Pea gravel calculator for Idaho
Estimate tons of 3/8 inch rounded stone for paths, patios, fire pits, and play areas.
Enter your project dimensions
At 3/8 inch, pea gravel is rounded stone roughly the size of a pea. Its soft feel can be misleading: it weighs 2,800 lb per cubic yard, matching the 1.4 tons of crushed gravel. Getting the depth right matters. Below 2 inches, the underlying ground can show. Above 3 inches, walking through it feels like stepping in dry beach sand. Use this pea gravel calculator to convert your measurements into tons, including set depths for the only jobs outside the 2 to 3 inch range: play areas and nothing else.
Turn measurements into tons
- Find the length and width of the area, or measure the diameter of a circular fire-pit surround.
- For walking areas, use 2 to 3 inches; playground fall zones need 9 to 12 inches kept in place.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply yards by 1.4 for tons.
Material coverage
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 12 inches, play area | 27 sq ft | ≈ 19 sq ft |
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patio / seating area | 12 x 12 ft | 3" | 1.3 yd³ | 1.9 tons |
| Garden walkway | 25 x 3 ft | 2.5" | 0.6 yd³ | 0.8 tons |
| Fire-pit surround | 12 ft round | 3" | 1 yd³ | 1.5 tons |
| Playground fall zone | 20 x 20 ft | 12" | 14.8 yd³ | 20.7 tons |
| Dog run | 15 x 8 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
Keep it contained with edging
Round pea gravel moves because each piece can roll. When it spreads, the usual cause is edging that is missing or has settled. Install steel, aluminum, timber or paver edging an inch above the finished surface to hold the gravel in. If the edging is flush, stones can work their way out over a season. At slopes over about 5%, rain and foot traffic can move the stone downhill even with edging. Use a honeycomb stabilizing grid beneath the gravel on slopes, or choose angular crushed stone that interlocks.
Pea gravel compared with crushed gravel and river rock
Pea gravel feels comfortable barefoot and shifts underfoot. Crushed walkway gravel has sharper edges but locks together for slopes. River rock is larger and decorative, better suited to beds than walking areas. Pricing generally follows that same progression. A single property can use crushed gravel on a sloped side path, pea gravel by a fire pit, and river rock beside the foundation. Each material has a calculator here, making it quick to compare tonnage for the same footprint.
Practical project notes
- Patios start with 2 inches of compacted screenings to prevent chair legs from sinking. Cover that base with 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel.
- Play areas need a maintained 9 to 12 inches for standard fall-zone depth, with the equipment manual checked as well. At 12 inches, a ton covers only about 19 square feet, making the calculator more reliable than a visual estimate.
- Fire pits: Use 3 inches. This non-flammable stone lets rain drain from the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs: Apply 2 to 3 inches. The rounded gravel is gentle on paws and washes clean with rinsing.
- Walkways: Twice each year, rake the gravel back level. Every couple of seasons, replenish the worn traffic line with a bucket or two you kept aside.
Example calculation: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot across has 113 square feet. At 3 inches: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, a little less than 1.5 tons. Order 1.5, and save the small extra amount for the high-traffic edge next spring.
Pea gravel dimensions and weight
What quantity of pea gravel is needed?
What area will one ton of pea gravel cover?
What does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
What is the cost of pea gravel?
What exactly is pea gravel?
What depth is right for a pea gravel patio?
How deep should pea gravel go below a swing set?
For a walkway, pea gravel or crushed gravel?
More calculators
Most patios need less than two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel, sold by the ton with free delivery.
