Pea Gravel Calculator
Enter your area and depth — get tons, cubic yards, bags, and bagged-vs-bulk cost for pea gravel in seconds.
A typical loose dry density. Suppliers vary — ask for yours, or pick Custom.
Add 10% for compaction & settling (recommended for driveways and bases)
Bags are convenient for small areas; bulk by the ton is dramatically cheaper once you pass a fraction of a cubic yard. Enter your local prices — we'll show which wins and by how much.
At a 2″ depth, one ton of this gravel covers roughly 114 sq ft. Coverage halves as you double the depth — about 57 sq ft per ton at 4″. Computed from the selected density. Driveways usually want about 6″ total over firm ground.
Round, smooth stone is comfortable underfoot and good-looking, but it shifts under load. Angular crushed stone locks together and stays put. Pick the type above to see specific guidance for driveways, paths, and drainage.
Compare gravel types.
The stone most US homeowners actually buy — size, typical weight, rough cost by the ton, and what each is for.
| Gravel type | Stone size | ~ Tons / yd³ | ~ Cost / ton | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 3/8" | ~1.3 | $30–50 | Patios, paths, play areas — not driveways |
| Crushed stone #57 | 3/4" | ~1.4 | $25–40 | Driveways, drainage, base layers |
| Crusher run / #411 | 0–3/4" | ~1.4 | $20–35 | Driveway base — compacts tight (has fines) |
| River rock | 1–3" | ~1.35 | $50–100 | Dry creek beds, drainage, decorative borders |
Cost ranges are typical US bulk prices and vary by region, stone, and haul distance. Weights are typical loose densities — confirm with your supplier.
How pea gravel is sold & measured.
Pea gravel is small, rounded stone — roughly 3/8 inch across, about the size of a pea. In small amounts it comes in bags; the standard retail bag at Home Depot and Lowe's holds 0.5 cubic feet. For a patio or a long path you buy it loose by the ton, delivered from a local stone yard, because it works out far cheaper once you pass a fraction of a yard.
To estimate either, start from volume. Measure your area, pick a depth, and the calculator works out the cubic feet, converts to cubic yards (27 cubic feet to a yard), and then to tons using the stone's density. From there it counts 0.5 cu ft bags and prices the job both ways.
How deep should pea gravel go?
For a walkway, patio, or garden border, 2–3 inches of pea gravel is plenty. A play area is usually a little deeper for cushioning. Going much past that wastes stone and makes the surface feel loose underfoot, because rounded gravel never firms up the way angular stone does.
One thing pea gravel always needs is firm edging — steel, stone, or timber — to stop it migrating onto the lawn. Without an edge, a thin layer spreads and thins out, and you end up topping it up sooner.
Patios and paths — not driveways.
Pea gravel is comfortable underfoot and looks great, which makes it a favorite for patios, garden paths, dog runs, and around stepping stones. But the same rounded shape that feels good also rolls under load, so on its own it makes a poor driveway: it ruts under tires and spreads off the edges.
If you want the pea-gravel look for a drive, it has to sit on a compacted base of angular crushed stone with firm edging — and even then it needs topping up. For a low-maintenance driving surface, crushed stone is the better pick.
Does pea gravel compact?
Not really. Because the stones are round, pea gravel doesn't lock together or compact the way crushed stone does — it stays loose. It will settle a little as it beds in, and some is always lost to spillage and uneven ground, so ordering a small amount extra is sensible. The compaction toggle adds 10% if you want that cushion, but for a simple decorative bed you usually need little or none.
Frequently asked questions.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of pea gravel?
Roughly 1.3 tons per cubic yard — about 2,600–2,800 lbs — for dry, loose pea gravel. The exact figure depends on the stone, and your supplier may quote a slightly different number, so the calculator lets you enter a custom density if they give you one.
How much does a ton of pea gravel cover?
At a 2-inch depth, one ton of pea gravel covers roughly 122 square feet. Coverage halves each time you double the depth, so expect about 61 sq ft per ton at 4 inches. The calculator shows the exact figure for your depth.
Can I use pea gravel for a driveway?
Not on its own. Pea gravel is round, so it shifts and ruts under tires and migrates off the edges. If you want the look for a drive, it has to sit on a compacted base of angular crushed stone with firm edging — and it will still need topping up. For a low-maintenance driveway surface, crushed stone #57 or crusher run is the standard choice.
Should I buy pea gravel in bags or in bulk?
Bags make sense only for very small areas or tight access. By the ton, bulk pea gravel is far cheaper per unit — remember a cubic yard is 54 of the 0.5 cu ft bags. The break-even usually comes well under one cubic yard, even after a delivery fee. The cost panel above runs that comparison with your local prices.
Do I need to order extra pea gravel for settling?
A little. Pea gravel doesn't compact the way crushed stone does, but you lose some to spillage, uneven ground, and edge migration, so ordering around 5–10% extra is sensible. Use the compaction toggle to add a 10% cushion, and use firm edging to keep the stone where you want it.
Methodology & sources
Volumes are standard geometry; the cubic-feet result is divided by 27 for cubic yards and multiplied by the selected density for weight. Per-type densities are typical loose-dry values that sit inside the authoritative aggregate bulk-density range; where a project needs a precise figure, the custom-density field accepts a supplier's number. All arithmetic was verified with Python's Decimal to avoid floating-point drift.
Density & aggregate references (.edu / .gov):
- Pennsylvania State University — Aggregate Technician Certification Program (bulk density / unit weight, AASHTO T19) — link
- Michigan Department of Transportation — Standard Specifications for Construction, Section 902: Aggregates — link
- U.S. Federal Aviation Administration — AC 150/5370-10, Item P-208 Aggregate Base Course — link
Pricing: bagged 0.5 cu ft gravel from Home Depot and Lowe's (US), checked June 2026. Bulk $/ton and delivery are editable planning defaults — local stone-yard quotes vary, so the fields are yours to change.
Last methodology review: June 2026.
Independence: Sources are cited for reference only. The universities, agencies and retailers named on this page do not sponsor or endorse MaterialCalcs, and we are not affiliated with them. Retail prices were checked by hand and vary by store and region.