Multiply patio area in square feet by depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.35 for tons of pea gravel. A 12 × 12 ft patio under 2 inches of pea gravel needs about 0.9 cubic yards, or 1.2 tons — plus roughly 2.8 tons of crusher run for the 4-inch base below it.
Your project estimate
Enter your details above — results appear here instantly.
Order – tons (includes your waste allowance) so compaction and spillage don’t leave you short.
Patio Gravel Calculator Guide
A gravel patio is the fastest route from lawn to livable outdoor room — no concrete truck, no cure time, no permit in most towns. But the ones that still look sharp in year five share a secret: they are two-layer builds. The gravel you see is a 2-inch finish course riding on a 4-inch compacted structural base, and the base is what keeps chairs from sinking and the surface from dissolving into the soil.
This calculator sizes the finish layer at pea gravel’s 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Run your footprint through twice — once at 2 inches for the surface, once at 4 inches with crusher run selected for the base — and order both grades in the same delivery.
How Much Gravel Does a Patio Take, Layer by Layer?
| Patio | Area | Base: 4 in crusher run | Surface: 2 in pea gravel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 1.9 tons | 0.8 tons |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 2.8 tons | 1.2 tons |
| 16 × 12 ft | 192 sq ft | 3.7 tons | 1.6 tons |
| 20 × 14 ft | 280 sq ft | 5.4 tons | 2.3 tons |
The base outweighs the surface roughly two to one — budget accordingly. It is also the cheaper of the two materials, which is why skimping on it saves little and costs much.
Building a Patio That Furniture Can Live On
- Excavate 6 inches, sloping the floor about 1 inch per 8 feet away from the house for drainage.
- Set the edging first — steel, aluminum, or a mortared paver border. Loose gravel obeys its container and nothing else.
- Compact the base in two lifts with a plate compactor until a footprint barely registers.
- Screed the finish layer to 2 inches, holding it a half inch below the edging lip.
- Consider grid panels under the surface in dining zones — they stop chair legs from drilling divots into rounded gravel.
On surface choice: pea gravel is the barefoot favorite, while crushed decomposed granite compacts firmer and holds furniture steadier at the cost of a softer look. Angular stone in the quarter- to half-inch range splits the difference.
The same two-layer thinking underlies paver patios — the paver base calculator covers that base build — and if pea gravel won the surface decision, the pea gravel calculator digs into sizing, color options, and bulk buying for that material specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should gravel be on a patio?
Two inches of surface gravel over a 4-inch compacted base is the proven recipe. Thinner than 2 inches lets the base show through; deeper than 3 inches feels like walking on a beach and swallows furniture legs.
Does a gravel patio need a base layer?
Yes — spread pea gravel straight on soil and it ruts, puddles, and disappears into the ground within a couple of seasons. A 4-inch compacted crusher run base gives the patio a firm skeleton, with the decorative layer as the finish.
What is the best gravel for a patio surface?
Pea gravel is the classic for comfort and price, while crushed decomposed granite compacts firmer, so chairs and tables sit steadier. Angular quarter- to half-inch stone splits the difference — it locks together yet still drains.
How do I keep patio gravel from spreading?
Contain every edge with steel edging, timber, or a paver border set in concrete, holding the gravel about a half inch below the lip. On larger patios, plastic grid stabilization panels under the surface layer stop furniture divots and gravel creep.