Pea Gravel Calculator

Calculate the exact amount of pea gravel needed for your landscaping, patio, or driveway project. Get instant estimates in tons, cubic yards, and standard bags.

Length feet Please enter a positive number

Width feet Please enter a positive number

Depth inches Standard depth is 2–3 inches for patios Please enter a valid depth

Calculation Results

Pea gravel needed

— tons

Based on a standard density of 2,600 lbs per cubic yard.

How to use this pea gravel calculator

Measure your area

Input the length and width of your project space in feet. For circular areas, treat them as squares and expect a little extra material.

Determine the depth

Enter the thickness of the gravel layer in inches. For general landscaping and patios, 2 to 3 inches is the standard recommendation.

Get your instant material list

The tool instantly calculates the required tons and cubic yards for bulk deliveries, as well as the number of standard bags for smaller projects.

Pea Gravel Tonnage by Coverage Area (1.3 Tons per Cubic Yard)

Coverage Area	Depth (Thickness)	Cubic Yards	Tons Required
100 sq ft	2 inches	0.62 yd³	0.8 Tons
100 sq ft	3 inches	0.93 yd³	1.2 Tons
100 sq ft	4 inches	1.23 yd³	1.6 Tons
100 sq ft	6 inches	1.85 yd³	2.4 Tons
250 sq ft	2 inches	1.54 yd³	2.0 Tons
250 sq ft	3 inches	2.31 yd³	3.0 Tons
250 sq ft	4 inches	3.09 yd³	4.0 Tons
250 sq ft	6 inches	4.63 yd³	6.0 Tons
500 sq ft	2 inches	3.09 yd³	4.0 Tons
500 sq ft	3 inches	4.63 yd³	6.0 Tons
500 sq ft	4 inches	6.17 yd³	8.0 Tons
500 sq ft	6 inches	9.26 yd³	12.0 Tons
1000 sq ft	2 inches	6.17 yd³	8.0 Tons
1000 sq ft	3 inches	9.26 yd³	12.0 Tons
1000 sq ft	4 inches	12.35 yd³	16.0 Tons
1000 sq ft	6 inches	18.52 yd³	24.1 Tons
2000 sq ft	2 inches	12.35 yd³	16.0 Tons
2000 sq ft	3 inches	18.52 yd³	24.1 Tons
2000 sq ft	4 inches	24.69 yd³	32.1 Tons
2000 sq ft	6 inches	37.04 yd³	48.1 Tons
5000 sq ft	2 inches	30.86 yd³	40.1 Tons
5000 sq ft	3 inches	46.30 yd³	60.2 Tons
5000 sq ft	4 inches	61.73 yd³	80.2 Tons
5000 sq ft	6 inches	92.59 yd³	120.4 Tons

Frequently asked questions

How much pea gravel do I need for a 10x10 patio?

For a 10x10 area at a standard depth of 2 inches, you need approximately 0.62 cubic yards, which is about 0.8 tons of pea gravel. If you are buying bags, it's roughly 34 standard 0.5 cubic foot bags.

How deep should pea gravel be?

For foot traffic areas like patios and walkways, a depth of 2 to 3 inches is ideal. Going deeper than 3 inches can make it difficult to walk through, acting like deep sand. For driveways, a minimum depth of 4 inches is required.

How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of pea gravel typically weighs about 2,600 pounds, or 1.3 tons. Keep in mind that moisture content can slightly increase this weight, especially if the gravel has been exposed to rain at the supplier's yard.

Should I buy pea gravel in bags or in bulk?

Buying in bulk (by the ton or cubic yard) from a landscape supplier is significantly cheaper. However, for very small projects requiring less than half a cubic yard (under 27 bags), purchasing 0.5 cubic foot bags from a hardware store might be more convenient.

About this calculator

This pea gravel calculator helps homeowners and landscapers estimate exact material quantities for outdoor projects. Whether you are filling a fire pit area, creating a garden walkway, or laying a driveway, ordering the correct amount of gravel saves both time and delivery costs.

The calculations are based on the standard density of pea gravel and dimensional conversions:

Volume (Cubic Feet) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Depth (in) ÷ 12)
Volume (Cubic Yards) = Cubic Feet ÷ 27

Tons Needed = Cubic Yards × 1.3
Bags Needed = Cubic Feet ÷ 0.5 (assuming standard 0.5 cu ft bags)

We highly recommend installing a landscaping fabric or weed barrier underneath your pea gravel. This not only prevents weeds from growing through the stones but also stops the gravel from slowly sinking into the soil over time.