Pea gravel calculator for Iowa
For patios, paths, fire pits, and play areas, estimate tons of 3/8 inch rounded stone.
Enter your project dimensions
Rounded pea gravel measures 3/8 inch, roughly matching the size suggested by its name. Its gentle feel underfoot does not change its weight: 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons, equal to crushed gravel. Layer depth determines performance. At less than 2 inches, the surface can show through; over 3 inches, walking feels loose, like dry beach sand. Enter your measurements in this calculator to find tons, using the set depths for the two jobs outside the 2 to 3 inch range: play areas and nothing else.
Convert area into tons
- Find the area by multiplying length and width; for a circular fire-pit surround, measure the diameter.
- Set walking areas at 2 to 3 inches; playground fall zones need 9 to 12 inches of maintained material.
- 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 |
Keep it contained with edging
Rounded pea gravel can shift under use. A border that is absent or has settled below the surface allows stones to spread outward. Keep the material contained with steel, aluminum, timber or paver edging installed an inch higher than the gravel surface; edging installed flush allows stones to move out over a season. At slopes greater than about 5%, rainfall and foot traffic can move gravel downhill even with edging. Use a honeycomb stabilizing grid beneath the gravel on sloped ground, or choose angular crushed stone for a more interlocking surface.
Pea gravel beside crushed gravel and river rock
Pea gravel provides a smoother feel under bare feet. Crushed walkway gravel has angular pieces that interlock, making it more suitable for slopes, though it feels sharper. River rock is larger and generally used as a decorative bed material instead of a walking surface. Pricing tends to follow that same order. A site may use crushed gravel on a sloping path, pea gravel at a fire pit, and river rock beside a foundation. Use the calculators for each material to compare tonnage for an identical footprint in about a minute.
Field project notes
- Patios: Start with 2 inches of compacted screenings to limit chair-leg sinking, then place 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel above.
- Play areas: Maintain 9 to 12 inches for the fall-zone specification, and refer to the equipment manual. At 12 inches, a ton reaches only about 19 square feet, making the calculator more reliable than a visual estimate.
- Fire pits: Install 3 inches. Because the stone is non-flammable, rain can drain from the seating area overnight.
- Dog runs: Use 2 to 3 inches of rounded stone for a paw-friendly surface that can be rinsed clean.
- Walkways: Level the surface with a rake twice each year, then add material along the travel line every couple of seasons from a bucket or two kept aside.
Example calculation: a 12-foot fire-pit circle
A circle measuring 12-foot in diameter covers 113 square feet. With a 3 inches depth: 113 x 0.25 = 28 cubic feet = 1.05 cubic yards, slightly less than 1.5 tons. Order 1.5 and reserve the small excess for the high-traffic edge next spring.
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Other calculators
Many patio estimates are under two tons.
3/8 inch natural pea gravel, sold by the ton with free delivery.
