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Gravel Types

Shape matters more than colour

When people choose stone they usually look at colour first, but the shape of each piece decides how a surface behaves. Angular fragments produced by crushing quarried rock have sharp faces that interlock. Tread on them, drive on them or run a plate compactor over them and they settle into a tight mat. Rounded stones, worn smooth by water, roll past one another like marbles. They feel pleasant underfoot in a thin layer but never truly lock. That single difference explains most of the advice you will hear about which gravel to use where.

Crushed stone

Crushed stone is quarried rock broken to a size range. Suppliers grade it by the size of the screen it passes through, and the same product can carry different names from one region to another. Clean crushed stone has the fine dust washed or screened out, leaving open gaps that drain well, which is why it often appears around drainage pipes and under sheds. Crushed stone with fines left in compacts into a hard, almost paved layer and is a common choice for driveway bases and paver bases. If you are unsure, describe your project and ask the yard which of its products people use for it locally.

Pea gravel

Pea gravel is small, rounded stone, often in mixed earthy tones. It is popular for casual patios, garden paths and around stepping stones because it looks soft and is comfortable to walk on in shoes. Its weakness is migration: it drifts, gets kicked onto lawns and can feel loose when laid deep. Firm edging and a modest layer over a compacted base help. Some builders use plastic stabilising grids to hold it in place.

River rock and decorative stone

River rock covers larger rounded stones, from roughly an inch to several inches across. It is mostly decorative: borders, dry creek beds, around downspouts and in low-maintenance beds. Because the stones are large, the layer must be deep enough to hide the soil, generally around one and a half to two times the stone size. Decorative crushed products such as coloured granite chips sit between these categories; they are angular, so they stay put better than rounded stone.

Graded and fines-rich mixes

Many regions sell a blend of crushed stone and fine particles intended to compact. Local names include crusher run, road base, Type A or similar labels. Decomposed granite is a related, finer material used for paths that look natural but firm. Fines-rich mixes drain more slowly than clean stone but give a stable walking or driving surface. Because naming varies so much, always confirm what a product contains rather than relying on a label you read online.

Matching type to job

Treat the table as a starting point for a conversation with your supplier. Local geology determines what is available and affordable, and a stone that is cheap in one province or state may be trucked in at a premium elsewhere.

Size, colour and practical details

Smaller stone is easier to rake level and more comfortable to walk on. Larger stone stays put in wind and rain but is awkward underfoot. Light colours brighten a space but show dirt and leaf stain; darker stone hides grime but can get warm in strong sun. Limestone products can slowly break down and may shift soil chemistry slightly near plants that dislike lime, a detail worth asking about for acid-loving shrubs. Sharp crushed stone can be hard on bare feet and pet paws, which is one reason families pick rounded stone for play-adjacent paths.

How type affects how much you order

Volume math is the same for every stone, but density and compaction differ. Angular material carrying fines settles appreciably under a compactor, so you order more. Rounded stone compacts little. Larger stones need deeper layers. Run the gravel calculator with your supplier's density, then add an allowance that matches the product.

Questions to ask at the yard

What is this stone made of, and is it local? Does it include fines? What size range passes the screen? How many tons per yard does it weigh dry? Is it suitable for the job I describe? Is there a sample bin I can look at wet and dry? Those answers turn a confusing list of regional product names into a clear choice.

Metric note

Metric volumes for a few stone depths, with tonnes at 1.45 US tons per yard equivalent:

Availability

Not every stone is sold everywhere. A quick call to two yards tells you what is stocked locally, and local stone is usually the cheapest.

Worked example

Illustrative examples (2026-10-29), not quotes or guarantees.

A 30 × 4 ft side path (120 ft²): option A, 2 in of fine crushed stone over existing firm soil ≈ 0.74 yd³ ≈ 1.0 t; option B, 3 in of pea gravel ≈ 1.11 yd³ ≈ 1.6 t. Option A will feel firmer; option B looks softer but needs edging.

FAQ

Which gravel does not move?

Angular crushed stone with fines compacts and stays put best.

Is pea gravel good for driveways?

It tends to rut and scatter; most drives use angular stone.

What is crusher run?

A regional name for crushed stone mixed with fines that compacts firmly.

Does stone colour fade?

Some stone lightens as dust and weathering act on it.

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