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How Much Pea Gravel for a 5x100 Walkway?

How much pea gravel for a 5x100 walkway: at 3 inches deep you need about 4.63 cubic yards, which is roughly 6.5 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The walkway covers 500 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 1.54 yards.

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The math for a 5x100 walkway

  1. Area: 5 × 100 = 500 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 500 × 0.250 = 125.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 4.63 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.4 = 6.5 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Pea gravel needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in3.094.34.8
3 in4.636.57.1
4 in6.178.69.5

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 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. This walkway sees foot traffic, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.

Ordering tips

  • Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
  • Delivery size. 7.1 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 walkway as firm ground allows.

Where pea gravel fits

Good uses:

  • 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 12x24 area at 3 inches takes about 3.7 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

  • Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
  • Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
  • Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
  • Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.

Questions people ask

How many tons of pea gravel for a 5x100 walkway?

About 6.5 tons at 3 inches deep, or 7.1 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 5x100 walkway at 3 inches?

About 4.63 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 5x100?

500 square feet.

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