Pea Gravel Calculator
Estimate pea gravel needed for paths, playgrounds, and drainage.
Pea Gravel Calculator
What This Calculator Does
The Pea Gravel Calculator computes the cubic yards and tons of pea gravel needed for pathways, playgrounds, drainage beds, and decorative landscaping. Enter the area and depth to get the volume, weight, and recommended order amount with waste.
Pea gravel (3/8-inch to 1/2-inch smooth, rounded stones) is a popular decorative aggregate used for pathways, playground surfaces, garden borders, and as a topdressing over weed barrier fabric. Unlike crushed stone, pea gravel does not compact into a solid surface - it remains loose, making it ideal for areas where you want drainage and a natural appearance. Its density is slightly lower than crushed stone at approximately 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
The calculator provides cubic yards for bulk ordering and tons for weighed delivery, plus the +10% waste line so you don't come up short for edge details and filling irregularities.
How to Use
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
- Select the desired depth: 2 in for light ground cover, 3 in for standard paths.
- Enter dimensions into the calculator fields above.
- Click "Calculate" to get cubic yards and tons.
- Order from your landscape supply yard - pea gravel is sold by cubic yard or ton.
Worked Examples
Garden Pathway Installation
A 4 ft wide by 30 ft long garden pathway using pea gravel at 3-inch depth over landscape fabric.
- →Area: 4 ft x 30 ft = 120 sq ft.
- →Depth in feet: 3 in / 12 = 0.25 ft.
- →Cubic feet: 120 x 0.25 = 30 cu ft.
- →Cubic yards: 30 / 27 = 1.11 cu yd.
- →With 10% waste for edge details: 1.11 x 1.10 = 1.22 cu yd.
- →Weight at 1.35 tons/cu yd: 1.22 x 1.35 = 1.65 tons — order 1.7 tons.
Result: Approximately 1.2 cubic yards (1.7 tons) of pea gravel needed for a 4x30 ft pathway at 3 inches deep.
Edge restraints (metal or plastic) keep pea gravel contained in pathways. Without edging, the gravel spreads into adjacent beds within one season, requiring annual re-raking and topping up.
Reference Table
| Path Area | Depth 2 in | Depth 3 in | Depth 4 in | Tons (3 in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 20 ft | 0.62 cu yd | 0.93 cu yd | 1.23 cu yd | 1.3 tons |
| 10 x 20 ft | 1.23 cu yd | 1.85 cu yd | 2.47 cu yd | 2.5 tons |
| 10 x 40 ft | 2.47 cu yd | 3.70 cu yd | 4.94 cu yd | 5.0 tons |
| 15 x 30 ft | 2.78 cu yd | 4.17 cu yd | 5.56 cu yd | 5.6 tons |
| 20 x 50 ft | 6.17 cu yd | 9.26 cu yd | 12.35 cu yd | 12.5 tons |
Related Calculators
Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards or tons of gravel for driveways and paths.
Landscape Rock Calculator
Find tons of decorative rock needed for landscaping beds.
Sand Calculator
Find how much sand you need for pavers, sandboxes, or leveling.
Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate cubic yards for concrete, fill dirt, and bulk materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Material Calculators
Explore all 25 material calculators