Landscape & Groundwork
Pea Gravel Calculator
Find the cubic yards, tons and material cost for your pea gravel path.
Enter your measurements
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
Pea gravel is a rounded, small-grade aggregate used for paths, play areas and decorative beds. Enter your dimensions, area with depth or known volume, then add an order allowance and your supplier's bulk density for weight.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the path or bed and the depth of pea gravel.
- Check the named dry-rock supplier example beside the density field, then replace it with the density for your actual material and volume basis.
- Add an allowance if the base is uneven or edging will absorb material.
- Check the delivered volume against the order volume.
Formula
Net volume = length × width × depth (or area × depth, or entered volume)
Order volume = net volume × (1 + allowance ÷ 100)
Weight = order volume × supplier density — only when density is supplied
Assumptions
- Pea gravel is rounded and shifts under load; edging and a compacted base are separate work.
- Bulk density varies with moisture and grading; the default is editable.
- Volume is geometric; no settlement model is applied.
- The editable density is a named supplier example. Grading, moisture and compaction can change the weight.
Volume for a 4 × 20 ft path
| Depth | Volume before allowance |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.494 yd³ |
| 3 in | 0.741 yd³ |
| 4 in | 0.988 yd³ |
Calculated geometry. Confirm the product and intended layer depth.
Common mistakes
- Mixing depth in inches with area in square feet before converting units.
- Using a loose or dry supplier density for a different compacted or wet material.
- Applying extra order volume twice, or treating it as a compaction model.
Worked example
Try it: press “Load example” above the form.
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Limitations
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Frequently asked questions
Is pea gravel suitable for a compacted structural base?
This is a quantity calculator. It does not specify a structural base or drainage design. Check the grading and intended use with the supplier, then use the required layer depth from the project specification.
Why is ordered weight only an estimate?
The tool converts volume with an editable density. Loose voids and moisture change the delivered bulk weight, and supplier minimums may change the actual order.
What does the worked example show?
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Which assumptions should I check before using the result?
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Sources
Sources explain the methods and any named product presets. Check your product label where coverage, yield or density differs.
- Inch Calculator: Gravel
- NIST: Revised Unit Conversion Factors
- Triangle Landscape Supplies: dry bulk weights
Named supplier examples: rock 2,800 lb/yd³, sand 2,500 lb/yd³, soil 2,000–2,600 lb/yd³. These do not specify every material. Checked 8 November 2026.
Calculation documentation · Updated 2026-11-11 · Version 1.6.4. Estimates are planning aids. Confirm quantities, coverage and prices with your supplier before purchasing. Found an error? Report it.
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