Walkway Gravel

Walkway gravel is screened to a target size range rather than manufactured, so grading is what separates one product from another. Pea gravel comes from naturally rounded river or glacial deposits screened to 1/8 to 3/8 inch, giving it smooth edges. Crushed stone for walkways, often sold as number 57 or 3/8 inch chip, is mechanically crushed from quarried rock like granite or limestone, then screened to 3/8 to 3/4 inch, leaving angular faces that interlock when compacted. Decomposed granite is a finer product with dust and small particles left in, which is what lets it compact into a semi solid surface rather than staying loose like the other options. When choosing a stone for a walkway, the grading determines whether you get a firm, stable surface or a loose, shifting one, so ask what size range and shape a supplier is actually delivering, not just the stone type name.

A gravel walkway starts by excavating 4 to 6 inches of soil, then laying landscape fabric to block weeds and stop the stone from sinking into the ground. A compacted sub base of coarser angular stone goes down first if the path will see regular foot traffic, tamped firm before anything decorative is added. Edging, whether metal, plastic, stone, or timber, is set along both sides to keep the top layer from spreading into the lawn. The decorative walkway gravel goes on last at 2 to 4 inches deep, raked level and lightly compacted. Skipping the fabric or base is the most common reason paths turn uneven or muddy within a season, and depth beyond 4 inches just makes the surface feel unstable underfoot without adding any real benefit.

Compared with pea gravel and decomposed granite for walking comfort. Pea gravel feels smoother and more comfortable barefoot than crushed stone, but it never firms up, so it is unstable for strollers or wheelbarrows. Decomposed granite compacts into a nearly solid surface, closer to a firm path, but it turns muddy when wet and needs periodic regrading, something clean crushed stone does not require.

Compared with crushed stone and 3/8 inch chip for stability and drainage. Angular 3/8 to 3/4 inch crushed stone locks together for the most stable, best draining walking surface of the group, resisting rutting under repeated foot traffic. It is coarser underfoot than pea gravel and less comfortable barefoot, but it tracks less indoors and holds its shape far longer without topping up.

How much walkway gravel do I need. Multiply the path length by width in feet to get square footage, then use coverage rates of about 162 sq ft per cubic yard at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, or 81 sq ft at 4 inches. A 100 sq ft path at 2 inches needs roughly 0.6 cubic yards. Order slightly more than the calculation to account for base layer and settling, and confirm tons per yard with the supplier since density varies by stone type.

How walkway gravel is sold and delivered. Walkway gravel is sold in bulk by the cubic yard or by the ton, with delivery dropped at the driveway or a designated spot on the property for larger orders. Because weight per yard runs from about 1.4 to 1.7 tons depending on stone type and moisture, it helps to confirm the conversion the supplier uses before finalizing an order so the tonnage matches the coverage you actually need.