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⚫ Pea Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, tons, and bag counts of pea gravel for paths, fire pits, playgrounds, and garden borders.
📐 Enter Your Dimensions
in
💡 Garden border: 2" · Path: 2–3" · Fire pit: 3–4" · Playground: 6–9"
$/t
📊 Your Results
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Cubic Yards
Cubic Feet—
Tons—
Weight (lbs)—
50 lb Bags—
Estimated Cost
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Pea gravel: $30–$55/ton bulk. 50 lb bags: ~$5–$8 each.
How to Calculate How Much Pea Gravel You Need
Pea gravel — smooth, rounded stones roughly 3/8 inch in diameter — is one of the most versatile landscaping materials. It's perfect for garden paths, fire pits, dog runs, playgrounds, and decorative borders because it's comfortable underfoot, drains well, and looks beautiful.
The Pea Gravel Formula
Cubic Yards = (L × W × D in inches) ÷ 324
Tons = Cubic Yards × 1.35
Example: A 12×12 ft fire pit area at 4 inches:
12 × 12 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.78 yd³ × 1.35 = 2.4 tons
Recommended Depths by Project
- Decorative garden border: 2 inches
- Garden pathway: 2–3 inches (comfortable to walk on)
- Fire pit surround: 3–4 inches (non-flammable safety surface)
- Playground surface: 6 inches min, 9–12 for taller equipment
- Dog run: 3–4 inches (drains well, easy to clean)
- French drain fill: 6–8 inches alongside perforated pipe
🚧 Keep It Contained
Pea gravel spreads easily. Use metal, plastic, or stone edging to contain it. Landscape fabric underneath prevents it from mixing into soil below.
🎨 Color Options
Natural pea gravel comes in mixed grey, tan, white, and brown tones. Polished river pebbles offer more vivid earth tones. Both are available at similar prices at landscape suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
One ton of pea gravel (about 0.74 cubic yards) covers roughly 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or about 50 sq ft at 4 inches deep.
Pea gravel is not ideal for driveways — it shifts under vehicle weight and doesn't lock in place. For driveways, use #57 or #411 crushed stone. You can add a thin decorative layer of pea gravel on top if desired for aesthetics.
CPSC guidelines recommend 6 inches minimum for equipment up to 5 ft high, and 9–12 inches for equipment up to 10 ft high. Use gravel sized between 9/32 and ½ inch — not fine sand-like particles.
A 50 lb bag covers about 0.37 cubic feet. You need approximately 73 bags per cubic yard. Bulk delivery is far more economical for any project over 0.5 cubic yards.