Pea gravel vs crushed stone: which should you use?

Last reviewed 2026-06-06

They look similar in the yard but perform very differently. Here is which gravel to use for driveways, paths and patio bases.

Pea gravel and crushed stone are the two aggregates most home projects come down to. They look similar in a wheelbarrow but behave very differently once they are down, so picking the right one saves you a shifting, weed-prone mess later.

Pea gravel

Pea gravel is small, smooth, rounded stone — pleasant to walk on and attractive in beds, around stepping stones and in casual paths. Because the stones are round, they do not lock together: pea gravel shifts and scatters underfoot and under tyres, so it needs edging to contain it and is a poor structural base.

Crushed stone

Crushed stone has sharp, angular edges that interlock and compact into a firm, stable surface. That makes it the workhorse for driveways, the base layer under pavers and patios, and French drains. “Crusher run” (crushed stone mixed with stone dust) compacts especially hard. It is less comfortable underfoot than pea gravel but far more stable.

Which to use

• Driveway: crushed stone (often crusher run as a base, with a decorative top layer).
• Patio or paver base: crushed stone, compacted, then bedding sand.
• Decorative beds and casual paths: pea gravel, with edging to keep it in place.
• Drainage (French drains): clean crushed stone around the pipe.

How much will you need (and what will it weigh)?

Aggregate is sold by weight or by the cubic yard, but you measure your project by area and depth. The gravel calculator converts your length, width and depth into both cubic yards and tons (using the right density for each material), so you can order accurately — and remember to add 10–15% for compaction on driveways and paths.

Calculators for this

• Gravel Calculator — Cubic yards and tons of gravel, stone or sand.
• Paver Calculator — Pavers plus base gravel and bedding sand for a patio.