Pros and Cons of Gravel for Your Landscape

Gravel is the elegant, practical, and durable choice for driveways. In addition to being an economical choice for longer driveways, gravel also offers excellent water drainage in wetlands or areas with heavy rainfall totals. However, "gravel" can actually refer to many different types of driveway materials that offer unique pros and cons. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that there are several different types of gravel for driveways after they begin researching this project. If you're wondering about the best gravel for driveways, this rundown of six types of driveway gravel to consider will help you narrow down your choice!

What Is Gravel?

While there are different types of gravel, general speaking gravel is classified as any loose rock material, ranging in size from 2 to 60mm. These rocks are commonly found in riverbeds, lakes, and seas. The rocks can range in size, shape, and color, which is one of the gravel’s appeals; it has a unique, rustic look.

Gravel is not a new material. Its use in ancient civilizations for roads, pathways, and other purposes is well-documented. 

Pros of Pea Gravel for Driveways

A top aesthetic choice for driveways, pea gravel is made of small, round river stones of different hues. The most common shades of pea gravel are cream, tan, grey, gold, black, and white. These stones have irregular characteristics caused by the smoothing that occurs due to natural weathering and erosion. Pea stone is considered so aesthetically elegant that it is commonly used for garden ponds. 

Easy Installation

Gravel only takes a few hours to install. Whether you’re DIY-ing it or hiring local driveway contractors, the process is simple: level the ground, grade the driveway, and then add the gravel.

Comfortable to Walk On

Because of its smooth texture, pea gravel is comfortable to walk on without shoes. 

Affordable

Pea gravel is quite affordable, costing between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot. 

Offers Drainage

The water from rainstorms and elsewhere will absorb into the ground, rather than puddle as it would with some other driveway materials.

Low Maintenance

While you’ll need to top off displaced pea gravel from time to time, it’s an overall low-maintenance material.

Cons of Pea Gravel for Driveways

Shifts Over Time

Pea gravel is small and shifts over time; to keep your driveway even, you’ll need to rake it back into place or top it off with new gravel.

Can’t Be Tamped

Because pea gravel is round—compared to crushed gravel, which has edges—it doesn’t “lock together” when tamped down.

Weeds Can Grow

Because there will be gaps in the gravel to the soil, weeds, and grass can force their way through. For some homeowners, the extra task of weeding makes gravel more of a pain than a solution. You can opt to install a weed barrier beneath your gravel, but this might prevent optimal drainage. 

Difficult to Clean

Given its rounded edges, pea gravel can easily collect dirt and debris, which is hard to remove as sweeping will displace the gravel. Using a leaf blower can help dislodge any grime.

Pros of Crushed Gravel

Crushed gravel is a hybrid option that combines coarse sand with chunks of small stones with rounded edges. The most common rock types used to make crushed gravel include basalt, sandstone, and limestone. While it's possible to form a driveway entirely from crushed gravel, most people prefer to add an aesthetic touch by adding pea gravel or marble chips to the top layer. The average cost of crushed gravel runs from $0.75 to $1.80 per square foot.

Easy Installation

As with pea gravel, crushed gravel just needs to be placed after the driveway has been 

Resists Shifting

Given its various angles and shapes, crushed gravel stays in place better than pea gravel. Its texture also offers good traction for vehicles.

Cons of Crushed Gravel

Not Optimal In Snowy Regions

If you live somewhere that gets many winter storms and snow, crushed gravel could become a headache—snow shoveling can take some of your gravel along with it. Crushed gravel can also wash away with rain or meltwater.

Prone to Ruts

If your crushed gravel driveway isn’t installed properly, it can be prone to ruts and potholes. You’ll need to fill these holes regularly to keep your driveway looking pristine.

Can Get Dusty

Crushed gravel can become dusty in dry or windy conditions or with a lot of wear. If you are worried about the dust blowing around, you might want to install hedges or fencing along the driveway.

Pros of Quarry Process

Also known as "crusher run" gravel, quarry process gravel is made from a combination of crushed stone and fine particles of stone dust. Its ability to settle into a compact, semi-solid form makes this one of the smoothest and most durable options. However, installing this material to slope toward the sides of a driveway is imperative for maximizing drainage. The average cost for crusher run gravel is $0.50 to $2 per square foot.

Very Durable

The combination of crushed stone and stone dust offers superior durability. It performs well under heavy traffic and can withstand all kinds of intense weather scenarios.

Superior Compaction

Part of what makes the quarry process so durable is its ability to be compacted—the mix of crushed stone and dust creates a hard surface that, when compacted, won’t shift or move under heavy weight. 

Cons of Quarry Process

Limited Design

Compared to many other gravel options, quarry process doesn’t offer as many design choices—the material is light brown and gray, and doesn’t have the same organic beauty as other natural stones. 

Poor Drainage

Quarry process is highly compacted, and has mediocre drainage. You can mitigate issues by hiring a local gravel driveway company that can properly install your gravel so it directs water away from your home.

Pros of Decomposed Granite

Also known as DG, decomposed granite is crushed granite that has been weathered and sized down into smaller pieces. Praised for its rustic look, this driveway material offers superior drainage due to its nearly unmatched permeability. It comes in a wide range of colors, including gold, grey, green, tan, and red. The average cost for decomposed granite is $1 to $3 per square foot.

Curb Appeal Factor

Decomposed granite has an organic, earthy, and striking look. It easily blends into the landscape and comes in many hues to match your home’s look. 

Excellent Drainage

Decomposed granite is one of the more permeable gravel options, allowing for excellent stormwater drainage. If you live somewhere prone to heavy rains and floods, decomposed granite could help keep your driveway clear of puddles. 

Low Maintenance

The binder in decomposed granite helps prevent erosion, which means less upkeep is needed to ensure its pristine appearance.

Cons of Decomposed Granite

Might Require Stabilization

While decomposed granite does well to withstand erosion, if you live somewhere with heavy rain, mud, and major temperature swings, the decomposed granite might lose its integrity over time. You might need to stabilize the material to keep it tidy and maintained. 

Requires Careful Installation

Hire a professional driveway company with experience using decomposed granite to ensure that your driveway is installed properly; this material must be installed in layers or lifts, not all at the same time. The layering allows for better compaction. 

Can Get Dusty

With proper stabilization, this is less of an issue, but decomposed granite can become dusty. The dust often spreads away from the driveway, leaving divots in your granite which can collect water.

Pros of Jersey Shore Gravel

Commonly used in the Northeast, Jersey Shore gravel is known for its attractive golden color. While it is similar in size and smoothness to pea gravel, it actually looks like sun-kissed beach sand. Its rounded structure makes this type of gravel a nice choice for homeowners seeking a pebble-like look. The average cost for Jersey Shore gravel is $4 to $8 per square foot.

Unique Look

Jersey Shore gravel is known for its unique, golden color. It is especially attractive in beach homes, as it mimics the look of sand. Many homeowners love the aesthetic qualities of this gravel and see it as a luxurious-looking option.

Resists Erosion

When installed correctly, Jersey Shore gravel resists erosion, especially from saltwater. This is another reason it can be a smart choice for a beach home or a house near the coast.

Cons of Jersey Shore Gravel

Requires Edging

Over time, jersey short gravel can shift or become uneven. To mitigate this, you should consider installing edging that will keep it in place.

Aesthetics Might Feel Limiting

For some people, the beachy look of Jersey Shore gravel feels out of place in homes far from the shore, and wish that there was a wider range of color and style options for this gravel.

Pros of 57 Granite Gravel

Also known as #57 stone, this option is made from crushed and screened aggregate. The "57" in the title refers to the sieve used to achieve the right particle size during manufacturing. A batch of 57 granite gravel is made from a collection of hard rocks that typically includes limestone and granite. After being crushed into smaller pieces, they are fed through sieves with mesh filters that only allow rocks sized between 1 inch and 1.5 inches to pass through. The crushing and filtering used to create #57 stone give this style its signature jagged edges. The average 57 granite gravel cost per square foot is $1 to $3.

Uniform Appearance

Because #57 stone is processed so the rocks are the same size, it has a clean, uniform look.

Great Drainage

57 granite gravel has superior drainage capabilities, given its uniform size. This helps to prevent puddles from forming on your driveway.

Cons of 57 Granite Gravel

Uncomfortable to Walk on

Because 57 granite gravel is made from angular rocks, it can be uncomfortable for bare feet. Many homeowners prefer to use it in decorative areas, such as around plants.

Can Cause Tires to Spin

57 granite gravel is larger than some other gravel options, and this can cause car tires to occasionally spin when driving over it. 

Alternatives to Gravel

If gravel doesn’t seem right for your driveway, consider these alternatives.

1. Pavers: These interlocking stones come in a nearly endless array of sizes, shapes, and colors. While they are more expensive than gravel, they can last up to 30 years.

2. Brick: Brick is a classic, elegant choice. It’s not a cheap one, but it is known to last 50 years or more, so it can be a wise investment for a driveway.

3. Crushed shells: Crushed shells—from oysters, clams, or scallops—are an eco-friendly solution for driveways that offer excellent drainage.

Is Gravel Right for You and Your Driveway?

Deciding whether gravel is right for your driveway depends on your priorities, aesthetics, budget, and more. Here are the top factors to consider.

Drainage

Due to its permeability, granite provides better overall drainage than asphalt or concrete. However, some gravel materials are better than others when it comes to drainage. Quarry process, decomposed gravel, pea gravel, and 57 granite gravel are considered the best choices if the goal is to avoid the need to create a complex system for catching runoff in an environment with heavy rainfall.

Appearance

Gravel can look rugged or refined. For a rough and rustic look, 57 granite gravel and decomposed granite can help create a rougher, more unfinished aesthetic. Jersey Shore gravel is considered the most ornate type of driveway gravel. Pea gravel and crushed gravel both offer midline aesthetics that can vary based on the hues in the batch of gravel selected for your project.

Cost

With gravel priced between $0.50 and $8 per square foot, homeowners have a wide price range to select from when choosing different types of driveway gravel. The cost of pea gravel is between $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot—a serious bargain. Jersey Shore gravel, which costs between $4 and $8, represents the highest end of the price spectrum. This option is an outlier for price due to the fact that it's mined by being dredged from the waters of southern Jersey.

Slope

If you have a sloped driveway, gravel that can be easily packed is optimal, and a local gravel driveway company can help you make the best choice. Choosing gravel with various angles and shapes can also help to keep gravel pieces interlocked to ensure good traction for vehicles. Some popular gravel options for sloped driveways include crushed stone and quarry process stone.