Find out exactly how much pea gravel your path, patio, dog run, or garden bed needs — in tons, cubic yards, bags, and estimated cost.
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Depth:
2″ for paths/patios, 3–4″ for play areas and dog runs.
Sets the density used to convert volume → tons.
Pea gravel barely compacts, so a small spillage/waste margin is enough.
Pea gravel often runs ~$35–65 / ton delivered.
You will need
Estimated pea gravel cost:
Bags assume 0.5 cu ft each (≈50 lb bag). Tons are US (short) tons. Pea gravel weight varies with moisture — always round up and confirm with your supplier.
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How much pea gravel do I need?
Pea gravel is sold by the ton or cubic yard. Work out the volume, then convert:
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Multiply cubic yards by the density to get tons. Pea gravel weighs roughly 1.3 tons per cubic yard.
As a rule of thumb, one ton of pea gravel covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, or roughly 70 sq ft at 3 inches.
How deep should pea gravel be?
Use
Depth
Topping up an existing surface
1 inch
Path / patio
2 inches
Play area / dog run
3 inches
Loose-fill driveway (over a base)
3–4 inches
Pea gravel densities used
Type
Density (tons / cu yd)
Pea gravel (⅜″)
1.30
Washed pea gravel
1.30
River pebble / decorative
1.35
Densities are typical averages; actual weight varies with moisture and source. Use them as a close estimate.
Pea gravel FAQs
How much pea gravel do I need for a patio?
Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.3 for tons. For example, a 20 × 10 ft patio at 2 inches deep needs about 1.23 cubic yards, or roughly 1.6 tons of pea gravel.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of pea gravel?
About 1.3 US tons per cubic yard for most pea gravel. Larger decorative river pebble is slightly heavier at around 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
How much area does a ton of pea gravel cover?
About 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, or roughly 70 square feet at 3 inches. One cubic yard (≈1.3 tons) covers about 160 sq ft at 2 inches.
How deep should pea gravel be?
2 inches is right for paths and patios, and 3 inches for play areas or dog runs. Going much deeper than 3–4 inches makes pea gravel feel loose and hard to walk on, since the round stones don’t lock together.
Does pea gravel need a base?
For paths and patios a compacted crushed-stone base under the pea gravel stops it sinking into the soil and keeps it stable. Pea gravel itself doesn’t compact, so it’s best used as a top layer rather than a structural base.