Enter your dimensions, get tons and cubic yards of pea gravel, then order 3/8″ natural stone delivered in bulk.
Pea gravel weighs 1.35 tons per cubic yard, so a 4 × 25 ft path at 3 inches deep needs 1.3 tons. That is all this page does: the same math for your dimensions, plus the cushion that makes one delivery finish the job.
Ours is 3/8 inch natural stone, rounded and smooth. Comfortable underfoot on walkways, patios, play areas and dog runs. The round shape has one catch: the stones never lock together the way crushed rock does, so depth and edging matter more here than with any other material we sell.
How to measure for pea gravel
- Measure length and width in feet (diameter for a circular fire-pit surround).
- Pick a depth: 2 inches on patios over a compacted base, 3 on walkways, 9 in playground fall zones.
- Calculate, check the recommended tonnage, order.
L-shaped path? Add a second area and the calculator sums the sections.
The formula, with a worked example
cubic yards = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × 1.35
A 4 × 25 ft garden path at 3 inches: 25 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards. Times 1.35 gives 1.3 tons. Small orders carry the 20% cushion, so the calculator recommends 1.5 tons even.
How much does a ton of pea gravel cover?
Pea gravel at 1.35 tons per cubic yard (about 2,700 lb):
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 40 sq ft |
How much does pea gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 2,700 pounds, which is 1.35 tons. Per ton you get roughly 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 at 3 inches. Damp stone weighs a little more. We sell by weight, so moisture is our problem, not yours.
Pea gravel FAQs
How much does a ton of pea gravel cover?
About 120 square feet at a 2-inch depth, or 80 square feet at 3 inches. A full cubic yard (1.35 tons) covers about 160 square feet at 2 inches.
How deep should pea gravel be for a walkway?
2 to 3 inches. Deep enough to hide the fabric and cushion footsteps, shallow enough to stay firm. Past 4 inches the surface actually gets harder to walk on, because the round stones shift underfoot.
How deep should pea gravel be for a playground?
US consumer-safety (CPSC) guidance calls for 9 inches of loose-fill material under play equipment. Never less than 6. Rake it level regularly, since it scatters in high-traffic spots.
Do I need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
Yes, in almost every installation. Fabric blocks weeds and stops the gravel sinking into soil. The one exception is where drainage into the ground is the whole point, like a French-drain surround.
How many bags of pea gravel equal a ton?
About 40 half-cubic-foot bags. Bagged stone usually costs 3–5 times more per pound than bulk. Past 20 bags or so, bulk delivery wins.
