Free Pea Gravel Calculator
Use this pea gravel calculator to see how much pea gravel to buy, by the yard, ton or bag.
Pea gravel is small, rounded stone, usually about 3/8 inch across. Because the stones are round they roll under foot, so it works best at a shallow depth with firm edging.
It is sold by the ton or cubic yard in bulk, or in 0.5 cu ft bags at garden centres.
Pea gravel example: a 10 × 10 area
A 10 × 10 ft area at 2 in deep: 100 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 12 = 16.7 cu ft, plus 10% extra = 18.3 cu ft. Divide by 27 to get 0.68 cubic yards, which weighs about 0.95 tons, or 37 × 0.5 cu ft bags.
How deep should pea gravel be?
| Use | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walkways and paths | 2 in | Deeper than this feels like walking on a beach. |
| Patios and seating areas | 2 to 3 in | Over a compacted base of crushed stone. |
| Dog runs | 2 to 3 in | |
| Drainage around pipes | 3 to 4 in |
Coverage per cubic yard and per bag
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard | Sq ft per 0.5 cu ft bag |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 | 6 |
| 2 in | 162 | 3 |
| 3 in | 108 | 2 |
| 4 in | 81 | 1.5 |
Buying tips
- Use edging (steel, stone or timber) so the pea gravel does not migrate into lawns and beds.
- For patios, lay 3 to 4 inches of compacted crushed stone first, then 2 inches of pea gravel on top. Use the crushed stone calculator for the base.
- Pea gravel does not compact the way angular stone does, so it is not a good driveway base.
How much does pea gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of pea gravel typically weighs 2,600 to 3,000 lb (1.3 to 1.5 tons). The calculator uses 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) per cubic yard. Moisture and grading change the weight, so if your supplier sells by the ton, ask for their figure.
Frequently asked questions
How much pea gravel do I need for a 10 × 10 area?
At 2 inches deep, 100 sq ft needs about 16.7 cu ft, which is 0.62 cubic yards, or about 0.9 tons. With 10% extra, buy about three quarters of a yard.
How many bags of pea gravel are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so it equals 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
How much does pea gravel weigh?
About 2,600 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard, roughly 1.4 tons.
How accurate is this pea gravel calculator?
The pea gravel calculator gives the exact volume for the measurements you enter, then adds 10% extra (you can change it). Weights use a typical 1.4 tons per cubic yard; real loads vary with moisture, so confirm with your supplier if you buy by the ton. Measure carefully: an error of one inch in depth changes a 3 inch layer by a third.
How the pea gravel calculator works
Volume = area × depth. Each area is worked out from its shape (length × width, π × radius², or ½ × base × height), converted to square feet, multiplied by the depth in feet, and added up. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards.The extra percentage is then added, and bag counts are rounded up to whole bags. See how we calculate for every figure we use.