Pea Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width, and depth of your area to find how many cubic yards and tons of pea gravel you need. Pea gravel weighs about 100 lb/ft³ (≈1.35 tons per cubic yard).
How to calculate pea gravel
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Pea gravel weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot, so multiply cubic feet by 100 and divide by 2,000 to get tons. Depth is usually 2–3 inches for a path or patio.
Cubic yards = (L ft × W ft × Depth ft) ÷ 27 · Tons = ft³ × 100 ÷ 2,000
Worked example
A 10 ft × 10 ft patio covered 2 inches deep with pea gravel.
- Depth = 2 in ÷ 12 = 0.167 ft
- Volume = 10 × 10 × 0.167 = 16.7 ft³
- Cubic yards = 16.7 ÷ 27 = 0.62 yd³
- Tons = 16.7 × 100 ÷ 2,000 = 0.83 tons
Result: 0.62 cubic yards (about 0.83 tons)
Frequently asked questions
How much pea gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For tons, multiply cubic feet by 100 and divide by 2,000. A 10×10 area at 2 inches needs about 0.62 yd³ (≈0.83 tons).
How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,700 pounds, roughly 1.35 short tons, when loose and dry (27 ft³ × 100 lb/ft³). Wet or compacted gravel weighs more.
How much area does a ton of pea gravel cover?
One ton covers about 120 ft² at 2 inches deep, 80 ft² at 3 inches, or 60 ft² at 4 inches deep.
How deep should pea gravel be?
Use 2 inches for a decorative top layer over a base, and 3–4 inches for a walkable path or patio. Deeper layers feel loose underfoot.