October 12, 2026

Pea Gravel Calculator

Estimate cubic yards, tons and bags of pea gravel for a patio, path, planting bed or drainage area. Choose a shape, enter your measurements and compare bulk and bagged cost.

Project

Shape

Length

Width

Number of same-size areas

Depth

Pea gravel density

Custom density (lb/ft³)

Waste / settling

Results in

Cost (optional)

Bulk price

Bulk delivery fee ($)

Bag size (ft³)

Price per bag ($)

–cubic yards

–tons

–bags

–area

Estimates only. Pea gravel weight varies by grade and moisture; confirm quantities with your supplier.

How we calculate it

Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Tons = cubic feet × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000. Published pea gravel densities run from about 90 to 105 lb/ft³, or roughly 1.2 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so this page defaults to 96 lb/ft³ (about 1.3 tons). Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up. Circle area uses π × (diameter ÷ 2)², and triangle area uses ½ × base × height.

Coverage of one cubic yard

Depth	Coverage
1 in	324 sq ft
2 in	162 sq ft
3 in	108 sq ft
4 in	81 sq ft
6 in	54 sq ft

Common project sizes (before waste)

Project	Cubic yards	Tons (1.3 t/yd³)	0.5 ft³ bags
10 × 10 ft at 2 in	0.62	0.80	34
10 × 10 ft at 3 in	0.93	1.20	50
3 × 20 ft path at 3 in	0.56	0.72	30
12 × 12 ft at 3 in	1.33	1.73	72

Choosing depth

Sources vary a little. Around 2 in works for decorative cover, 3 in is common for paths and for patios laid over a compacted base, and drainage beds are often 6 in. Pea gravel is rounded and does not lock together, so edging and a layer of landscape fabric help keep it in place and stop stones sinking. On slopes or driveways, angular crushed stone holds better. See How Deep Should Gravel Be?

Bulk or bagged?

Bags are convenient for small jobs, but a cubic yard takes about 54 bags of 0.5 cubic feet, so bulk delivery is usually cheaper once you need more than a yard or two. Enter both prices above to compare.

FAQ

How much pea gravel for a 10 × 10 ft area at 3 in? About 0.93 cubic yards, or 1.2 tons, before waste.

How many bags in a cubic yard? About 54 bags of 0.5 cubic feet.

Do I need fabric? It is recommended under paths and patios to block weeds. The calculator estimates the area plus about 10% for overlaps.

Is pea gravel the same as river rock? No. Pea gravel is small, about 1/8 to 3/8 in; river rock is larger and smoother.

Gravel Calculator · Driveway Gravel Calculator · Paver Base Calculator · How Much Gravel Do I Need? · How to Measure Your Project Area

Last updated: October 2026.