 inches for walking surfaces and decorative cover, always over a compacted base with firm edging to hold it in place. Because the stones roll, containment matters more than depth.
- Garden paths and walkways — 2–3″ over a compacted base; the most popular use. See the walkway calculator.
- Patios and seating areas — 2–3″; firmer over a compacted #411 base. Compare options on the patio calculator page.
- Decorative beds and pool surrounds — 2″ over fabric; reads as finished landscaping.
Avoid pea gravel on slopes steeper than 1:12 and on driveways — for those use crusher run or crushed stone.
Pros and cons of pea gravel
Pea gravel trades stability for comfort, drainage and price — it wins wherever looks and underfoot feel matter more than a locked surface.
Pros
- Comfortable and safe to walk on barefoot — no sharp edges
- Excellent drainage; water passes straight through
- Inexpensive per square foot compared with pavers or river rock
- Easy to install by hand; no compaction equipment needed
Cons
- Shifts and ruts under wheels — unusable for driveways
- Rolls out of place without sturdy edging
- Harder to shovel snow from than locked surfaces
- Weeds eventually seed into it despite landscape fabric
Pea gravel price: what to expect
Expect roughly $25–$60 per ton or $30–$70 per cubic yard for bulk pea gravel in typical published US price ranges — about $0.60–$1.50 per square foot at 2 inches. Prices move with region, stone color and delivery distance, so treat these as planning numbers and get a local quote. Bagged pea gravel (0.5 cu ft) works out to several times the bulk price per yard — bags only make sense for repairs and very small projects.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should pea gravel be?
Plan on 2–3 inches for walking paths and decorative beds. Pea gravel shifts underfoot because the stones are rounded, so a firm compacted base plus edging matters more than extra depth.
How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) per cubic yard as a typical value. Pea gravel is simply rounded river-run stone, so its weight tracks standard gravel densities; confirm the exact figure with your supplier.
Is pea gravel or crushed stone better for a driveway?
Crushed stone compacts and locks together, making it the driveway material; pea gravel stays loose and rolls under wheels. Use crushed stone or crusher run for driveways and keep pea gravel for paths, patios and play areas.