Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is a smooth, naturally rounded stone used for warmth, texture, and easy maintenance in outdoor spaces. Commonly installed for pathways, garden beds, dog runs, playgrounds, drainage areas, and decorative ground cover, pea gravel drains well, stays cool underfoot, and creates a clean, casual look. Earth Stone Rock supplies bulk pea gravel in a range of natural colors and sizes, available for yard pickup or delivery anywhere in the United States.

Buying pea gravel: for sale by the bag, the ton, or the cubic yard. A cubic yard weighs about 2,700 lb, roughly 1.35 tons, so cost per yard and cost per ton are different figures. One ton covers about 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep. Size the job with the coverage calculator, or read landscaping with pea gravel, pea gravel vs decomposed granite, and river rock vs pea gravel for drainage.

Jump to:

Products Project Ideas Buying Guide FAQ

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (in)

Area —

Cubic Yards —

Approx. Tons —

* ~1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Trusted by contractors across California Multiple colors and sizes in stock Bulk delivery or yard pickup

Jump to: Products • Project Ideas • Buying Guide • FAQ

Need help choosing? Browse project ideas, see size and use guidance, or read our buying guide.

Projects Sizes Guide

Common Uses for Pea Gravel

From garden paths to patios to French drains — see where rounded, free-draining gravel earns its place.

Garden Pathways

A 2" layer of pea gravel over compacted base makes a soft, drainable pathway that crunches underfoot and feels right in any garden style. Edge with steel or stone to keep the line crisp.

Shop Pea Gravel Pathway Tips

Patios & Sitting Areas

Pea gravel patios are simple to install, drain freely, and have a casual courtyard feel that block patios can't match. Plan for 3" depth over a compacted base, with edging that holds the gravel in.

Shop Pea Gravel Patio Tips

Drainage & French Drains

Pea gravel surrounds perforated pipe in French drains, fills the void in dry wells, and tops gravel sumps that move water away from foundations. Rounded shape means it doesn't lock up the way crushed rock does.

Shop Pea Gravel Drainage Tips

Under Pavers & Stepping Stones

A 1" leveling layer of pea gravel under pavers or flagstones lets you fine-tune each stone's height without re-mixing concrete. Drains underneath, stays put, and sets crisp.

Shop Pea Gravel Paver Setting Tips

Playgrounds & Play Areas

Rounded pea gravel meets ASTM impact attenuation standards as playground surfacing when laid 9" or deeper. Edges easy to maintain, drains after rain, doesn't track into the house like sand.

Shop Pea Gravel Playground Tips

Dog Runs & Side Yards

Pea gravel is paw-friendly, drains urine straight through, and rinses clean with a hose. Common pick for fenced dog runs and the strips between house and fence where lawn won't grow.

Shop Pea Gravel Pet Area Tips

Pea Gravel Buying Guide

Pick the right size, edge it correctly, and build a base that lasts. Practical tips from the yard.

Pea gravel is the most versatile loose stone in landscaping — rounded, free-draining, and friendly underfoot. It works for garden paths, casual patios, French drains, paver setting beds, playgrounds, and dog runs. The same product, used six different ways.

Browse the full pea gravel collection for sizes and colors in stock. Not sure which works for your project? The table and tips below cover the decisions worth getting right.

Quick Links

Shop All Pea Gravel Decomposed Granite River Rock Base Materials

Pea Gravel Sizes vs Use Cases

Material	Best For	Compaction	Drainage	Cost
Pea Gravel (3/8")	Pathways, patios, drainage layers	Light (locks loosely)	Excellent	$$
Pea Gravel (1/4" Fine)	Paver setting bed, fine drainage, French drains	Light	Excellent	$$
Pea Gravel (Multi-Color)	Decorative ground cover, accent strips	Light	Excellent	$$
Playground Pea Gravel	ASTM-compliant play surfacing (9" depth)	None (stays loose)	Excellent	$$

Pea gravel needs a compacted base and proper edging to perform. See base materials and landscape fabric for what goes underneath.

What Landscapers Know

Edge it. Always. Pea gravel walks itself sideways without an edge. Steel landscape edging, concrete bands, pavers, or placed boulders all hold it in place.
Build a base first. 2" to 3" of compacted crushed angular rock (class II or 3/4" minus) under the pea gravel keeps the surface stable. Pure pea gravel on dirt rolls and ruts.
Lay landscape fabric between base and pea gravel. Stops the pea gravel from mixing down into the base and stops weeds from finding daylight through it.
Plan 2" depth for pathways, 3" for patios. Too shallow and the base shows through; too deep and walking through it feels like wading. The right depth lands at about an ankle scuff.
Rake it back periodically. Pea gravel migrates toward foot traffic. A quick rake every few months keeps the surface even.
Wet pea gravel reveals its true colors. Hose down a sample after delivery to preview the rainy-season look against your plants.

Need Help?

(800) 215-7372

FAQ

How much pea gravel do I need?

Use the coverage calculator at the top of this page. Rule of thumb: 1 cubic yard covers about 165 sq ft at 2" depth (typical pathway). Pea gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

What's the difference between pea gravel and decomposed granite?

Pea gravel is rounded and stays loose underfoot — looks and sounds like a crunchy beach. DG is crushed and compacts down to a firm, packed surface. DG works better for ADA-style paths and bocce courts; pea gravel works better for garden paths, casual patios, and drainage.

Will weeds grow through pea gravel?

Without landscape fabric underneath, yes — weeds find their way through any loose gravel. With commercial-grade fabric (not the bargain stuff) installed under the gravel, weed growth is minimal for years.

Is pea gravel safe for kids and pets?

Yes. The rounded shape is smooth and bare-foot friendly. For playgrounds, use ASTM-compliant pea gravel at 9" depth for proper impact attenuation. For pets, pea gravel is paw-friendly and drains urine straight through to soil.

Can I install pea gravel myself?

Absolutely — paths and small patios are classic DIY projects. You'll need a wheelbarrow, rake, and the right edging. For larger areas (over 200 sq ft) consider supersack delivery to avoid hauling bags. Call (800) 215-7372 with your project size for sizing help.

Find the Right Pea Gravel for Your Project

Multiple sizes and colors in stock. Pick at the yard, supersack delivery, or loose by the yard. Project sizing help available — call us with your dimensions and we'll calculate the quantity.

Shop Pea Gravel

Pea gravel for sale by the bag, the ton, or the yard

Every pea gravel color below is for sale in the quantity your project needs. Small beds and container work go by the bag. Pathways, dog runs, playgrounds and open ground cover are ordered in bulk by the ton or cubic yard. Pick a size on any product page and it shows the current cost for that exact unit.

A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 2,700 pounds, roughly 1.35 tons, so a price per yard and a price per ton are not the same figure. As a planning number, one ton covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches deep.

Where pea gravel works, and where it does not

Pea gravel is rounded, which is exactly why it drains well and stays cool underfoot, and also why it shifts underfoot on a slope or under wheels. It is excellent for dog runs, play areas, drainage and casual paths. It is a poor choice for driveways or anywhere you need a firm, locked surface, where angular crushed landscape gravel or compacted decomposed granite will hold far better.

Compare the options in pea gravel vs decomposed granite and river rock vs pea gravel for drainage, or read landscaping with pea gravel for design ideas. Size the job with the coverage calculator. For bulk loads and freight, request a quote.

Delivery & Pickup

Pea Gravel Delivery Across California & the Southwest

Order pea gravel for pickup at our Central Valley or Antelope Valley yards, or bulk delivery throughout California — plus Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. Tell us your ZIP and project and we will quote a delivered price.

Central Valley Visalia Yard 30617 Co Hwy J25, Goshen, CA 93227 Yard details › Antelope Valley Rosamond Yard 1387 Sierra Hwy, Rosamond, CA 93560 Yard details ›

Your cart is empty

Pea Gravel

Categories

Filters

Arizona River Pea Gravel

Black and White Zen Pebbles

Coalinga Blue Pea Gravel

Del Rio Pea Gravel

Imperial Del Rio Pea Gravel

Lodi Gold River Pea Gravel

Lodi Gold River Rock

Navajo Granite Pea Gravel

Noiyo Pea Gravel

Noiyo River Rock

Santa Maria Float River Rock