Free pea gravel calculator for paths, patios, and beds. Enter area and depth to get cubic yards, tons (lighter density ~1.3 tons/cu yd), and delivery estimate.
Quick answer: pea gravel (cubic yards) = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27; tons = cubic yards × 1.3. A 20 × 10 ft path at 3 in is 50 cu ft = 1.85 yd³, or 2.04 yd³ (about 2.65 tons) with the calculator's 10% extra.
Pea gravel is small, smooth, rounded stone, usually sold in a nominal 3/8 in size (roughly 1/8 to 1/2 in, depending on the quarry). Because the stones are round they pack loosely, so a cubic yard weighs a little less than angular crushed stone. This calculator uses 1.3 tons per cubic yard; change the density field if your supplier's scale ticket says otherwise.
Calculated at 1.3 tons per cubic yard with no extra added. Divide your area by the coverage figure to get yards or tons.
| Depth | Typical use | Sq ft per cubic yard | Sq ft per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | Top dressing, between stepping stones | 162 | 125 |
| 3 in | Garden paths, dog runs | 108 | 83 |
| 4 in | Patios, seating areas | 81 | 62 |
| 6 in | Drainage beds, deep borders | 54 | 42 |
| 9 in | Compacted playground depth | 36 | 28 |
| 12 in | Initial playground fill | 27 | 21 |
At 1.3 tons per cubic yard, one ton of pea gravel covers about 125 sq ft at 2 in deep, 83 sq ft at 3 in, and 62 sq ft at 4 in. Add around 10% for settling and uneven ground.
About 3 to 4 inches over landscape fabric is typical for a pea gravel patio. Deeper than that becomes loose and hard to walk on; for a firmer feel, use a compacted crushed-stone base with a thinner pea gravel top layer.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft pea gravel to make one yard. For a 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 inches (48 cu ft) that is 96 bags, which is why bulk delivery is usually cheaper for anything beyond small beds.
The CPSC handbook rates 9 inches of pea gravel for falls up to 5 feet and recommends an initial fill of about 12 inches. A 15 × 20 ft play area at 12 inches is 300 cu ft, or 12.2 cubic yards (15.9 tons) with this calculator's 10% extra.
Roughly 1.3 tons (about 2,600 lb) per cubic yard when dry, which is the value this calculator uses. Wet gravel and stone from different quarries can weigh more, so use the density from your supplier's scale ticket if you have it.
How we built this calculator: results use the standard volume, area, and coverage formulas shown on this page, with typical U.S. material densities, bag yields, and waste factors that you can override. Written and checked by the YardsCalculator editorial team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Last updated: May 27, 2026