Exact material estimates for every home & DIY project.

Pea Gravel Calculator

A pea gravel calculator works out how much pea gravel you need — in cubic yards, tons and bags — for a patio, path, play area or garden top-dressing, from the area and depth.

Your measurements

Result
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Because the stones are small and rounded, pea gravel goes down shallow (about 2 in as a top layer) and looks best over landscape fabric with an edge to keep it in place.

How it is calculated

Volume = area × depth, in cubic yards. Tons use ~1.4 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel migrates without an edge, so keep top layers shallow over a firm, fabric-lined base.

Steps

  1. Enter the area, or its length and width.
  2. Set the depth — about 2 in as a decorative top layer.
  3. Read the cubic yards and tons for bulk, or bags for a small area.
  4. Lay landscape fabric and an edge restraint first.
  5. Order a little extra to top up over time.

Worked example

A 200 sq ft path at 2 in deep needs about 1.23 cubic yards of pea gravel — roughly 1.7 tons.

Common questions

How deep should pea gravel be?
About 2 in as a top layer. Deeper feels loose underfoot and spreads, so use an edge restraint.
How many tons of pea gravel per yard?
Roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, similar to other gravels.
Do I need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
Yes — it blocks weeds and stops the small stones sinking into the soil.
Will pea gravel wash away?
On slopes or without edging it can migrate. Edge it and keep the depth modest.

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