Pea gravel calculator for Louisiana
For patios, paths, fire pits, and play spaces, estimate the tons of 3/8 inch rounded stone needed.
Enter your project dimensions
Pea gravel consists of rounded 3/8 inch stone, roughly pea-sized. It may feel gentle underfoot, but each cubic yard weighs about 2,800 lb, or 1.4 tons, matching crushed gravel. Layer depth controls the result. With less than 2 inches, soil can become visible; over 3 inches, walking feels like stepping through dry beach sand. Enter your measurements in this calculator for a tonnage total. It also provides preset depths for the two uses outside the 2-3 inch range: play areas and nothing else.
Turn measurements into tons
- Start with the footprint: multiply length by width, or measure the diameter of a circular fire-pit area.
- For walking areas, use 2-3 inches. Maintain 9-12 inches in playground fall zones.
- Convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27, 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 |
A border keeps stone contained
Because pea gravel is round, it rolls. A missing or settled border is behind every stone-migration issue we hear about. Set steel, aluminum, timber or paver edging an inch above the surface to hold it in place; flush edging allows stone to escape within a season. On slopes over about 5%, edging alone cannot stop downhill movement from rain and foot traffic. Use a honeycomb stabilizing grid below the gravel, or choose angular crushed stone that interlocks.
Pea gravel compared with crushed gravel and river rock
Pea gravel suits bare feet and casual movement. Crushed walkway gravel grips together and handles slopes, though its edges feel sharper. River rock is larger and decorative, better suited to beds than walking areas. Prices generally rise in that same order. A yard can combine all three: crushed gravel on a sloping side path, pea gravel around a fire pit, and river rock beside the foundation. A calculator is available for each, making it possible to compare tonnage for one footprint in about a minute.
Field notes for common projects
- Patios: Place 2 inches of compacted screenings below the surface so chair legs stay supported, followed by 2-3 inches of pea gravel.
- Play areas: The usual fall-zone specification calls for a maintained 9-12 inches; review your equipment manual. A ton at 12 inches reaches 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: Use 2-3 inches. Its rounded pieces are gentle on paws and rinse off cleanly.
- Walkways: level the surface with a rake twice yearly, then add material to the traffic line every couple of seasons using a bucket or two kept back.
Example calculation: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot across covers 113 square feet. With 3 inches of depth: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, a little under 1.5 tons. Order the 1.5 and save the slight extra for the high-traffic side next spring.
Pea gravel measurements and weight
How much pea gravel is required?
What area will a 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 beneath a swing set?
For a walkway, pea gravel or crushed gravel?
Other calculators
Most patios need under two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel sold by the ton, with free delivery.
