Pea Gravel Cost: Price per Ton, Yard & Bag
Quick answer: Bulk pea gravel typically costs $40 to $65 per ton or $50 to $85 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, depending on your region and how much you order. Bagged pea gravel from a home improvement store runs three to five times more per yard once you add up the bags.
For most driveways, patios, and drainage beds, ordering 3/8 inch natural pea gravel by the ton or yard in bulk beats paying retail bag prices, especially once a project needs more than half a yard of stone.
Pea Gravel Price by Unit
Pea gravel cost breaks down differently depending on whether you buy it bagged at a store or delivered in bulk, and the per-yard price swings hard between the two.
| Unit | Typical Price | Price per Yard Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft bag | $4 to $6 | $220 to $325 |
| 10 bags (5 cu ft) | $38 to $58 | $205 to $315 |
| Half cubic yard, bulk | $30 to $50 | $60 to $100 |
| 1 cubic yard, bulk | $50 to $85 | $50 to $85 |
| 1 ton, bulk | $40 to $65 | $52 to $85 |
| 10-ton truckload | $380 to $550 | $49 to $71 |
Notice the half yard bulk load costs more per yard than a full yard. Delivery trucks charge a minimum trip fee, so small bulk orders lose some of their price advantage over bags.
Bulk vs Bagged: The Real Math
Buying pea gravel in bulk almost always beats bagged pea gravel on price, because bulk delivery skips retail packaging and markup entirely.
- Fifty-four 0.5 cubic foot bags fill one cubic yard.
- Bagged pea gravel runs 3 to 5 times more per yard than a bulk delivery.
- The crossover point sits around half a yard: below that, bags are usually more convenient; above it, bulk wins on price every time.
A 200 square foot dog run at 2 inches deep needs about 1.5 tons of pea gravel. Buying that many bags would run $700 or more, while a bulk delivery typically lands closer to $90 to $130.
What Changes Pea Gravel Prices
Pea gravel cost depends more on where the stone comes from and how far it has to travel than on the stone itself.
- Color and source: river-washed pea gravel with rounded, uniform stones typically costs more than local pit-run pea gravel.
- Delivery distance from the pit or supply yard.
- Load size: small orders carry minimum delivery fees, large orders earn bulk discounts.
- Regional supply: markets far from an active quarry pay more, since gravel is heavy and cheap relative to what it costs to move.
The USGS Natural Aggregates statistics confirm that transportation is usually the single largest cost component in aggregate pricing, since low-value bulk material like gravel becomes uneconomical to haul long distances. That’s why pea gravel prices near me can vary by $20 or more per ton between two towns thirty miles apart.
Installed Project Costs
Material price is only part of the bill. Edging, fabric, and depth all move the final number.
Pea Gravel Patio (100 sq ft)
A 100 square foot pea gravel patio at 2 inches deep needs roughly 1 ton of stone. Material alone typically runs $50 to $90, but a finished patio also needs landscape fabric underneath and edging to keep the stone contained, which pushes the full DIY cost to $250 to $450. Browse our pea gravel landscaping ideas for layout and edging options before you order.
Garden Path (50 ft)
A 50 foot path, 3 feet wide and 2 inches deep, covers about 150 square feet and takes roughly 1.5 tons of pea gravel. Expect $75 to $130 for stone alone, or $200 to $350 installed once edging is added to stop the gravel from migrating into the lawn.
Playground Surface
Playground pea gravel needs a deeper base than a patio because it has to cushion falls. The CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook recommends installing loose-fill surfacing about 12 inches deep to leave a 9 inch settled depth, since loose fill compresses roughly 25 percent over time. A 200 square foot play area at that depth needs 5 to 6 tons of pea gravel, running $250 to $400 in material. Some parents pick a playground sand option instead for a softer, dust-free surface under swings and slides.
Between Pavers or in Planters
Small jobs like paver joints or topping off planters rarely need more than a couple of bags. Two 0.5 cubic foot bags, $8 to $15 total, covers most touch-up jobs without triggering a delivery minimum.
How Much Pea Gravel Do You Need?
Pea gravel coverage runs roughly 100 square feet per ton at 2 inches deep, or about 70 square feet per ton at 3 inches.
| Depth | Coverage per Ton |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | About 100 sq ft |
| 3 inches | About 70 sq ft |
To find your own number, multiply length by width in feet, divide by the coverage figure above for your depth, and round up to the nearest half ton. For exact totals on an irregular bed or curved path, run the dimensions through our gravel calculator instead of estimating by eye.
Pea Gravel vs the Alternatives on Price
Pea gravel usually costs less per ton than river rock but more than basic crushed stone. River rock, sized 2 to 4 inches, typically runs $50 to $110 per ton because of more selective sourcing and screening, while 3/4 inch crushed stone often costs $30 to $50 per ton at the same yard. Decomposed granite falls in between, usually $45 to $75 per ton, and works better where you want a firmer walking surface instead of loose, rolling stone. See the full breakdown in our pea gravel vs river rock comparison if looks and upkeep matter as much as price.
FAQs
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 2,600 pounds dry, or roughly 1.3 tons. Wet stone or a heavily compacted load can weigh somewhat more, so most suppliers round up when calculating delivery weight.
How much area does a ton of pea gravel cover?
One ton of pea gravel covers about 100 square feet at a 2 inch depth, or around 70 square feet at 3 inches. Thinner layers stretch the coverage further but wear thin and expose the base layer faster.
Is pea gravel cheaper than river rock?
Yes, pea gravel is generally cheaper than river rock. Pea gravel typically runs $40 to $65 per ton, while river rock usually costs $50 to $110 per ton because larger stones require more selective screening.
How much pea gravel do I need per square foot?
At a standard 2 inch depth, one square foot of coverage needs about 20 pounds of pea gravel, or roughly one-hundredth of a ton. Multiply your square footage by that figure, then round up to account for settling and edges.
Is bulk pea gravel cheaper than bags?
Yes, bulk pea gravel is almost always cheaper than bagged pea gravel once you need more than about half a cubic yard. Bagged stone runs 3 to 5 times more per yard than a bulk delivery, since you’re paying for packaging and retail handling on top of the material itself.
