Pea Gravel Calculator
Use this pea gravel calculator to find out how much pea gravel you need for a path, patio, play area or border. Enter a rectangle, circle or L-shape and a depth, and it gives the amount in tons, cubic yards and bags, how much area each ton covers, and the cost if you add a price.
Pea gravel calculator
Results
Results appear here as you type.
How much pea gravel do I need?
Work out the area, multiply by the depth to get the volume, add a small allowance, then convert to weight or bags:
- Area: length × width for a rectangle; 3.1416 × diameter × diameter ÷ 4 for a circle; for an L-shape, split it into two rectangles that don’t overlap and add them.
- Volume: area (ft²) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 gives cubic yards.
- Allowance: add 10% (or your own figure) for uneven ground and spreading.
- Tons: cubic yards × density. Pea gravel is planned at 1.35 tons per cubic yard here; use your supplier’s figure if you have it.
- Bags: total weight ÷ bag weight, or total volume ÷ bag volume, rounded up to whole bags.
Worked example: a 10 × 4 ft garden path at 2 inches is 40 square feet and 0.25 cubic yards. With a 10% allowance that is 0.27 cubic yards, or 0.37 tons of pea gravel. In 50 lb bags that is 14.67, so you would buy 15 bags.
What depth should pea gravel be?
The project list sets a starting depth that you can change: 2 inches (5 cm) for a path or a border, and 3 inches (7.5 cm) for a patio. These are planning starting points, not rules: a path over firm, well-drained ground can be thinner than one over soft soil, and edging helps keep loose stone in place. Pea gravel’s round stones do not lock together the way crushed stone does, so a deep layer feels soft underfoot.
Play areas: the depth of loose fill needed under play equipment depends on how high a child could fall. Check current playground safety guidance for your equipment before choosing a depth. The calculator’s play area preset is only a starting value to edit.
Pea gravel coverage per ton and per bag
This table shows how far one ton, or one 50 lb bag, of pea gravel spreads at common depths, before any allowance. It uses the 1.35 tons per cubic yard planning density.
| Depth | Square feet per ton | Square feet per 50 lb bag | Bags per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 240.0 | 6.00 | 40 |
| 2 in | 120.0 | 3.00 | 40 |
| 3 in | 80.0 | 2.00 | 40 |
| 4 in | 60.0 | 1.50 | 40 |
| Depth | Square metres per tonne | Square metres per 25 kg bag | Bags per tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 cm | 24.97 | 0.62 | 40 |
| 5 cm | 12.49 | 0.31 | 40 |
| 7.5 cm | 8.32 | 0.21 | 40 |
| 10 cm | 6.24 | 0.16 | 40 |
Bulk tons or bags?
For small jobs, bags are easy to carry and store; for anything larger, bulk delivery by the ton or cubic yard usually means fewer trips. The calculator shows both so you can compare prices: choose per bag or per ton for the price, and it multiplies the exact quantity. Bags are sold by weight (for example 50 lb or 25 kg) or by volume (for example 0.5 ft³), so set the bag size from the label.
Related calculators and guides
- Compare pea gravel with crushed stone and other materials in types of gravel for driveways, including why pea gravel is better for paths than for driving on.
- Already know how many tons you are buying? Convert pea gravel tons to cubic yards.
- Planning a driveway rather than a path? Use the gravel driveway calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of pea gravel are in a ton?
A US ton is 2,000 lb, so it is 40 bags of 50 lb. In metric, a tonne is 40 bags of 25 kg. For bags sold by volume, the calculator converts using the density.
How much area does a ton of pea gravel cover?
At the 1.35 tons per cubic yard planning value, one ton covers about 120 square feet at 2 inches deep and 80 square feet at 3 inches, before any allowance.
How do I measure a round area?
Measure the diameter: the distance straight across the middle at the widest point. Choose Circle and enter it; the calculator works out the area.
Is pea gravel good for a driveway?
Pea gravel’s rounded stones roll under tyres rather than locking together, so it is usually chosen for paths, patios and borders rather than the main surface of a drive. See pea gravel in the types guide.