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Pea Gravel Calculator
Pea gravel — the small, rounded 3/8 inch stone used on garden paths, patios, play areas and drainage strips — is bought three different ways: by the ton or yard in bulk, or in 0.5 cubic foot bags at the store. This calculator gives all three from your area and depth, using pea gravel's own typical density (1.35 tons per cubic yard, adjustable) instead of a generic gravel figure, plus a bag count the general gravel calculator does not provide. For crushed stone, driveway gravel and other aggregates, use that gravel calculator instead.
Results update as you type. Estimates only — confirm final quantities before ordering.
The formula
Tons = Cubic yards × Density (tons per yd³)
Bags = Cubic feet ÷ 0.5 ft³ per bag • Pounds = Tons × 2,000
Density is the one figure that is genuinely pea-gravel-specific. Published densities for loose pea gravel run from about 1.25 to 1.42 tons per cubic yard (roughly 100–105 lb per cubic foot; the spread is stone size and moisture). The default here, 1.35 tons/yd³, is the middle of that published range — enter your supplier's figure if they quote one. The waste allowance covers settling and spill: rounded stone migrates and compacts a little in the first weeks, so 10% is a sensible default. The bag math is simple volume: retail pea gravel is sold in 0.5 ft³ bags, so one cubic yard is exactly 54 bags. At 0% waste this calculator's volume and tonnage are identical to our general gravel calculator — the difference is the pea-gravel density default, the bag count and the depth guidance below.
Worked example
Example: a garden path 10 ft wide × 30 ft long (300 ft²), pea gravel 2 inches deep, 10% settling allowance, density 1.35 tons/yd³.
- Volume: 300 × (2 ÷ 12) = 50.0 ft³; with 10% extra = 55.0 ft³ = 2.04 yd³
- Weight: 2.04 × 1.35 = 2.75 tons (5,500 lb)
- Bagged instead: 55.0 ÷ 0.5 = 110 bags — a pallet-scale job, which is why paths of this size are usually a bulk delivery
Reference chart
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² | 240 ft² |
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 120 ft² |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 80 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 60 ft² |
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of pea gravel are in a cubic yard?
Fifty-four. Retail pea gravel comes in 0.5 ft³ bags and a cubic yard is 27 ft³, so 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags per yard — about 2,700 lb of stone at the typical 1.35 tons per yard. Bags make sense up to roughly a quarter yard (13–14 bags); beyond that, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per ton.
How deep should pea gravel be?
Two to three inches as a surface layer is the working range for paths and patios — deep enough to cover and cushion, shallow enough to walk on without wading. Spread it over a compacted crushed-stone base (typically about 4 inches) with edging to hold it in place, not directly on bare soil. Play areas are the exception: safety surfacing needs much more depth — follow the equipment maker's and CPSC guidance there, not this chart.
How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) at the density this calculator uses. Published figures span roughly 2,500–2,850 lb per yard (1.25–1.42 tons) as stone size and moisture change, which is why the density field is adjustable — a supplier who sells by the ton can tell you their exact figure.
Can I use pea gravel on a driveway?
It is a poor choice, and this is the most common pea gravel mistake. The stones are small and round, so they roll and scatter under tires instead of locking together, and they migrate into the lawn. Driveways want angular crushed stone that compacts into a mat — size that with the gravel calculator. Keep pea gravel for paths, patios, play areas and drainage where feet, not tires, are the traffic.
Do I need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
Over soil, yes. Fabric keeps the stone from working down into the dirt (which silently eats your depth), and slows weeds coming up from below. On a patio build, the usual stack is compacted crushed base, then fabric, then the 2–3 inch pea gravel surface. Fabric does nothing for wind-blown seeds landing on top, so expect occasional surface weeds either way.
Related calculators
- Gravel Calculator — Gravel in cubic yards and tons, by depth and density.
- Mulch Calculator — Mulch in cubic yards and standard 2 cu ft bags.
- Concrete Calculator — Cubic yards and bag counts for slabs, patios and pads.
Sources & method: Pea gravel density: published figures fetched October 2026 span ≈1.25–1.42 tons/yd³ (≈100–105 lb/ft³ loose — supplier and pea-gravel reference guides); default 1.35 tons/yd³ is the mid-range value. Bag size 0.5 ft³ is the standard US retail pea gravel bag (54 bags per yd³ by volume). Depth guidance: 2–3 in surface layer over a compacted crushed base, per the Yard & Gallon pea gravel guide (fetched October 2026). Volume and tonnage verified identical to this site's Gravel Calculator at 0% waste.