Pea Gravel Calculator
Pea gravel is the easiest hardscape material to work with and the easiest to under-order, because those little 0.5 cu ft bags cover far less than they look like they will. Enter your area and depth to see the real count — and whether you've crossed the line where bulk delivery beats bags.
How this calculator works
Volume = area × depth. Bags: most home-center pea gravel comes in 0.5 cu ft bags. Bulk: cubic yards (÷27) and tons (yards × 1.3 — pea gravel is a bit lighter than crushed stone). Rule of thumb for the break-even: past ~1 cubic yard (54 bags), bulk delivery is almost always cheaper even with the delivery fee.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of pea gravel do I need for 100 square feet?
At 2.5" deep, 100 sq ft needs about 21 cu ft — that's 42 bags of 0.5 cu ft. At $4–6 a bag you'd spend $170–$250, versus roughly $60–$100 for the same stone in bulk plus delivery. Bags only win on small jobs or when a truck can't reach you.
How deep should pea gravel be for a walkway?
2 to 2.5 inches over compacted base or landscape fabric. Deeper than 3" actually gets worse to walk on — your feet sink and roll. Playgrounds are the exception: safety standards call for 9" of loose fill.
Does pea gravel need edging?
Yes — pea gravel migrates. Steel, aluminum, or paver edging keeps it contained; without it, expect to rake stones out of the lawn forever. Budget edging at $2–5 per linear foot into the project.