Pea gravel costs $30 to $55 per ton or $45 to $80 per cubic yard for materials.1 HomeAdvisor publishes wider bands – $10 to $50 per ton and $15 to $75 per yard – and puts the average 200 sq ft project at $370 installed.2 Bags of 0.5 cubic feet run $4 to $8 each, which adds up fast: a small walkway that needs $17 to $30 of bulk gravel can cost $100 to $160 in bags (our math below).*
$30 – $55
per ton
$45 – $80
per cubic yard
$370
average 200 sq ft installed
$4 – $8
per 0.5 cu ft bag
Quick math: a 10’ x 10’ patio at 3 inches deep = 25 cubic feet = 0.93 cubic yards. At HomeGuide’s $45 to $80 per yard that is $42 to $74 in material. Use our gravel calculator for your own dimensions.
Published prices at a glance
Two references, fetched and read October 2026. They disagree on per-ton pricing – worth knowing before you quote either:
Truckload pricing also disagrees because the sources define “truckload” differently: HomeGuide says a 2 to 7 ton truckload costs $120 to $700 delivered, while HomeAdvisor prices a 25-ton truckload at $250 to $500. Compare delivered price per ton, not the truckload total.
Colored and specialty pea gravel
HomeAdvisor breaks out types: traditional pea gravel runs $25 to $55 per yard, colored $45 to $80, crushed limestone $30 to $55, and river rock starts at $33. Colored pea gravel adds $20 to $50 per ton over plain.2
Three worked examples (we did the math)
| Project | Volume | Bulk material cost | Bagged material cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway 3’ x 20’ at 2 in. (60 sq ft) | 10 cu ft / 0.37 yd | $17 – $30 | 20 bags: $100 – $160 |
| Patio 10’ x 10’ at 3 in. (100 sq ft) | 25 cu ft / 0.93 yd | $42 – $74 | 50 bags: $250 – $400 |
| Bed 12’ x 12’ at 4 in. (144 sq ft) | 48 cu ft / 1.78 yd (about 2.4 tons) | $80 – $142 | 96 bags: $480 – $768 |
Bulk costs use HomeGuide’s $45 to $80 per yard; bag counts use 0.5 cu ft bags at $5 to $8, with tonnage estimated at 1.35 tons per cubic yard (our working figure – check your supplier). The crossover is stark: bags make sense for a few containers’ worth, not for a patio.
What else to budget for
Delivery: HomeAdvisor notes delivery fees starting at $5 per mile, and yard leveling at $50 to $100 per hour where the ground needs it.2
Spreading labor: HomeGuide splits installed cost into $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft material plus $0.35 to $1.30 spreading labor.1
Quantity breaks: HomeAdvisor says buying 10 or more tons drops colored pea gravel to about $40 to $70 per ton.2
Related guides and tools
Gravel prices per ton and per yardRiver rock prices | Decomposed granite cost> | Gravel calculator | Gravel driveway cost | Best gravel for driveways | Mulch cost (bags vs bulk)
FAQ
How much does a ton of pea gravel cost? $30 to $55 per HomeGuide1; $10 to $50 per HomeAdvisor.2 The disagreement is real – get a local quote rather than splitting the difference.
How much does a yard of pea gravel cover? One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep or 162 sq ft at 2 inches (geometry, not a source claim). At HomeGuide’s $45 to $80 per yard, that is roughly $0.42 to $0.74 per sq ft at 3 inches – inside its published $0.50 to $1.50 band.1
Is pea gravel cheaper in bags or bulk? Bulk by a wide margin beyond a few bags. Our walkway example: $17 to $30 bulk versus $100 to $160 for 20 bags.
How much does colored pea gravel cost? Add $20 to $50 per ton over plain, or $45 to $80 per yard.2
Sources
*Prices are 2025-2026 national averages from the cited sources and vary by region, type, quantity, and delivery distance. Get local quotes before budgeting.