How Much Pea Gravel for a 3x20 Walkway?
A 3 by 20 foot walkway is 60 square feet. How much pea gravel for a 3x20 walkway depends on depth: at 3 inches it is about 0.56 cubic yards or 0.8 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 3x20 walkway
- Area: 3 × 20 = 60 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 60 × 0.250 = 15.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.56 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 0.8 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 | 0.37 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 3 in | 0.56 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| 4 in | 0.74 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
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. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
Preparing the walkway
Dig the path a few inches below grade, compact the bottom, add fabric if needed and install edging on both sides so the material stays on the walk. For foot traffic, 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. 0.9 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 about 0.8 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the walkway as firm ground allows.
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
Poor fit for:
- 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 12x24 area at 3 inches takes about 3.7 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
Questions people ask
How many tons of pea gravel for a 3x20 walkway?
About 0.8 tons at 3 inches deep, or 0.9 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 3x20 walkway at 3 inches?
About 0.56 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 walkway?
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 3x20?
60 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
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 3x10 Walkway?
- How Much Pea Gravel for a 3x15 Walkway?
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