How Much Pea Gravel for a 20x24 Patio?
How much pea gravel for a 20x24 patio is a quick volume problem. 480 square feet at 3 inches comes to 4.44 cubic yards. Pea gravel usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 6.2 tons.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 20x24 patio
- Area: 20 × 24 = 480 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 480 × 0.250 = 120.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 4.44 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 6.2 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Pea gravel needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 2.96 | 4.1 | 4.6 |
| 3 in | 4.44 | 6.2 | 6.8 |
| 4 in | 5.93 | 8.3 | 9.1 |
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. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.
Preparing the patio
Remove sod, level the area with a slight slope away from the house, and lay landscape fabric if weeds are a concern. Edging keeps loose material inside the patio footprint. For foot traffic and furniture, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 6.8 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the patio as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for pea gravel
Works well for:
- 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 14x28 area at 3 inches takes about 5.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Questions people ask
How many tons of pea gravel for a 20x24 patio?
About 6.2 tons at 3 inches deep, or 6.8 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 20x24 patio at 3 inches?
About 4.44 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of pea gravel weigh?
Usually around 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should pea gravel be for a patio?
The table above shows 2 to 4 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 20x24?
480 square feet.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
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