How many tons of pea gravel are in a cubic yard?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) loose, as it comes off the truck — published factors run 1.35–1.6 tons.

Where the number comes from: Mulch Pros scale weights 2,700–2,800 lb/yd³; Stone Center 1.4–1.6 t.
One ton is 0.71 cu yd (19.3 cu ft) and covers about 116 sq ft at 2 in, 77 at 3 in or 58 at 4 in.
In bags: 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft make a cubic yard; each weighs about 52 lb.
Pea gravel is clean stone — it settles slightly but does not compact by volume like base gravel.
A single-axle dump truck (about 5 tons) carries roughly 3.6 cu yd; a tandem (up to 18 tons) about 12.9 cu yd.
Price check: $28–$45/ton national (American Rock Supply 2026); decorative washed pea gravel $139.95/ton at a GA yard. At the default $36.50/ton that is about $51.10 per cubic yard.

Adjust it to your exact job

What's it for?

Project

Decorative gravel needs at least 2 in to hide fabric (Stone Center); larger rock looks best at 3 in or more (Roseville suggests 3–6 in).

Size

Shape

Amount you're ordering

cu yd

Measured in

Material & depth

Material

Paths, play areas, patios set in gravel, and ground cover. Rounded stones roll underfoot and migrate — edge it. Also sold as: pea pebbles, #89-size rounded stone.

How you'll buy it

“Cheapest” compares bulk delivered with 0.5 cu ft bags at the prices below.

Order

1.4tons of pea gravel

1 cu yd loose · 1.4 tons · 54 × 0.5 cu ft bags

Volume: 1 cu ydloose
Weight: 1.4 tons1.4 t per cu yd
Covers at 2 in: 162 sq ft
Covers at 4 in: 81 sq ft

Weight factors vary by quarry

Pea gravel (3/8 in): 1.4 t per loose cu yd (published 1.35–1.6).Your yard's scale ticket is the final word — enter its factor under “Weight factor”.

Bulk or bags?

54 × 0.5 cu ft bags

$322

materials, before tax

1.4 tons delivered

$126

Cheaper ✓ · incl. 1 delivery fee

At these prices bulk is cheaper from about 0.4 tons (15 bags). Bagged pea gravel costs 6.3× the bulk price per yard here; bags make sense for small patches or where a truck can't reach. Your plan (delivered): $126.

Getting it home

Total weight: 1.4 tons · 2,800 lb
Dump truck: 1 single-axle load
Your pickup: 3 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 36% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Shopping list

1.4 tons Pea gravel (3/8 in)$51.10
1 load Delivery$75.00

Estimated total$126

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

pea gravel, bulk
1.4 tons × $
$51.10
Delivery
1 load × $
$75.00

Materials total$126

Bulk prices are typical 2026 yard and national-guide prices (American Rock Supply, Mulch Pros, Roseville Rock Supply); bag prices are retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your yard's.

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Compare

Pea gravel (3/8 in): coverage of one cubic yard and one ton

Depth	Sq ft per cu yd	Sq ft per ton	Tons per 100 sq ft
1 in	324	231	0.43
2 in	162	116	0.86
3 in	108	77	1.3
4 in	81	58	1.73
6 in	54	39	2.59

How this was worked out

Weight converts yards to tons: tons = cubic yards × 1.4. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet; spread 1 in deep it covers 324 sq ft, so coverage at any depth is 324 ÷ inches, and per ton it is 324 ÷ (inches × 1.4).

Quarry tables disagree because stone type, gradation and moisture change the weight, and because some list compacted rather than loose weights — Martin Marietta's "base" figures (1.90–1.95 t) are compacted-in-place values. If your yard prints a factor on its ticket or website, enter it in the calculator; it beats any average.

Paths, play areas, patios set in gravel, and ground cover. Rounded stones roll underfoot and migrate — edge it.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main gravel calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Mulch Pros — material weight & coverage (scale weights) — 2,600–2,900 lb per yd³ of stone; 1 yd³ covers 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 at 3 in; pine straw bale ≈ 40 sq ft; single-axle ≈ 5 t, tandem up to 18 t · checked October 2026
Martin Marietta product calculator — material density table — coarse stone 1.32 t/yd³, base 1.90–1.95 t/yd³ (compacted basis), crushed-concrete base 1.47 · checked October 2026
Vulcan Materials construction aggregates calculator — screenings 110–124 lb/ft³, sand 100–110 lb/ft³, coarse 90–102 lb/ft³ by geology · checked October 2026
Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads — DSA Tech Bulletin (Apr 2025) — 8 in loose compacts to 6 in (factor 1.33); 0.04 t per sq ft; crown 1/2–3/4 in per ft · checked October 2026
American Rock Supply — how much does gravel cost (2026) — #57 $35–$55/ton, pea gravel $28–$45/ton, crusher run $24–$34/ton (material only); delivered per-ton prices · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros price list (October 22, 2026) — bag and bulk prices for mulch, soil, compost, #57, crush & run, pea gravel, sand; delivery $7/mi ($60 min) · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — calculator & reference table — DG ~3,000 lb/yd³, mulch 400–800 lb, topsoil 2,000–2,200 lb; order 5–10% extra; base materials up to 15% for compaction · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — aggregates, sands, topsoil & delivery rates — DG $106.95/yd³, concrete sand $68.95/yd³, screened topsoil $51.95/yd³; free delivery from 4 yd within 14 mi · checked October 2026
Stone Center (Ohio) material calculator — pea gravel 1.4–1.6 t/yd³; 2 in minimum for decorative pea gravel and river rock; 10% waste · checked October 2026
Nebraska DOT — Estimating Material Quantities (July 2024) — stockpiled crushed concrete 1.35 t/yd³; soil compacted in place 110 lb/ft³ · checked October 2026
The Pricer — crushed concrete cost (updated July 2026) — $9–$25 per ton at recycling yards; 1.2–1.4 t per yd³ · checked October 2026
Kokosing Materials (Ohio) tonnage calculator — factors 1.5 (sand), 1.65 (#57/#8), 1.75 (304/411/screenings) — the high end of published values · checked October 2026
Quikrete — how to build a patio — place about 5 in of compactible gravel, tamp to 4 in; extend the base at least 6 in beyond the edges · checked October 2026
Unilock Basic Tech Guide (Jan 2024) — base 6–8 in patios & walks, 6–12 in pool decks, 10–14 in driveways; 1 in bedding; compact in 2–3 in layers; edge restraints spiked into the base · checked October 2026
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) — Table 2 depths and fall heights; loose fill compresses at least 25%; 12 in initial fill for 9 in · checked October 2026

Short answer

A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) loose, as it comes off the truck — published factors run 1.35–1.6 tons.

Where the number comes from: Mulch Pros scale weights 2,700–2,800 lb/yd³; Stone Center 1.4–1.6 t.

One ton is 0.71 cu yd (19.3 cu ft) and covers about 116 sq ft at 2 in, 77 at 3 in or 58 at 4 in.

In bags: 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft make a cubic yard; each weighs about 52 lb.

Pea gravel is clean stone — it settles slightly but does not compact by volume like base gravel.

A single-axle dump truck (about 5 tons) carries roughly 3.6 cu yd; a tandem (up to 18 tons) about 12.9 cu yd.

Price check: $28–$45/ton national (American Rock Supply 2026); decorative washed pea gravel $139.95/ton at a GA yard. At the default $36.50/ton that is about $51.10 per cubic yard.