Pea gravel calculator for Nebraska
Find the tons of 3/8 inch rounded stone needed for play areas, fire pits, paths, and patios.
Enter your project dimensions
Pea gravel consists of rounded 3/8 inch stone, close to the size its name brings to mind. It weighs 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons, which is the same weight as crushed gravel. Installation depth makes the difference. At less than 2 inches, the ground may show through. More than 3 inches can leave feet sinking as they walk. Enter your measurements in this pea gravel calculator to get tons, with set depths for the only use outside the 2 to 3 inch range: play areas and nothing else.
Turn your measurements into tons
- Get length and width for a rectangular space; for a circular fire-pit area, use the diameter.
- Plan for 2-3 inches in walking areas. Playground fall zones require 9-12 inches kept at depth.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, 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 solid edge keeps stone contained
Round pea gravel moves underfoot, so it needs a border to contain it. Keep steel, aluminum, timber or paver edging an inch above the surface; a flush edge lets stones move beyond it over a season. On slopes over about 5%, rain and traffic can carry stone downhill despite edging. Put a honeycomb stabilizing grid below the gravel on a slope, or use angular crushed stone that interlocks instead.
Pea gravel compared with crushed gravel and river rock
Pea gravel feels better on bare feet and shifts more readily. Crushed walkway gravel stays interlocked and handles slopes, though its edges are sharper. River rock is larger and decorative, suited to landscape beds instead of foot traffic. Their prices generally rise in that same sequence. A property can use each one in a different spot: crushed gravel on a sloping side walk, pea gravel at the fire pit, and river rock by the foundation. This site has a calculator for each material, making it possible to compare tonnage for one footprint in about a minute.
Notes for common projects
- Patios: Put down 2 inches of compacted screenings first to support chair legs, then spread 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel over it.
- Play areas: Keep the fall-zone depth at 9 to 12 inches and consult the equipment manual. With a 12-inch depth, a ton covers about 19 square feet, so use the calculator instead of estimating by eye.
- Fire pits: Set the depth at 3 inches. The stone does not burn, and rainwater can drain out of the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs: A 2 to 3 inch layer of rounded stone is gentle on paws and easy to rinse clean.
- Walkways: Level the surface with a rake twice each year. Keep a bucket or two in reserve for topping off the traffic path every few seasons.
Example calculation: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot across has 113 square feet. For 3 inches of depth: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, a little less than 1.5 tons. Order 1.5, then use the light extra layer on the high-traffic side next spring.
Pea gravel dimensions and weight
What quantity of pea gravel is needed?
What area will one ton of pea gravel cover?
What is the weight of a yard of pea gravel?
What is the cost of pea gravel?
What does pea gravel mean?
What depth works for a pea gravel patio?
How much pea gravel goes below a swing set?
For a walkway, pea gravel or crushed gravel?
More calculators
Most patios need less than two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel sold by the ton with free delivery.
