How Much Does Gravel, pea (washed) Weigh?
Smooth, washed pea gravel commonly used for walkways, driveways, and drainage.
Pea gravel gets its name from the size, not the shape: each stone is roughly pea-sized, somewhere around 3/8 inch across, and washed clean of dust and clay before it's bagged or loaded. The washing process also tumbles the edges smooth, so what you're getting is small, rounded, multicolored stone rather than sharp crushed rock.
Because it's naturally weathered river or glacial stone screened to a uniform size, color varies by source pit — tan, gray, and rust tones are common, sometimes blended. It's one of the lighter, more forgiving aggregates to work with by hand since there are no jagged edges to fight.
What Gravel, pea (washed) Is Used For
- Walkway and patio surfacing
- Decorative groundcover around plants and trees
- Driveway topping on low-traffic drives
- Drainage layer around footings and French drains
- Dog runs and play area surfacing
- Filling gaps between pavers or stepping stones
Weight Facts
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,500 lbs
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,500 lbs
- Weight per cubic foot
- 93 lbs
- Weight per ton (yards)
- 0.80 cu yd
- Category
- Aggregate & Gravel
How Much Gravel, pea (washed) Can Each Truck Carry?
| Truck | Payload | Safe max (cubic yards) | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lbs | 0.60 | 3,083 lbs ⚠ |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,500 lbs | 0.60 | 3,139 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.56 | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen) | 1,500 lbs | 0.60 | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.56 | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) | 1,450 lbs | 0.58 | 3,880 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford Ranger | 1,560 lbs | 0.62 | 4,009 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,160 lbs | 0.46 | 3,713 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1,100 lbs | 0.44 | 3,185 lbs ⚠ |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,200 lbs | 0.48 | 3,287 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-150 | 1,525 lbs | 0.61 | 5,769 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,600 lbs | 0.64 | 6,639 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 1,500 lbs | 0.60 | 6,639 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 1500 | 1,240 lbs | 0.50 | 5,694 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,485 lbs | 0.59 | 6,074 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Titan | 1,460 lbs | 0.58 | 5,519 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 3,000 lbs | 1.20 | 7,269 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (SRW) | 4,000 lbs | 1.60 | 7,269 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (DRW) | 5,500 lbs | 2.20 | 7,269 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.28 | 7,731 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.28 | 7,731 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.28 | 7,731 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.28 | 7,731 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 2500 | 1,950 lbs | 0.78 | 6,917 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 3500 (DRW) | 6,280 lbs | 2.51 | 6,917 lbs ⚠ |
⚠ = full bed weight exceeds truck payload. Safe max is by payload rating, not bed volume.
Hauling Gravel, pea (washed): What to Know
At about 2,500 lbs per cubic yard, pea gravel sits mid-pack for aggregates, but the rounded stones shift more than angular material during transport, so tailgate straps and a tarp matter even for a partial load. Because the individual stones roll rather than lock together, a full yard can shift forward under braking, which is worth accounting for when you're loading a pickup near its payload limit.
Buying & Ordering Gravel, pea (washed)
Pea gravel is sold by the cubic yard in bulk (delivered by dump truck or trailer) or by the bag for small jobs, and most yards carry a couple of color blends worth asking to see in person since photos rarely capture the tone accurately. When ordering, confirm whether it's been washed (most is) and ask about depth recommendations for your use — a 2-3 inch bed is typical for walkways, deeper for drainage applications.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
⚠ Overloaded — 1,000 lbs over capacity
This load exceeds the published payload rating and may damage the truck's suspension, frame, tires, and brakes. Reduce quantity or use a higher-rated truck.
Standard AWD EcoBoost payload. Tremor drops to ~1,140 lbs; the 2025+ Lobo off-road trim is lower still (~1,045 lbs). Check door-jamb sticker.
2 trips needed with your Ford Maverick
Gravel, pea (washed) — Frequently Asked Questions
- Does pea gravel need a border to stay in place?
- Yes, in most cases. Because the stones are round and loose, they migrate outward under foot traffic or rain without edging like plastic, metal, or stone borders to contain them.
- Can you compact pea gravel for a driveway base?
- Not really — the rounded shape means the stones roll past each other instead of interlocking, so it stays loose. For a load-bearing base, an angular material like crushed stone or crusher run compacts far better.
- How much does Gravel, pea (washed) weigh per cubic yard?
- Gravel, pea (washed) weighs approximately 2,500 lbs per cubic yard. Smooth, washed pea gravel commonly used for walkways, driveways, and drainage.
- How much Gravel, pea (washed) can a half-ton truck carry?
- A typical half-ton truck with a 1,500 lb payload can safely carry about 0.60 cubic yards of Gravel, pea (washed).
- How many cubic yards per ton of Gravel, pea (washed)?
- Gravel, pea (washed) weighs 2,500 lbs per cubic yard, so one ton (2,000 lbs) equals approximately 0.80 cubic yards.
Related Material Weights
- Gravel, crushed stone (#57) — 2,410 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, river rock — 2,600 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, limestone — 2,610 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) — 2,410 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, crusher run (DGA) — 2,700 lbs/yd³
- Decomposed granite (DG) — 2,500 lbs/yd³
- Lava rock / scoria — 1,650 lbs/yd³
- Riprap (2"–6") — 2,650 lbs/yd³
Helpful Guides
- How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Driveway?
Calculate how many cubic yards and tons of gravel a driveway needs, how many truckloads that is, and which base and top layers to use.
- Cubic Yards, Tons, and Bags: A Material Conversion Guide
How to convert between cubic yards, tons, and bags for gravel, sand, soil, and mulch — with the density figures and formulas that make the math work.
- What Happens If You Overload Your Truck?
Overloading a pickup risks tickets, tire blowouts, brake failure, frame damage, and a voided warranty. Here is what actually happens and how to stay legal and safe.