Gravel Calc ProPea Gravel Calculator
Enter your patio, path or bed size and depth. See how many bags, yards and tons of stone to buy.
Bags, weight, waste and cost
Use the weight your supplier gives for the exact stone. The material list sets a starting value.
You need
0 cubic yards
0 sq ft at 0 in deep
- Tons
- 0
- Cubic feet
- 0
- Bags
- 0
- Pounds
- 0
- Cubic meters
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- Metric tonnes
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- Cost
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- 1 ton covers
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By the Gravel Calc Pro team · Weights from producer data sheets · Math covered by unit tests · Last updated October 22, 2026 · How we calculate
How much pea gravel do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, then divide by 324 for cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.35 to get tons. A 12 by 12 foot patio at 3 inches needs 1.33 cubic yards. That is about 1.8 tons, or 72 bags of 0.5 cubic feet.
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × 1.35
bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5
For a round fire pit area, pick Circle and enter the full width. For an odd yard, add up simple shapes and use Any shape.
What is pea gravel?
It is small, smooth, rounded stone about the size of a pea. Water and time wore the edges off. It feels soft under bare feet and drains fast. Because the pieces are round, they slide past each other and do not lock into a hard surface.
The University of California Master Gardeners sort gravel into two groups. River run stone is round, and this stone is one example. Crushed stone is angular. Round stone works well as ground cover and for play areas. Angular stone is better where people walk every day.
Weight and bag size
Store bags of these pebbles are sold by volume. QUIKRETE Hardscapes stones come in 0.5 cubic foot bags. Its Pea Pebbles bag lists a weight of 50 pounds. That is 100 pounds per cubic foot, which the tool uses as 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Bags for 100 sq ft at 3 in |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 | 50 |
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 | 34 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 | 25 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | 13 |
A cubic yard in 0.5 cubic foot bags weighs 2,700 pounds. Above about 50 bags, a bulk load from a landscape supply yard is often the easier choice.
How far does one yard or ton go?
One cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. One ton covers about 80 square feet at the same depth. At 2 inches, a ton covers about 120 square feet.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton at 1.35 t/yd³ covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 40 sq ft |
How to measure a patio or path
- Mark the edges with stakes and string before you start.
- Use a tape measure and write each side in feet. Change inches to feet by dividing by 12, so 6 inches is 0.5 feet.
- For a path that curves, measure the length along the center line. Use the average of three widths.
- For a round area, measure straight across the middle. That is the diameter.
- Check the depth in a few spots after you dig. Use the average in the tool.
Depth by project
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| Garden path | 2 in minimum |
| Patio or seating area | 3 in |
| Path or patio with stepping stones | 4 in |
| Bed around plants | 2 to 3 in |
The 2 inch and 4 inch numbers come from the UC article. The 2 to 3 inch bed depth matches the QUIKRETE landscape rock steps, which say to dig out 2 to 3 inches first.
Tips for a pea gravel patio
- Put in a firm border first. The UC article lists bender board, rock, pavers, bricks or lumber.
- Landscape fabric is your call. It blocks weeds from below but not seeds that land on top.
- Rake it level after rain, since round stone moves.
- Set flat pavers under chair legs and grills.
Need a different stone?
Need a firm drive? See the crushed stone calculator. Want bigger round stones for a dry creek? Use the river rock calculator. For general jobs, go back to the main gravel calculator.
Common questions
How many bags of pea gravel do I need?
Find the cubic feet, then divide by the bag size. A 10 by 10 foot patio at 3 inches holds 25 cubic feet. With 0.5 cubic foot bags that is 50 bags. At 50 pounds each, that is 2,500 pounds of stone to carry.
What does one cubic yard weigh?
Using QUIKRETE Pea Pebbles, a 0.5 cubic foot bag weighs 50 pounds. That works out to 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 tons, per cubic yard. Bulk stone can be heavier when wet, so ask the yard for its number.
How deep should a pebble patio be?
Many patios use 3 inches. The UC Master Gardener article on gravel paths calls 2 inches a practical minimum and suggests 4 inches when you set in thick stepping stones or pavers.
Does it pack down like crushed stone?
No. The stones are round, so they keep rolling. A University of California article says round river run gravel never packs down into a solid surface. Use edging to hold it, and set pavers where chairs and tables go.
Can small round pebbles work on a driveway?
It can be the top layer, but it shifts under tires. Round stones do not lock together. Most driveways use angular crushed stone for strength. If you want the look, put a thin layer of pebbles over a packed crushed stone base.
How much area does one ton cover?
At 1.35 tons per cubic yard, one ton covers 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 at 3 inches and 60 at 4 inches.
References
- Gravel Pathways in the Garden, UC Master Gardeners, University of California ANR
- Hardscapes stones and pebbles, QUIKRETE
- QUIKRETE Hardscapes Pea Pebbles specifications (Ritter Lumber listing)
- Landscape Rock instructions (Item 6931-22), QUIKRETE
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement