Pea Gravel Calculator
Calculate pea gravel by cubic yard, ton and 50 lb bag for a walkway, patio, dog run or playground. Pick the use and the calculator checks the depth for you.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Pea gravel needed
- 1.85 cu yd
- 50 cu ft of loose 3/8 in stone
- Weight to order
- 2.5 tons
- 5,000 lb at 1.35 tons per cubic yard; pits sell washed stone by weight
- 50 lb (23 kg) bags
- 100 bags
- 54 bags make one cubic yard and a Quikrete pallet is 56 bags; past about half a yard bulk costs far less and saves the lifting
- Area covered
- 200 sq ft
- At 3 in deep, one ton covers about 80 sq ft
- Edging needed
- 60 ft
- Perimeter of the area. Steel and aluminum edging ships in 8 ft and 16 ft sticks, so that is 8 of the shorter one
Pea Gravel formula
Cubic feet = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (in) / 12
Cubic yards = Cubic feet / 27
Tons = Cubic yards x 1.35
50 lb bags = Cubic feet / 0.5 (54 bags per cubic yard)Worked example
A 30 x 4 ft garden path at 2 in deep: 30 x 4 x (2 / 12) = 20 cubic feet, or 0.74 cubic yards. At 1.35 tons per yard that is 1 ton, which is 40 bags of 50 lb. The path also needs 68 feet of edging, since 3/8 in stone rolls out of any open edge.
A 16 x 20 ft play area under a swing set is a different job. CPSC Table 2 wants pea gravel 12 in deep installed, so 320 sq ft x 1 ft = 320 cubic feet, or 11.85 cubic yards. That is 16 tons, which arrives as one tri-axle load, and it protects only a 5 ft fall height.
Quick reference
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons | Sq ft per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.83 | 120 |
| 3 in | 25.0 | 0.93 | 1.25 | 80 |
| 4 in | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.67 | 60 |
| 6 in | 50.0 | 1.85 | 2.50 | 40 |
| 9 in | 75.0 | 2.78 | 3.75 | 27 |
| 12 in | 100.0 | 3.70 | 5.00 | 20 |
How deep pea gravel goes for each use
Walks and patios take 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel over a compacted base. Go deeper and the surface behaves like dry sand: heels sink, stroller wheels stop, and chair legs dig in. A dog run runs 3 to 4 inches so solids can be picked off the surface and the layer can be rinsed through. Drainage trenches and planter fill are the only places where 6 inches or more of loose round stone earns its keep.
Playground surfacing follows its own table. CPSC Table 2 lists pea gravel at 12 inches installed and 9 inches maintained, and even that only protects a 5 foot fall height, less than wood chips or rubber at the same depth. Loose fill compresses at least 25 percent in service, which is why the installed number is 3 inches over the maintained number. The use zone runs 6 feet beyond the equipment in every direction, so measure the zone, not the swing set.
Base, edging and delivery
Pea gravel is washed round stone with no fines, so nothing binds it. Poured straight on soil it works down into the dirt within a season and comes up as muddy stone. Build the same way a paver walk is built: excavate, lay a woven geotextile separation fabric, compact 3 to 4 inches of crusher run, then top with the pea gravel. Skip the fabric over clay and you buy the gravel twice.
Every edge needs a restraint. Steel or aluminum landscape edging in 8 or 16 foot sticks, a paver soldier course, or 4x6 timbers all work; plastic roll edging pushes over when a wheelbarrow crosses it. Bulk stone is sold by the ton and delivered in one pile, so pick the drop spot first: a yard of pea gravel is 2,700 lb and about 5 heaped wheelbarrow loads. Under about half a yard, bagged gravel avoids the delivery fee, which typically runs $75 to $150 per load in 2026 regardless of load size.
What this calculator leaves out
The base course, the geotextile fabric, edging and its stakes, and excavation and haul-off of the spoil. Also the delivery fee, the compaction allowance on the base (crusher run loses 15 to 25 percent under a plate compactor), and the annual top-up as stone works into the base. For playgrounds it leaves out the containment curb, drainage layer, wear mats under swings and slide exits, and the ASTM F1292 impact testing the surfacing has to pass.
Mistakes that cost money
- Pea gravel poured on bare soil sinks in and turns to mud tracks; it needs 3 to 4 in of compacted crusher run under it.
- No edge restraint: rounded 3/8 stone rolls into the lawn, and the first mowing throws it at windows and shins.
- Ordering in cubic yards from a pit that sells by the ton gets a guess; convert at 1.35 tons per yard and order weight.
- Pea gravel under pavers, a shed or a slab never locks up under a plate compactor, so those bases need crusher run.
- Loose pea gravel fails the firm and stable surface test in ASTM F1951, so it blocks wheelchair and stroller access on playgrounds.
- Playground pea gravel raked level once a year drops below 9 in under swings and slide exits, which is where falls land.
Key facts
- Pea gravel is screened 3/8 in rounded stone; one cubic yard weighs about 1.35 tons and covers 108 sq ft at 3 in deep.
- A 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cubic feet, so 54 bags make a cubic yard and a factory pallet holds 56 bags.
- One ton covers about 120 sq ft at 2 in, 80 sq ft at 3 in and 60 sq ft at 4 in.
- CPSC Table 2 lists pea gravel at 12 in installed and 9 in maintained, which protects a 5 ft fall height; loose fill compresses at least 25 percent in use.
- A playground use zone extends 6 ft beyond the equipment in every direction, and swings need more, so surfacing covers far more area than the deck footprint.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of pea gravel do I need?
Take the cubic yards and multiply by 1.35. A 20 x 10 ft area at 3 in deep is 1.85 cubic yards, or 2.5 tons. One ton covers about 80 sq ft at 3 in.
How many bags of pea gravel are in a cubic yard?
54 bags at 50 lb each, since one bag holds about 0.5 cubic feet. That is 2,700 lb of bags, so anything past half a yard is cheaper and easier in bulk.
Do I need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
Yes, use a woven geotextile separation fabric between the soil and the base course, not the thin weed cloth sold in rolls. It stops the stone from pumping down into the soil. Weeds still sprout in the dust that collects on top, so plan on spot spraying either way.
Is pea gravel safe under a swing set?
Only at depth. CPSC Table 2 lists pea gravel at 12 in installed and 9 in maintained, and that protects a 5 ft fall height. Measure your highest deck or swing seat first; if it is over 5 ft, use a deeper tested surfacing. Pea gravel is also a choking size for toddlers and is not accessible to wheelchairs.
Sources and references
- QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel No. 1151 (3/8 in pea gravel), 50 lb bag (Quikrete)
- QUIKRETE Sand and Gravel Products data sheet (No. 1151 top size and bag sizes) (Quikrete)
- Public Playground Safety Handbook, Table 2 loose-fill surfacing depths (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- C075 Guide to Mulches (pea gravel for paths and around plants) (Washington State University Extension)
Next steps for this project
The usual order for a landscaping & outdoor project. See all landscaping & outdoor calculators.
Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.