What it is
Smooth, river-tumbled pea gravel sized at roughly 5/16 inch — the classic small rounded gravel that goes by "pea gravel" everywhere. Sold by the ton. Pale tan to gray color mix.
What it is for
Pea gravel's job is anywhere you want a stable walking surface that drains and looks tidy:
- Garden paths. The most common use. Pea gravel over a compacted base makes a path that drains, stays cool underfoot, and looks finished.
- Dog runs. Drains fast, easy on paws, doesn't hold odor. Top of the list for fenced dog areas.
- Pool equipment pads and AC slabs. Lay pea gravel under and around the equipment — drains, suppresses weeds, looks clean.
- Decorative ground cover in dry-creek beds, around mailbox posts, in courtyard surrounds.
- Drainage backfill around foundation drains and downspout terminations.
How much do I need
One ton covers about 100 sq ft at 2 inches depth — the standard path depth:
| Path/area size | Tons needed |
|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.5 |
| 100 sq ft | 1 |
| 200 sq ft | 2 |
| 500 sq ft | 5 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 |
For paths, use the path wizard — computes pea gravel plus the crushed limestone base course plus edging plus fabric.
Critical: pea gravel needs a base
Pea gravel laid directly on dirt will sink, mix with soil, and become a muddy gravel-and-dirt mess inside a year. The proper build:
- Excavate 4 inches.
- Lay woven landscape fabric.
- Compact 2 inches of crushed limestone base.
- Install steel or aluminum edging around perimeter — pea gravel migrates without an edge.
- Spread 2 inches of pea gravel on top.
Without the base, your path is temporary. With it, it's permanent.
Pea gravel on driveways — don't
Pea gravel scatters under tire torque. For driveways, use crushed limestone (which compacts and holds) or decomposed granite with a proper 4" base. Pea gravel is for foot traffic only.
Buying tips
- A ton of pea gravel is loose-cubic-yard-equivalent — fits easily in a pickup-truck bed level-loaded, or two heaped. We can deliver to wheelbarrow-distance from the install for the bigger jobs.
- For dog runs, plan 2 tons per 100 sq ft of run — pea gravel needs to be deep enough that dogs can dig without hitting fabric.
- Wash off shoes before going inside — pea gravel pieces stuck in tread will scratch a hardwood floor.
Contractor notes
Volume pricing at 5+ tons. Tandem-load drops (16-22 tons) standard for whole-property installs.
In the field
