Rock
Pea Gravel Calculator
Calculate pea gravel by area and depth. Cubic yards, tons, and truckloads included.
Inputs
1/2-inch pea gravel stays in place slightly better on slopes and is a good pick for patios and dog runs.
Live estimate
Material needed
4.63 cu yd
- Cubic yards
- 4.63 cu yd
- Tons
- 6.48 tons
- Truckloads
- 0.39
- Area
- 500 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 125
You will likely need
- •4.63 cu yd — material needed
- •Schedule 1 truck load
- •Approximate delivered weight: 6.48 tons
Supplier tip
Most suppliers sell pea gravel by either the cubic yard or by weight. Confirm your supplier's preferred ordering unit before purchasing.
Weight estimates are based on industry-standard average material densities. Actual delivered weights may vary by supplier and moisture content.
Diagram
Live estimate
- Mathematical quantity
- 5 cu yd
- Voids are already priced into bulk cubic-yard pea gravel
- Informational
- Field conditions
- Not applied
- Adjusted requirement
- 5 cu yd
- Ordering rule
- Round up to whole ton
- Suggested order
- 5 cu yd
Rounded pea gravel is sold by bulk CY, which already accounts for particle packing. Edge migration is a separate concern that depends on containment.
What you actually need in the field, before rounding to a supplier-friendly ordering unit.
Estimator confidence
HighCrushed and rounded rock has void space between particles, but bulk-yard cubic yards already reflect that packing. No automatic order allowance is added; consider a user-selectable edge-migration condition where borders are open.
Improve confidence: Depth should be at least 2× the largest stone dimension; edge migration on open borders is a separate consideration.
Why this behavior applies: The geometric cubic-yard requirement is what the yard sells. Void space is a physical property, not evidence to add a percentage.
- Edge containment — Pea gravel migrates without a hard edge; expect ongoing top-off.
- Layer depth — Less than 2 in reads as sparse; 3 in wears best.
- Install over compacted DG or crushed base — pea gravel alone is unstable.
- Use 2-inch minimum depth on paths, 3 inches on high-traffic zones.
- Steel or stone edging is not optional — pea gravel will not stay put without it.
- Using pea gravel directly on native soil.
- Skipping edging on paths.
- Choosing pea gravel for driveways — it ruts and displaces immediately.
Smart tips
- Ordering 5–10% extra is standard on irregular layouts. Running short costs more than the excess.
- Enter your dimensions to see live material estimates.
How it's calculated
Area is derived from your shape inputs and converted to sq ft.
Depth is converted to feet; cubic feet = area × depth.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, then × (1 + waste %) × (1 + compaction %).
Estimated tons = cubic yards (with waste) × 1.4.
Truckloads = cubic yards (with waste) ÷ truck capacity.
Total cost = cubic yards (with waste) × price per cubic yard + delivery.
Professional guidance
When to use pea gravel
Paths, dog runs, playgrounds, patios, and fire pit surrounds. Comfortable underfoot, drains freely.
Recommended depth
2 inches for light-use paths, 3–4 inches for patios, 6 inches over subgrade for playgrounds.
Pro tip
Pea gravel migrates. Use steel or paver edging at least as tall as the gravel depth.
Common mistakes
Laying pea gravel directly on soil. Always compact a 4-inch road-base layer underneath.
Material assumptions
- Pea gravel density: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
- Typical size: ¼ inch to ½ inch, smooth and rounded.
- Path depth: 2–3 inches; patio depth: 3–4 inches over compacted base.
Frequently asked questions
Related calculators
Related articles
Deeper guidance from the Learn library — sizing, depth, waste, and ordering for this material.
- Gravel Calculator Guide: Cubic Yards vs TonsSome suppliers sell gravel by the yard, others by the ton. Here's how to convert between them and order the right amount every time.
- River Rock Size GuideRiver rock comes in sizes from pea-sized to fist-sized. Each has a specific use. Here's the full breakdown.
- Decorative Rock Size GuideFrom granite screenings to fist-sized boulders — a professional's size chart with matched use cases and coverage rates.
These results are estimates only. Confirm quantities, compaction, waste, and delivery requirements with your supplier or project professional before ordering materials.