Use this Pea Gravel Calculator to estimate how much pea gravel you need for the project. You can choose the standard pea gravel density or enter a custom value. The calculator will determine the required amount of material in cubic yards, tons, and metric units.
Results
How Much Pea Gravel Do You Need?
Let’s learn how to properly calculate the amount of pea gravel for your project. First, you’ll need to measure three main parameters: the length and width of the coverage area and your desired layer depth.
Step 1: Calculate the Volume
Multiply length by width by depth. Let’s look at an example with a small garden area:
- In inches: 96″ × 120″ × 2″ = 23,040 cubic inches
- In feet: 8′ × 10′ × 0.1667′ = 13.33 cubic feet
Now let’s convert to cubic yards:
- If calculating in inches – divide by 46,656: 23,040 ÷ 46,656 = 0.49 cubic yards
- If in feet – divide by 27: 13.33 ÷ 27 = 0.49 cubic yards
Step 2: Determine the Weight
Take your cubic yards and multiply by pea gravel density. Pea gravel typically weighs between 1.4 and 1.6 tons per cubic yard (2,800-3,200 pounds per cubic yard). However, you can check with your supplier for the exact weight of their gravel to make the most accurate calculations.
- 0.49 yards × 1.4 tons (minimum weight) = 0.69 tons (1,400 pounds)
- 0.49 yards × 1.6 tons (maximum weight) = 0.79 tons (1,600 pounds)
Step 3: Add Extra (Optional)
Add 10-15% to your final number. This accounts for settling during delivery, compaction after installation, and filling surface irregularities.
- For minimum weight: 0.7 × 1.15 = 0.81 tons
- For maximum weight: 0.8 × 1.15 = 0.92 tons
It’s better to order 1 ton – it’s always safer to have a small surplus. The remaining gravel will come in handy for future projects.
Below you’ll find a table of commonly used materials (gravel, sand, topsoil, crushed stone, river rock, and others) and their minimum and maximum weights per cubic yard. This will be useful when working with other materials!
| Material | Tons per Cubic Yard | Metric Tons per Cubic Meter |
|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel (⅛” – ⅜”) | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.8 – 2.1 |
| Gravel (¾” – 2″) | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.8 – 2.1 |
| Sand (dry) | 1.2 – 1.4 | 1.5 – 1.8 |
| Sand (wet) | 1.6 – 1.8 | 2.1 – 2.3 |
| Topsoil (dry) | 1.1 – 1.3 | 1.4 – 1.7 |
| Topsoil (wet) | 1.5 – 1.7 | 1.9 – 2.2 |
| Crushed Stone (¼” – 2″) | 1.4 – 1.7 | 1.8 – 2.2 |
| River Rock (¾” – 2½”) | 1.3 – 1.5 | 1.7 – 1.9 |
| Base Rock (¾” – 1″) | 1.3 – 1.6 | 1.7 – 2.0 |
| Drainage Rock (¾” – 1½”) | 1.4 – 1.6 | 1.8 – 2.1 |
Also, here’s an additional table showing the inverse function – how many cubic yards one ton of each material will fill.
| Material | Cubic Yards per Ton |
|---|---|
| Pea Gravel (⅛” – ⅜”) | 0.63 – 0.83 |
| Gravel (¾” – 2″) | 0.63 – 0.83 |
| Sand (dry) | 0.71 – 0.83 |
| Sand (wet) | 0.56 – 0.63 |
| Topsoil (dry) | 0.77 – 0.91 |
| Topsoil (wet) | 0.59 – 0.67 |
| Crushed Stone (¼” – 2″) | 0.59 – 0.71 |
| River Rock (¾” – 2½”) | 0.67 – 0.77 |
| Base Rock (¾” – 1″) | 0.65 – 0.74 |
| Drainage Rock (¾” – 1½”) | 0.63 – 0.71 |
Cite this page as:
Takahashi, H. “Pea Gravel Calculator”. Available at https://constructioncalculators.com/pea-gravel-calculator/