Pea Gravel Calculator - Cubic Yards, Tons & Cost (2026)

At a 2-inch depth, you need about 0.006 cubic yards per square foot (roughly 1 bag per 3 sq ft). At 3 inches deep, that jumps to about 0.009 cubic yards per square foot. For a 100 sq ft patio at 3 inches, you would need approximately 0.93 cubic yards or about 50 bags of 0.5 cu ft pea gravel.

Pea gravel costs $30-$60 per cubic yard for bulk delivery, or $4.50-$7.00 per 0.5 cu ft bag at home improvement stores (see Sources below). Bulk is significantly cheaper for projects over 1 cubic yard. Add $50-$200 for delivery depending on distance and quantity. A typical 200 sq ft patio at 3 inches deep (1.85 cubic yards) runs $56-$111 in material before delivery.

For patios, lay pea gravel 2-3 inches deep over compacted base material and landscape fabric. Too thin and foot traffic will expose the fabric. Too deep and walking becomes difficult because the stones shift underfoot. For walkways, 2 inches is plenty. For dog runs, go 3-4 inches to handle digging. Playgrounds: the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook lists 9 inches of compressed pea gravel as the minimum, and that only protects falls up to 5 feet. Loose fill compresses about 25%, so install around 12 inches.

A cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. Big-box pea gravel bags are sold as 0.5 cu ft (45-50 lb depending on brand; see the Lowe's listing in Sources), so plan on about 54 bags per cubic yard. At $4.50-$7.00 per bag, that is $243-$378 per cubic yard in bags versus $30-$60 per cubic yard in bulk. Once you add the $50-$200 delivery fee, bags and bulk break even at around half a yard (roughly 50 sq ft at 3 inches). Past about 1 cubic yard, bulk wins even with a $200 delivery fee.

3/8-inch pea gravel is the best size for walkways. The smaller stones pack together more tightly, creating a more stable surface that is easier to walk on. Larger rounded stone (3/4-inch river rock or drain rock) shifts more underfoot and is better suited to drainage. For patios with furniture, 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch works best because chairs sit more level on the finer surface.

Yes, always use landscape fabric (also called weed barrier) under pea gravel. Without it, stones work down into the soil and weeds come up through the gravel. Install fabric over compacted, graded soil and overlap seams by 6 inches. Budget $0.20-$0.45 per square foot for the fabric itself, or $0.30-$1.00 per square foot installed.

One ton of pea gravel covers approximately 115-125 square feet at 2 inches deep, or about 77-83 square feet at 3 inches deep. Pea gravel weighs roughly 1.3-1.4 tons per cubic yard (about 2,600-2,800 lbs dry). For reference, one cubic yard covers 162 sq ft at 2 inches or 108 sq ft at 3 inches (using the 1.4 ton/cy planning figure).

Pea gravel is not recommended for driveways. The smooth, rounded stones do not interlock, so they shift under vehicle tires and create ruts. For driveways, use crushed stone or crusher run (angular pieces that compact and lock together). Our gravel calculator covers driveway-appropriate gravel types with proper depth recommendations.

Use metal or plastic landscape edging around the perimeter, installed flush with the gravel surface. Steel edging ($2-$4/linear foot) holds up best long-term. For slopes, use a slightly larger 3/4-inch gravel or consider a gravel stabilizing grid. On flat ground, a compacted base layer of crusher run underneath helps prevent settling and migration.