Pea gravel calculator for Alaska
Estimate the tons of 3/8 inch rounded stone needed for patios, paths, fire pits, and play spaces.
Enter your project dimensions
At 3/8 inch, pea gravel is a rounded stone roughly the size suggested by its name. It weighs 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons, matching crushed gravel despite its softer feel underfoot. Correct depth is the deciding factor. At less than 2 inches, the ground becomes visible; beyond 3 inches, footsteps sink as they would in dry sand. Use this calculator to convert dimensions to tons. Play areas are the sole exception to the 2 to 3 inch depth range.
Convert area to tons
- For a rectangle, take length times width; for a circular fire-pit area, use the diameter.
- For walking surfaces, set depth at 2 to 3 inches. Playground fall zones need a maintained 9 to 12 inches.
- 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 border keeps stone contained
Because pea gravel is round, individual stones move easily. A missing or buried edge is the usual reason it spreads beyond its intended area. Keep steel, aluminum, timber, or paver edging an inch above the finished surface to hold the gravel in place. Flush edging allows stones to escape over time. On slopes above about 5%, rainfall and foot traffic shift the stone downhill even with edging. Use a honeycomb stabilization grid below the gravel on slopes, or select angular crushed stone, which interlocks.
Pea gravel alongside crushed gravel and river rock
Pea gravel is comfortable under bare feet but tends to move around. Crushed walkway gravel has angular pieces that bind together on slopes, though it feels sharper underfoot. Larger river rock is mainly decorative and better kept in beds than walking areas. Their prices generally increase in that order. A single layout may use crushed gravel for a sloped side path, pea gravel at a fire pit, and river rock along a foundation. Check each calculator to compare tonnage for the same area in about a minute.
Field notes for common projects
- For patios, begin with 2 inches of compacted screenings to keep chair legs from pressing in, then place 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel above.
- Play areas: Fall zones call for 9 to 12 inches of maintained material, subject to the equipment manual. With a 12 inch depth, a ton covers about 19 square feet, so use the calculator rather than estimating by eye.
- Fire pits: Set the stone at 3 inches. It will not burn and allows rain to move out of the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs use a 2 to 3 inch layer. Rounded stone is easier on paws and rinses off readily.
- Walkways: Level-rake twice yearly, then replenish the main traffic strip every few seasons using a bucket or two kept in reserve.
Example calculation: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot across contains 113 square feet. At 3 inches, 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, which is just below 1.5 tons. Order 1.5 and save the small excess for the side that sees more traffic next spring.
Pea gravel quantities and weight
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What coverage comes from a ton of pea gravel?
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What depth is needed for a pea gravel patio?
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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.
