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How Much Pea Gravel for a 6 Foot Circle?

Round areas such as fire pit patios, tree rings and seating circles use less stone than a square of the same width. A 6-foot circle is about 28.3 square feet; at 3 inches that is 0.4 tons of pea gravel.

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The math

  1. Area: 28.3 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic yards: 28.3 × 0.250 ÷ 27 = 0.26 yd³.
  4. Tons: × about 1.4 tons per yard = 0.4 tons.

The gravel calculator does this for any size.

Pea gravel needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons of pea gravelTons +10%
2 in0.170.20.3
3 in0.260.40.4
4 in0.350.50.5
6 in0.520.70.8

Using a circle of stone

Circles show up around fire pits, under swing sets, around trees and as seating areas. Steel or paver edging keeps the round shape crisp and holds loose stone in place. Do not pile stone against tree trunks; leave a gap at the base.

Getting it delivered

Small dump trucks commonly carry around 5 to 10 tons and tri-axles more, but loads vary by truck and state, so ask the yard what fits in one trip. Pea gravel is small and rounded, comfortable underfoot, and needs edging because it rolls. The scale ticket is the real weight; tons per yard here is a planning figure.

Planning the cost

Quarries and landscape suppliers set their own prices, and they change by region and season. Get the price per ton, the delivery fee and the minimum order. If two products will both work, compare cost per square foot at your depth rather than cost per ton.

Tools for the job

A flat shovel, a steel rake, a wheelbarrow and a rented plate compactor cover most residential pads. A landscape rake or the back of a rake levels the top layer, and a long straightedge or a level string shows high and low spots before the final pass.

Questions people ask

How many tons of pea gravel for a 6 ft circle?

About 0.4 tons at 3 inches deep.

How many square feet is a 6 foot circle?

About 28.3 square feet.

How many tons of pea gravel are in a cubic yard?

Roughly 1.4 tons for planning, but suppliers vary with stone size and moisture.

Do I need to compact it?

Yes for anything that carries weight. Compact in lifts of a few inches with a plate compactor.

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