Pea Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and depth to see how much pea gravel you need in cubic yards, tons and bags, for a patio, path, dog run or playground.
How much does a yard of pea gravel cover?
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | One 0.5 cu ft bag covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 3 sq ft |
| 2.5 in | 130 sq ft | 2.4 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 2 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 1 sq ft |
| 9 in | 36 sq ft | 0.7 sq ft |
Pea gravel for common area sizes
At 2.5 inches deep, including 10% extra for settling.
| Area | Cubic yards | 0.5 cu ft bags | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft (32 sq ft) | 0.27 | 15 | 0.37 |
| 10 × 10 ft (100 sq ft) | 0.85 | 46 | 1.15 |
| 10 × 20 ft (200 sq ft) | 1.7 | 92 | 2.29 |
| 12 × 24 ft (288 sq ft) | 2.44 | 132 | 3.3 |
| 20 × 20 ft (400 sq ft) | 3.4 | 184 | 4.58 |
| 20 × 40 ft (800 sq ft) | 6.79 | 367 | 9.17 |
| 30 × 50 ft (1,500 sq ft) | 12.73 | 688 | 17.19 |
How deep should pea gravel be?
- 2–3 inches for paths and patios. Deeper than that and it feels like walking on a beach.
- 3 inches for dog runs and around fire pits.
- About 9 inches for playground surfacing under equipment, which US consumer safety guidance lists for falls from up to about 5 feet. Check the current guidance for your equipment's height.
Pea gravel shifts underfoot, so it needs edging to hold it in place, and a compacted base or landscape fabric underneath to stop it sinking into the soil.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
Roughly 1.3 to 1.4 tons (about 2,700 pounds) per cubic yard, depending on moisture.
How much pea gravel do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
At 2.5 inches deep, a 10 × 10 foot patio needs about 0.77 cubic yards, or about 0.85 with 10% extra: order 1 cubic yard.