Pea Gravel Calculator
Pea gravel is ⅜″ rounded stone sold by the ton bulk or in 50 lb bags. Two inches is enough for a path or patio over a compacted base; go to 3″ for a play area and 12″ or more in a French drain. It rolls underfoot, so keep it edged.
Order 1.25 t — sold by the ton bulk; a pickup carries about ½ ton.
- Area
- 120 ft²
- Volume (20.0 ft³)
- 0.74 yd³
- Net weight @ 1.40 t/yd³
- 2,074 lb · 1.04 t
- Waste / settling 5%
- + 0.05 t
- Order quantity
- 1.09 tons
- Truckloads
- 1 × tri-axle dump (≈20 t)
- Metric
- 0.57 m³ · 0.99 tonnes
- 50 lb bag (0.5 ft³)
- 42 bags
- Materials + delivery$30–$70 / ton · Sep 2026
- $123 – $173
- Installed (with labor)typ. $174
- $144 – $227
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
What will this pea gravel job cost?
See the installed price range for these quantities and get up to 3 quotes from local contractors. Free, no obligation.
Common patio sizes, answered
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 8×8 Patio?64 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 10×10 Patio?100 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 10×12 Patio?120 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 12×12 Patio?144 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 12×16 Patio?192 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 14×14 Patio?196 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 15×15 Patio?225 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 16×16 Patio?256 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 16×20 Patio?320 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 20×20 Patio?400 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 20×24 Patio?480 ft²
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 24×24 Patio?576 ft²
How to calculate pea gravel by hand
Tons = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.4 t/yd³
Worked example
- Area: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 ft².
- Volume: 120 ft² × (2 in ÷ 12) = 20 ft³ = 0.74 yd³.
- Weight: 0.74 yd³ × 1.4 t/yd³ = 1.04 tons.
- Waste 5%: 1.04 × 1.05 = 1.09 tons → order 1.25 tons.
- Bagged: 21 ft³ ÷ 0.5 ft³ = 42 × 50 lb bags.
- 1 ton of pea gravel at 2″
- ≈ 115 ft²
- 1 ton of pea gravel at 3″
- ≈ 77 ft²
- 1 yd³ pea gravel
- ≈ 2,800 lb · 1.4 t
- 50 lb bag at 2″
- ≈ 3 ft²
Questions crews ask
How much pea gravel do I need?
Square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324 gives cubic yards; × 1.4 gives tons. A 12 × 10 ft patio at 2″ needs 0.74 yd³, about 1.1 tons, or 42 × 50 lb bags. Order 1.25 tons bulk.
How many bags of pea gravel in a ton?
About 40 — a 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 ft³. Bags cost $4–$7 each ($160–$280 per ton), so bulk at $30–$70 per ton plus delivery wins above about half a ton.
How deep should pea gravel be?
2 inches over a compacted base for paths and patios; more than 3″ gets hard to walk on because the round stones roll. Play areas 3″ over fabric. Drainage trenches and French drains fill the full trench depth around the pipe.
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) dry. Wet it can reach 3,000 lb. A half-ton pickup should carry no more than a third of a yard.
Does pea gravel need a base?
For a patio or path, yes: 2–3″ of compacted ¾″ minus under landscape fabric keeps it from sinking into the soil and stops weeds. In a planting bed 2″ straight onto fabric is fine.