How to calculate how much pea gravel you need
Pea gravel is sold by the cubic yard, by the ton, or in bags that hold half a cubic foot. Work out the volume first, then convert it to tons or bags.
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × 1.25–1.50 tons per cubic yard
bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5, rounded up
Divide the depth by 12 because it is in inches and the other two sizes are in feet. Divide by 27 because a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
Example: a 10 × 10 ft patio, 3 inches deep
- Volume: 10 × 10 × 3 ÷ 12 = 25 cu ft
- Cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cu yd
- Weight: 0.93 × 1.25–1.50 = 1.16–1.39 tons
- Bags: 25 ÷ 0.5 = 50 bags of 0.5 cu ft
Example: a 12 × 16 ft play area
Following the CPSC handbook, install 12 inches so that 9 inches remain after the fill settles (see the depth table below).
- Volume: 12 × 16 × 12 ÷ 12 = 192 cu ft
- Cubic yards: 192 ÷ 27 = 7.11 cu yd
- Weight: 7.11 × 1.25–1.50 = 8.9–10.7 tons
- In bags that would be 192 ÷ 0.5 = 384 bags, so order bulk: by volume it is 2 single-axle dump truck loads of about 6 cu yd, or one tandem load.
How deep to spread pea gravel
| Use | Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative path or accent area | at least 2 in | Stone Center, a landscape supplier[1] |
| Walkway or patio surface | 2–3 in | A common range; no published standard |
| Play area under equipment | 9 in after settling (install 12 in) | CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook[2] |
We found no building code, extension service or trade group that sets a depth for a loose pea gravel path or patio. The 2-inch minimum comes from one Ohio landscape supplier, and 3 inches is the default in this calculator.
Play areas are different, because the gravel is there to cushion falls. In the CPSC handbook, 9 inches of pea gravel protects to a fall height of 5 ft, and “loose-fill materials will compress at least 25% over time.” CPSC’s own example is to install 12 inches so that 9 inches remain.[2] Enter 12 in above; the calculator does not add anything for settling.
Pea gravel or #8 crushed stone?
The two are about the same size and are measured the same way. The difference is shape: pea gravel is rounded stone, while #8 (and the similar #89) is crushed stone of pea size. The numbers are AASHTO size designations, and the Federal Highway Administration tested #8 and #89 as open-graded aggregates, meaning clean stone without fines.[3]
By the ton the two are close: 1.25–1.50 tons per cubic yard for pea gravel and 1.15–1.40 for #8. The CPSC fall-height rating above is for pea gravel. If your supplier sells #8 instead, choose it in the calculator.
How much pea gravel weighs
We found no primary test data for bulk pea gravel. The range here comes from general gravel tables and bag labels: Caterpillar lists dry ¼–2 in gravel at 2,850 lb per cubic yard, the U.S. Army’s earthmoving manual gives 2,700–3,000 lb for dry gravel, and 45–50 lb bags of 0.5 cu ft work out to 90–100 lb per cubic foot.[4][5][6][7] One Ohio landscape supplier lists pea gravel a little heavier, at 1.4–1.6 tons per cubic yard.[1]
| Stone | Tons per cu yd | Pounds per cu ft | Cu yd per ton | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (rounded, about ⅜ in) | 1.25–1.50 | 93–111 | 0.73 | [4][5][8] |
| #8 / #89 crushed stone (⅜ in, pea-size) | 1.15–1.40 | 85–104 | 0.78 | [3][9] |
| River rock (1–3 in) | 1.30–1.45 | 96–107 | 0.73 | [10][11] |
“Cu yd per ton” uses the middle of the range. One ton of pea gravel is 18.0–21.6 cubic feet (27 ÷ 1.50 to 27 ÷ 1.25).
Bags of pea gravel
Bagged pea gravel at US home centers comes in 0.5 cu ft bags weighing 45 to 50 lb: Pavestone 45 lb, Classic Stone 47 lb, Kolor Scape 48 lb and EarthEssentials by QUIKRETE 50 lb.[6][12][8][7] The bag count depends on volume, not weight, so all of them give the same count. The Kolor Scape and EarthEssentials listings say one bag covers 3 sq ft at 2 inches, which is the same 0.5 cu ft.
| Depth | One 0.5 cu ft bag covers | Bags per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 3.0 sq ft | 34 |
| 3 in | 2.0 sq ft | 50 |
| 4 in | 1.5 sq ft | 67 |
| 12 in | 0.5 sq ft | 200 |
A cubic yard is 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags. Past a cubic yard or two, compare the bag price × the bag count with your supplier’s delivered price per ton or per yard.
Hauling pea gravel
An 8 ft pickup bed holds about 2 cubic yards level, but weight runs out first: Ford’s half-ton F-150 tops out at 2,440 lb of payload in its best configuration.[13][14] At 1.25–1.50 tons per cubic yard, 2,000 lb of pea gravel is only 0.67–0.80 cubic yards, so the calculator counts pickup trips by weight. Check the payload label inside your driver’s door. Single-axle dump trucks usually carry about 6 cubic yards and tandem trucks 12–14.[15] Heavy stone can reach a truck’s weight limit before the bed is full, so ask your supplier how many tons they put on one truck.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate how much pea gravel I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches ÷ 12 to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by 1.25–1.50 for tons, or divide cubic feet by 0.5 for bags.
How much area does a 50 lb bag of pea gravel cover?
A 50 lb bag holds 0.5 cubic feet. It covers 3 sq ft at 2 inches deep and 2 sq ft at 3 inches.
How much pea gravel to cover a 10x10 area?
At 2 inches deep, 16.7 cubic feet (0.62 cu yd), or 34 bags. At 3 inches, 25 cubic feet (0.93 cu yd, about 1.2–1.4 tons), or 50 bags.
How much is a truck load of pea gravel?
By volume, a single-axle dump truck carries about 6 cubic yards (7.5–9.0 tons of pea gravel) and a tandem truck 12–14 cubic yards; legal weight limits often mean less, so ask the supplier how many tons they load. A pickup with 2,000 lb of payload carries only 0.67–0.80 cubic yards. Prices vary by region, so ask your supplier.
How much will 1 ton of pea gravel cover?
One ton is 18.0–21.6 cubic feet. That covers about 108–130 sq ft at 2 inches or 72–86 sq ft at 3 inches.
Related calculators
Sources
- Stone Center (landscape supplier, Ohio), Landscape Rock Calculator. Supplier guidance (secondary source): pea gravel at least 2 in deep; pea gravel 1.4–1.6 tons per cu yd. Checked 2026-09-26.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325). Loose-fill depths for pea gravel and sand. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Federal Highway Administration, Strength Characterization of Open-Graded Aggregates for Structural Backfills (FHWA-HRT-15-034). Laboratory densities of #57, #67, #8 and #89 stone. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Caterpillar, Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 50: Weight of Materials. Checked 2026-09-26.
- U.S. Army, FM 5-434 Earthmoving Operations, Table 1-2: Material weight and swell. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Hemlock Hardware (product listing), Pavestone 0.5 cu ft 45 lb pea gravel. Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), EarthEssentials by QUIKRETE 0.5 cu ft 50 lb pea gravel. Bag weight and volume; 3 sq ft at 2 in. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), Kolor Scape 0.5 cu ft pea gravel, 48 lb. Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Martin Marietta, Product Calculator (material density table). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), Kolor Scape 0.5 cu ft river rock, 50 lb. Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- North Bay Materials, Landscape Materials Density Chart. Supplier chart (secondary source). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), 0.5 cu ft 47 lb brown pea gravel (Classic Stone). Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Landscape Recycling Center (Champaign–Urbana), Measurements. Pickup bed capacities. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Ford Motor Company, 2026 F-150 specifications. Maximum payload 2,440 lb in the best configuration. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Texas Department of Transportation, Seal Coat and Surface Treatment Manual: Haul Trucks, Size. Single-axle about 6 cu yd; tandem 12–14 cu yd. Checked 2026-09-26.