Pea gravel calculator · tons
Pea Gravel Calculator
How much pea gravel do you need? Measure your paths, patio or play area and get the tons.
1 · Material
Pea Gravel (#89) · sold by the ton
2 · Two quick choices: depth, then size
2a · Pick a depthLength × width in feet. Add as many areas as you need; we add them up.
Recommended order
2 tons
of Pea Gravel (#89)
≈ 1.5 yd³ · covers 120 sq ft at 3″ · 1 dump truck
120 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 1.11 yd³ × 1.35 t/yd³ = 1.5 tons. Plus 10% for compaction and spreading, rounded up to a whole ton.
3 · Get your delivered quote
One ton of pea gravel
- ≈ 0.74 yd³ (20 cu ft)
- covers 80 sq ft at 3″
- a yd³ weighs about 2,700 lb
- a full truck is about 21 tons
About this material: Pea Gravel (#89) →
How much does a ton of pea gravel cover?
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × the material’s density. The calculator then adds the buffer for compaction and spreading and rounds up. Tons use our catalog densities: pea gravel 1.35 t/yd³.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Depth | Used for | Coverage | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2″ | Decorative cover over a firm base. | 120 sq ft per ton | 0.83 tons |
| 3″ | Most paths and patios. (typical) | 80 sq ft per ton | 1.25 tons |
| 4″ | Dog runs and play areas. | 60 sq ft per ton | 1.67 tons |
Before the buffer. Updated November 2026
How much pea gravel for common projects
Swipe the table sideways →
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard walkway 3 ft × 30 ft | 3″ | 90 sq ft | ~0.9 cubic yards |
| Patio area 10 ft × 12 ft | 3″ | 120 sq ft | ~1.2 cubic yards |
| Playground 20 ft × 20 ft | 6″ | 400 sq ft | ~7.5 cubic yards |
| Decorative bed 200 sq ft | 2″ | 200 sq ft | ~1.3 cubic yards |
| Drainage trench 30 ft × 1 ft | 12″ | 30 sq ft | ~1.2 cubic yards |
Before the buffer. Measure your own areas above for an order quantity.
Pea gravel delivered in Florida
Delivered by dump truck. “From” prices are per ton on a full truck, delivery included; the second line is the smallest load.
Pea gravel mistakes to avoid
Walkways that are too shallow
A 1-inch pea gravel walkway looks fine on day one and is patchy dirt by week two. Plan for 3 inches minimum over a compacted base, with edging on both sides.
No edging at all
Pea gravel will not stay put. Without steel, paver, or timber edging, expect to lose an inch of depth per year as stones scatter into the lawn, mulch beds, and driveway.
Skipping the base layer
Pea gravel on top of bare soil pushes into the dirt under foot traffic and disappears. Lay a 2-inch compacted base of crushed limerock or #57 first, then 2–3 inches of pea gravel on top.
Using pea gravel for driveways
Pea gravel rolls under tires and creates ruts. It is wrong for any vehicle surface. Use #57 stone or recycled asphalt millings for driveways and reserve pea gravel for foot traffic only.
Wrong size for playgrounds
Playground pea gravel should be rounded and roughly ⅜" — not crushed angular stone of the same size. Angular stone has sharp edges. Confirm the product is rounded before using it for play areas.
No landscape fabric
Without geotextile fabric between the soil and the pea gravel, the stones mix into the dirt over a few seasons. Fabric keeps the layers separate and the bed weed-free for years longer.
Pea gravel calculator questions
Need another material? All calculators →
Know how much pea gravel you need? Get your delivered quote.
We’ll quote your 2 tons of pea gravel, delivery included.