A 10 × 10 ft pea gravel patio at 3 inches deep takes about 1 cubic yard (1.02 yd³ with 10% extra), which weighs about 1.4 tons or fills 55 bags of 0.5 cu ft. A yard of pea gravel covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches. Enter your own size in the QtyLab gravel calculator to get cubic yards and tons.
The pea gravel formula
- Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, then × 1.10 for 10% extra
- Tons = cubic yards × about 1.4 (a yard of pea gravel is about 2,800 lb)
- Bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5 for the common 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) bag, rounded up
Worked example, 10 × 10 ft at 3 in: 10 × 10 × 3 ÷ 12 = 25 cu ft. With 10% extra that is 27.5 cu ft, or 1.019 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per yard that is 1.43 tons, and 27.5 ÷ 0.5 = 55 bags. Open this example in the calculator.
How deep should pea gravel be?
| Depth | Area 1 cubic yard covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | Walkways and paths, topping up |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | Patios, sitting areas, dog runs |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | Upper end for walking areas |
| 9–12 in | 27–36 sq ft | Play areas (see below) |
These are before the 10% extra. For most landscaping, 2–3 inches is the standard depth. Deeper than about 4 inches, pea gravel gets hard to walk on because the round stones shift underfoot.
Pea gravel for common jobs
All rows include 10% extra and 1.4 tons per yard. Bags are 0.5 cu ft. Each row opens the gravel calculator with those numbers filled in.
| Job | Cubic yards | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 20 ft path, 2 in | 0.41 | 0.57 | 22 |
| 4 × 30 ft path, 3 in | 1.22 | 1.71 | 66 |
| 10 × 10 ft, 2 in | 0.68 | 0.95 | 37 |
| 10 × 10 ft patio, 3 in | 1.02 | 1.43 | 55 |
| 10 × 10 ft, 4 in | 1.36 | 1.90 | 74 |
| 12 × 12 ft patio, 3 in | 1.47 | 2.05 | 80 |
| 10 × 20 ft dog run, 3 in | 2.04 | 2.85 | 110 |
| 20 × 20 ft area, 3 in | 4.07 | 5.70 | 220 |
Play areas
Pea gravel used as loose fill under play equipment goes much deeper than a patio. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Public Playground Safety Handbook sets loose-fill depths by the fall height of the equipment, so check it for your set before you order. For quantity only: a 12 × 12 ft area at 9 inches takes 4.4 cubic yards (6.16 tons) and at 12 inches takes 5.87 cubic yards (8.21 tons), both with 10% extra. That is 238 and 317 bags, so order these in bulk.
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, or 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft (about 2,700 lb of bags). Bags make sense for a path or a small patio up to about a yard. Past that, a landscape supply yard is usually cheaper and saves a lot of lifting; ask for the delivered price per yard or per ton. The calculator gives both.
Mistakes that throw the count off
- Skipping the edging. Round pea gravel migrates into the lawn and beds. Plan for edging along every open side.
- Going too deep on a patio. More than about 4 inches feels like walking on marbles. Use the depth chart above.
- Using it on a driveway. Pea gravel rolls under tires. For driveways, see how much gravel for a driveway.
- Forgetting the base or fabric. On soft or weedy ground, a layer of landscape fabric keeps the gravel from sinking into the soil.
- Mixing up bag sizes. Most 50 lb bags are 0.5 cu ft, but check the label.
What to buy for a 10 × 10 ft patio at 3 inches
- About 1 cubic yard of pea gravel (1.43 tons) from a local landscape yard, or 55 bags of 0.5 cu ft from a garden center
- Landscape edging for about 40 ft of open sides: shop landscape edging
- Landscape fabric (about 100 sq ft plus overlap): shop landscape fabric
- Landscape rake to spread it level: shop landscape rakes
- Wheelbarrow to move a bulk pile: shop wheelbarrows
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More on gravel by the yard and ton: how much gravel do I need. Building a paver patio instead? See how many pavers do I need. Edging the patio with mulch beds? Try the mulch calculator.
FAQ
How much area does a yard of pea gravel cover?
About 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches, before extra.
How much pea gravel do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
About 1 cubic yard at 3 inches deep with 10% extra: 1.02 cubic yards, about 1.43 tons, or 55 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
How many bags of pea gravel are in a yard?
54 bags of 0.5 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,800 lb, or 1.4 tons, depending on moisture and stone. Some yards quote 2,400–3,000 lb.
How deep should pea gravel be for a walkway?
About 2 inches for a path and 3 inches for a patio. Much deeper and it becomes hard to walk on.
Sources: Select Sand & Gravel (pea gravel weight per yard, 2–3 in landscaping depth); retailer listings for 0.5 cu ft / 50 lb pea gravel bags (Ace, True Value, Home Depot); U.S. CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (loose-fill surfacing). Estimates for planning only; confirm with your supplier.