Pea gravel calculator for Kansas
Estimate 3/8 inch rounded stone by the ton for patios, paths, fire pits, and play areas.
Enter your project dimensions
Made of 3/8 inch rounded stone about the size of a pea, this material weighs 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons, matching crushed gravel even though it feels gentler underfoot. Layer depth controls the result. At less than 2 inches, soil may become visible; over 3 inches, the surface shifts underfoot like dry beach sand. Enter your measurements in this pea gravel calculator for a ton estimate, with depth settings for play areas, the exception to the 2 to 3 inch range.
Convert your area to tons
- For rectangular spaces, multiply length by width; for a round fire-pit surround, measure the diameter.
- Depth guide: 2 to 3 inches for walking surfaces, and 9 to 12 inches of maintained depth in playground fall zones.
- 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 |
Edging keeps gravel contained
Pea gravel moves because its pieces are round. A border that is missing or has settled is usually where the stone starts escaping. Set steel, aluminum, timber or paver edging an inch higher than the finished surface to contain it. When edging is flush, the rock can work its way out over a season. Once a grade exceeds about 5%, edging alone may not hold against rain and foot traffic. Kansas flash rains can move loose surface stone, so use a honeycomb stabilizing grid below the gravel on slopes or change to angular crushed stone that interlocks.
Pea gravel compared with crushed gravel and river rock
For bare feet, pea gravel is the softer option, though it can shift. Crushed walkway gravel has sharper edges but binds together and handles slopes better. River rock is larger and decorative, suited to beds instead of foot traffic. Cost generally rises in that same sequence. One property might have crushed gravel on a sloped side path, pea gravel around a fire pit, and river rock by the foundation. The separate calculators let you compare the tonnage for an identical footprint in about a minute.
Field project notes
- Patios: Place 2 inches of compacted screenings below the finish layer so chair legs do not sink, then install 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel.
- Play areas: Keep 9 to 12 inches of material in the fall zone and follow the equipment manual. With a 12 inch depth, a ton reaches only about 19 square feet, so use the calculator instead of guessing.
- Fire pits: Set the depth at 3 inches. The stone will not burn and allows rainwater to drain away from the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs: Use 2 to 3 inches. The rounded pieces are gentler on paws and wash off easily.
- Walkways: Smooth the surface with a rake twice yearly, then replenish the main traffic track every couple of seasons using a bucket or two set aside.
Example: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
For a 12-foot diameter circle, the area is 113 square feet. At 3 inches: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, which is just below 1.5 tons. Buy 1.5 and use the small amount left over on the high-traffic side next spring.
Pea gravel measurements and weight
What quantity of pea gravel is needed?
What area will a ton of pea gravel cover?
What is the weight of a yard of pea gravel?
What does pea gravel cost?
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What depth is needed for a pea gravel patio?
What pea gravel depth is needed below a swing set?
For a walkway, pea gravel or crushed gravel?
Other calculators
Most patios need less than two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel, sold by the ton.
