Calculator 06 / 08
Pea gravel calculator
Pea gravel is often bought in bags for small jobs and in bulk for larger ones. This shows both, so you can see where bulk starts to make sense.
- Outputs
- yd³ · tons · tonnes · bags · cost
- Material basis
- Pea gravel · 105 lb/ft³ default, editable
- Method
- Formulas & sources
Bags or bulk?
Pea gravel is small, rounded stone. Because it rolls rather than locks, it is mostly used where it won't carry heavy loads: patios, paths, play areas, and around pavers. Small jobs are often bought in bags and larger ones delivered loose. The result shows both so you can compare:
| Purchase volume | 0.5 ft³ bags | 50 lb bags at 105 lb/ft³ |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 yd³ (6.75 ft³) | 14 | 15 |
| 0.5 yd³ (13.5 ft³) | 27 | 29 |
| 1 yd³ (27 ft³) | 54 | 57 |
| 2 yd³ (54 ft³) | 108 | 114 |
Bag counts are rounded up to whole bags. Check the bag label — bag sizes vary by brand.
Worked example: small patio
| Patio | 12 ft × 12 ft = 144 ft², 3 in deep |
|---|---|
| Volume | 36 ft³ = 1.33 yd³ |
| + Waste 10% | 39.6 ft³ = 1.47 yd³ |
| Weight | ≈ 2.08 US tons at 105 lb/ft³ |
| Bags | 80 × 0.5 ft³ |
About the density
We did not find a reliable published density specific to pea gravel, so this tool uses the general dry-gravel value, 105 lb/ft³ source, and shows the wider gravel range source. Rounded stone of one size leaves more air between pieces than well-graded crushed stone, so treat the tons figure as approximate and use your supplier's number. For what pea gravel is and isn't good for, see types and sizes.
Questions
How many bags of pea gravel do I need?
Divide the purchase volume in cubic feet by the bag size. A 0.5 ft³ bag is 1/54 of a cubic yard, so one cubic yard is 54 bags. The calculator rounds up to whole bags.
How much area does a cubic yard of pea gravel cover?
At 2 in deep, one cubic yard covers 162 ft²; at 3 in, 108 ft²; at 4 in, 81 ft².
Is pea gravel good for a driveway?
It's used on some driveways, but rounded stone moves under tyres more than crushed angular stone does. See the driveway guide for how driveways are usually layered.