Bags of Pea Gravel for a 5x40 Walkway
How many bags of pea gravel for a 5x40 walkway: at 3 inches deep you need about 50.0 cubic feet, which is 100 bags of the common 0.5 cubic foot size. If your store sells pea gravel in 50-pound bags instead, figure about 104 bags, since pea gravel weighs roughly 104 pounds per cubic foot.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Bag count by depth
| Depth | Cubic feet | 0.5 cu ft bags | 50 lb bags (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 16.7 | 34 | 35 |
| 2 in | 33.3 | 67 | 70 |
| 3 in | 50.0 | 100 | 104 |
| 4 in | 66.7 | 134 | 139 |
How to figure it
- Area: 5 × 40 = 200 sq ft.
- Volume: 200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50.0 cu ft.
- Bags: 50.0 ÷ 0.5 = 100 bags (round up).
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 50.0 cubic feet is 1.85 yards, about 2.6 tons. At this size, a bulk delivery usually beats a cart full of bags once you count trips. Compare the bag price × 100 against a bulk quote for 2.9 tons delivered.
About pea gravel
Because pea gravel is round, it never fully locks. Keep depths modest on walkways and patios so it does not feel like walking on a beach, and use edging.
Laying it down for a walkway
- Dig and level. Remove sod and set the base slightly below the surrounding grade.
- Edge it. Steel, plastic or stone edging keeps material in place.
- Spread in layers. Rake to depth, then rake smooth; rounded stone will not compact.
- Buy a few extra. Grab 5 to 10 percent more bags for settling and touch-ups.
The volume and tonnage calculator handles other sizes and depths.
When to choose pea gravel
Best suited to:
- Patios, walkways and dog runs
- Play areas with proper depth and edging
- Drainage around foundations when sized properly
Less suited to:
- Driveways and steep paths, where it rolls and ruts
- Under pavers as a base
- Areas without edging
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of pea gravel (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 3 inches takes about 2.6 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Questions people ask
How many bags of pea gravel for a 5x40 walkway?
About 100 bags of 0.5 cubic feet at 3 inches deep.
How many 50 lb bags of pea gravel for 5x40?
About 104 bags at 3 inches.
How many 0.5 cubic foot bags are in a cubic yard?
54 bags.
How many cubic feet is a 5x40 walkway at 3 inches?
About 50.0 cubic feet.
When does bulk make more sense?
Usually once the job passes about a cubic yard, or when you would need more than a few car trips.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Bags of Pea Gravel for a 5x25 Walkway
- Bags of Pea Gravel for a 5x30 Walkway
As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.