Pea gravel calculator for Arkansas
Estimate 3/8 inch rounded stone in tons for play spaces, patio areas, fire features, and paths.
Enter your project dimensions
At 3/8 inch, pea gravel is rounded stone roughly the size suggested by its name. It may feel soft underfoot, but it compacts to about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, equal to 1.4 tons like crushed gravel. Getting the depth right matters. Below 2 inches, the ground can show through; beyond 3 inches, feet sink as they would in dry sand. This calculator converts your measurements to tons and provides set depths for the two uses outside the 2 to 3 inch range: play areas and nothing else.
Turn measurements into tons
- For the area, multiply length by width, or measure the diameter of a round fire-pit surround.
- Use 2 to 3 inches for walked-on areas and maintain 9 to 12 inches in playground fall zones.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply yards by 1.4 for tons.
Coverage guide
| 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 |
Edging keeps stone contained
Pea gravel shifts because its particles are round. A border that is absent or has settled is the usual source of gravel spreading. Keep steel, aluminum, timber, or paver edging an inch above the finished surface to contain the stone; flush edging allows it to move beyond the edge over time. On slopes exceeding about 5%, edging alone cannot hold it, since rainfall and foot traffic carry the gravel downhill. For Ozark grades, place a honeycomb stabilizing grid beneath the gravel or use angular crushed stone, which interlocks.
Pea gravel versus crushed gravel and river rock
For a soft feel under bare feet, pea gravel is a common choice, though it shifts. Crushed walkway gravel has sharper edges but its angular pieces lock together for sloped routes. River rock is larger and decorative, better suited to beds than foot traffic. Costs generally rise in that same sequence. One yard might use crushed gravel on a sloping side path, pea gravel around a fire pit, and river rock by the foundation. Use the individual calculators to compare tonnage for an equal footprint in about a minute.
Project guidance
- Patios: Start with 2 inches of compacted screenings to keep chair legs from pressing down, then place 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel over it.
- Play areas: Maintain 9 to 12 inches for the standard fall-zone specification, and consult the equipment manual. At 12 inches, a ton covers only about 19 square feet, so use the calculator rather than estimating by eye.
- Fire pits: Use 3 inches. This non-flammable stone lets rain drain from the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs: Install 2 to 3 inches. The rounded stone is easier on paws and can be rinsed clean.
- Walkways: Twice a year, rake the surface level. Every couple of seasons, use a bucket or two set aside to refill the traffic line.
Example: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot in diameter contains 113 square feet. With a 3 inch depth: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, which is just below 1.5 tons. Order 1.5, then hold onto the small extra amount for the high-traffic side next spring.
Pea gravel weight and volume
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What coverage comes from a ton of pea gravel?
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For a walkway, pea gravel or crushed gravel?
More calculators
Most patios need under two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel, sold by the ton with free delivery.
