Pea gravel calculator: how much pea gravel do I need?
0.93 cubic yards
25 cubic feet · about 1.25 tons · for 10 × 10 ft at 3 in
Run your own numbers
Enter it the way you measured it: 4.5, 4 1/2,
3/8 or 10' 6".
0.93 cubic yards
25 cubic feet · about 1.25 tons
A 10 by 10 ft area at 3 inches deep needs 0.93 cubic yards of pea gravel, which is 25 cubic feet. Pea gravel is sold by the cubic yard in bulk, so a supplier would deliver 1 cubic yard.
A worked example
A 14 by 4 ft path at 2 inches deep needs 0.35 cubic yards. 9.3 cubic feet, which is 10 bags of 1 cubic foot if you buy it bagged, rounding up the part bag.
What else it is called
Pea gravel is the small rounded stone sold for paths, patios and playgrounds, by the cubic yard in bulk or by the bag. The volume you need is geometry, so the cubic yards never depend on the stone. Two inches covers a path; a base under pavers wants more, so raise the depth. When you need tons instead, pick the delivered state above and the page multiplies your cubic yards by that density, each option cited to FM 5-434.
Common sizes
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 0.40 | 0.60 | 0.80 | 1.19 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.24 | 1.86 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 0.75 | 1.12 | 1.49 | 2.23 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 0.89 | 1.34 | 1.78 | 2.67 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 1.19 | 1.78 | 2.38 | 3.56 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 1.98 | 2.97 | 3.96 | 5.93 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 2.47 | 3.71 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
Cubic yards, rounded up to two decimals. Round up again to what your supplier will deliver.
Where the numbers come from
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, exact by definition. The volume of pea gravel to cover an area is that arithmetic and nothing else.
- Tons: U.S. Army field manual FM 5-434, Earthmoving Operations, Table 1-2 (Material Weight). Loose dry gravel is 2,700 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard, which is 1.35 to 1.50 short tons; wet it is 2,800 to 3,100 lb (1.40 to 1.55 tons). Pea gravel is a light rounded stone, so the low end, 1.35, is the default. The manual states these are averages that vary with grain size, moisture and compaction. Public domain; read October 1, 2026. Data sheet (PDF)
Order by the cubic yard: it is the unit the yard loads and the one this count gives.
By Javier Miralles · Last updated . How this site is made.
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