Pea gravel calculator
A path 30 ft long and 3 ft wide, 2 in deep, takes 0.56 cubic yards of pea gravel: about 0.75 tons, or 30 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
What pea gravel weighs
Pea gravel is small, rounded natural gravel, about ⅜ in and smaller; QUIKRETE's bagged All-Purpose Gravel, for example, has a top size of about ⅜ in. It weighs about the same per yard as other loose gravel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's conversion table lists loose gravel at 2,565 lb per cubic yard and dry gravel at 100 lb per cubic foot, which is 2,700 lb per yard. The calculator uses 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) per yard, so a 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot and a cubic yard is 54 bags.
Area: 30 ft × 3 ft = 90 sq ft
90 sq ft × 2 in = 15 cu ft ÷ 27 = 0.56 cu yd
0.56 cu yd × 2,700 lb per loose cu yd ÷ 2,000 = 0.75 tons
Pea gravel for common jobs, 2 in deep
| Job | Cu yd | Tons | Bags of 0.5 cu ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft wide path, 30 ft long | 0.56 | 0.75 | 30 |
| 4 ft wide path, 50 ft long | 1.23 | 1.67 | 67 |
| 10 × 10 ft patio | 0.62 | 0.83 | 34 |
| 12 × 12 ft patio | 0.89 | 1.20 | 48 |
| 16 × 20 ft patio | 1.98 | 2.67 | 107 |
Rounded stones roll underfoot and drift off a path, so an edging that stands a little above the gravel keeps it in place.
Under play equipment
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's playground handbook lists 9 in of pea gravel as protecting against falls from up to 5 ft. That 9 in is the depth after the gravel has settled, and the handbook warns that loose fill compresses at least 25 percent, so it calls for an initial fill of 12 in to keep 9 in. A 12 × 12 ft play area filled 12 in deep takes 5.33 cubic yards, about 7.20 tons. Check the handbook for the fall height of your equipment and the area around it that needs cover.
Sources
- Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 2016. Loose weights of gravel, rock, sand, sandy loam soil and shredded wood chips.
- QUIKRETE Sand & Gravel Products data sheet, The QUIKRETE Companies, revised November 2020. All-Purpose Gravel is clean gravel with a top size of about ⅜ in, sold in 50 lb bags; All-Purpose Sand comes in 50, 60 and 70 lb bags.
- Public Playground Safety Handbook (Publication 325), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, November 2010. 9 in of compressed pea gravel protects to a 5 ft fall height; loose fill compresses at least 25 percent, so 9 in needs a 12 in initial fill.
- How Much Compost, Soil or Mulch Do I Need to Purchase?, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Travis County, February 2010. Square feet times depth in inches, divided by 324, gives cubic yards.