Walkways, patios, dog runs, play areas

Pea gravel calculator for paths and patios

Pea gravel behaves differently from crushed stone — it shifts instead of locking. This calculator uses pea gravel's own density and depth guidance for walking surfaces.

Quick answer: Multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27. A 3 × 10 ft walkway at 2 inches deep needs (3 × 10 × 0.167) / 27 = 0.19 cubic yards of pea gravel — about 500 lbs. Add 10 percent for spreading and loss.

Calculator mode

Weight → depth finds the depth a target tonnage spreads over your area

Area dimensions

Rectangle is the default; circle and triangle cover round beds and corners
Count the full base depth, not just the top layer
Weight changes with type; volume does not
Added to the order quantity
e.g. 3 identical beds

Cost estimate

Quarries sell gravel by the ton
Estimate
Cubic yards4.94
Cubic meters3.78
Tons6.67
Tonnes6.05
Weight (lbs)13,333
With 10% overage5.43 yd³
Overage (tons)7.33
0.5 ft³ bags (50 lb)294
Selected gravel type weighs ~2,700 lbs per yard. Suppliers usually bill by the ton — the math above matches their scale tickets.
Bags are approximate — 50-lb bags average ~0.5 ft³; bulk stone varies.

Ballpark, not gospel. Pea gravel size (3/8 in vs 3/4 in) and moisture shift the weight — confirm pounds-per-yard with your supplier before ordering, especially by the ton.

Depth rules for pea gravel

  • Walkways and patios: 2–3 inches. Enough to cover, not enough to wobble.
  • Dog runs: 2–3 inches over landscape fabric — deep enough to drain, shallow enough to rake.
  • Around plants / under trees: 2 inches max, kept back from stems.
  • Never compact pea gravel the way you would crushed stone — a plate compactor just pushes rounded stones sideways. Let foot traffic settle it.

Pea gravel volumes at 2 inches deep (before overage)

Project sizeCubic yardsTons
3 x 10 (path)0.190.25
4 x 12 (path)0.300.40
5 x 20 (long run)0.620.83
12 x 12 (patio)0.891.20

Ton figures use 2,700 lbs per yard for pea gravel. Projects under half a yard are usually cheaper in bags than bulk delivery.

Questions people actually ask

Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.

How much pea gravel do I need for a walkway?

Measure length × width in feet, multiply by depth in feet (2 inches = 0.167 ft), then divide by 27. A 3 × 10 ft walkway at 2 inches deep needs about 0.19 cubic yards — roughly 500 lbs, well under one bulk-bag scoop.

How deep should pea gravel be for a patio or walkway?

Two to three inches is the sweet spot. Shallower than 2 inches and the ground shows through; deeper than 3–4 inches and the rounded stones shift underfoot instead of supporting you. For sitting areas, 2 inches with firm edging feels best.

Does pea gravel compact or settle?

Barely — the rounded stones don't lock together the way crushed rock does, which is why it feels crunchy and stays loose. Expect spreading and migration instead of compaction: use solid edging, add 10% for loss, and top up every year or two on high-traffic paths.

How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?

About 2,700 lbs per cubic yard, or 1.35 tons. That figure is pre-selected in the calculator above and matches what most landscape suppliers print on their price sheets.

Can I put pea gravel straight on dirt?

Lay landscape fabric first, then gravel. Without fabric the stones sink into the soil within a season and weeds come up through the gaps. Add edging around every edge — pea gravel migrates fast without it.

Planning a dog run? Read how much gravel for a dog run, and for a sitting area see how much pea gravel for a patio. For crushed stone instead, use the gravel calculator.