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Gravel, landscape fabric and edging for the ground under a deck — tons, yards, bags and cost.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Pea Gravel needed | 2.64 tons |
| Volume | 1.96 yd³ |
| Or in 0.5 cu ft bags | 106 bags |
| Landscape fabric (3 ft × 100 ft rolls) | 5 strips — 1 roll |
| Stone cost | $92 – $185 |
| Area under the deck | 192 sq ft |
| Depth | 3 in |
| Density | 1.35 tons per yd³ |
| Fabric | 5 × 16 ft strips, 6 in overlaps |
| Edging (open sides) | up to 56 ft |
Cut the fabric around posts and footings rather than lifting it over them, and slope the ground away from the house before you lay it. Leave the stone below the deck framing — at least 6 in of air under the joists keeps the frame dry.
The ground under a deck stays damp and shaded, so weeds and mud take over unless it is covered. The usual fix is woven landscape fabric with two to three inches of stone on top. This works out the stone in tons, cubic yards and bags for your deck's footprint, the fabric strips and rolls, and the edging to keep the stone in, with a cost range for the stone.
About 2.6 tons of pea gravel at 3 inches deep with a 10% allowance: 192 square feet at 3 inches is 1.78 cubic yards, 1.96 with the allowance, and pea gravel weighs about 1.35 tons per yard. That is roughly 106 bags of 0.5 cubic feet, so bulk delivery is far cheaper.
Pea gravel if you will walk or store things under the deck, because it is smooth underfoot, or #57 crushed stone if the ground is sloped or wet, because the angular pieces lock and drain. River rock looks best where the underside is visible. Avoid crusher run: its fines hold water against the posts.
Two to three inches over woven landscape fabric is enough to block light and keep weeds down; go to four inches on wet or uneven ground. More depth adds cost without much benefit, and the stone should always stay well below the joists so air can move under the deck.
Yes. Woven fabric stops weeds from growing up through the stone and keeps the gravel from sinking into the soil. Overlap the strips by six inches, pin them every three feet, and cut neat openings around each post and footing.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.