What Is the Average Price for Pea Gravel?

Average Pea Gravel Costs

Pea Gravel Pricing

The price of adding pea gravel to your landscape installation cost varies based on how much you purchase at a time. You’ll see generous price breaks in larger quantities. Here’s what you might pay for these amounts.

Bulk Pea Gravel

The price of pea gravel drops to about $20 per ton if you buy at least 10 tons. If you need to buy pea gravel in these quantities for larger outdoor projects, you can do so through a landscaping supplier. The most important price variables are the geographic location and distance from the quarry or distributor.

How Much Is a Ton of Pea Gravel?

The average price range for a single ton of pea gravel is between $10 and $50. Colored pea gravel costs an additional $20 to $50 per ton.

Truckload Delivery

A truckload of pea gravel costs between $250 and $500. Truckloads typically carry 25 tons of gravel. This equates to a price of $10 to $20 per ton.

Bag

A bag of pea gravel usually goes for $4 to $6. Bags typically carry enough gravel to cover 0.5 cubic feet.

Pea Gravel Cost by Type

Colored pea gravel costs an additional $20 to $50 per ton on top of the regular cost. This is equivalent to around $30 to $100 per ton, or about $40 to $70 per ton if you buy 10 tons or more. 

Pea Gravel Installation Costs

Along with the type of gravel, the main factors of your pea gravel installation cost are labor and project type. Here’s how they could play into your final budget.

Project Type

Due to varying depth requirements, certain projects will have a higher cost to cover the same area. Driveways, for example, need a depth of at least six inches to accommodate heavy vehicles. Here are some estimates for these common projects:

• Driveway: $5 per square foot

• Pathway: $0.83 per square foot

• Landscaping: $15 to $75 per cubic yard (roughly $150 to $750 for 10 cubic yards)

Labor

In addition to the price of the material, labor and delivery fees will contribute to your final pea gravel cost. This primarily depends on the quantity of gravel and the distance it gets transported. The closer you live to the quarry or distribution center, the less you will pay in gravel delivery costs.

Local gravel delivery services usually require a minimum order to deliver gravel, which may range anywhere from one cubic yard to 20 tons. They may also offer free delivery within a certain mile radius. If that’s not an option, the delivery charge for a truckload of gravel often starts at about $5 per mile.

DIY Pea Gravel Installation vs. Hiring a Professional

Placing pea gravel and smoothing it out might not call for specialized skills, but it does require tough physical labor. A local gravel delivery service can handle the heavy lifting while providing valuable insight into the specific needs of your work site. For example, a pro can plan for adequate drainage based on soil composition and the materials underneath the soil. This can be challenging for a DIYer with no prior knowledge and experience. 

In addition to that, some projects require excavating the site before laying the gravel, which a gravel driveway installer in your area should be able to do. You can also invest in landscape design services to help achieve your dream aesthetic.

FAQs

How do I calculate how much pea gravel I need?

First, multiply the length times width times the depth (in feet). Then, divide that number by 27 to determine how many cubic yards of gravel you’ll need for your project.

Here’s what the equation looks like: (Length in feet x Width in feet x Depth in feet) / 27= Cubic Yards of Gravel Needed. You can also use this pea gravel calculator to find out how much pea gravel you’ll need.

How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs about 1.5 tons, or about 3,000 pounds. This weight may vary based on the size and composition of the gravel.

How deep should pea gravel be?

This depends on the project. For walkways and patios, go for a minimum depth of two to three inches. For driveways, your depth should be at least six inches.

What are the pros and cons of pea gravel?

Pea gravel’s biggest strength is simplicity—it’s an attractive, versatile ground cover that doesn’t require any major maintenance or watering. It also provides excellent drainage, which is a plus for areas with heavy rainfall.

The most notable con of pea gravel is that it’s sharp to the touch, making it unsuitable for kneeling or walking on without shoes. It can also be difficult to weed and hard to separate from the soil if you ever want to have it removed.