Types Of Gravel That Are Best For Driveways (And Which Ones To Avoid)

Gravel driveways are an attractive option for many homeowners due to their affordability and relative ease of installation. On average, people pay around $1,800 for one depending on factors like the gravel you use, driveway size, and labor costs. When it comes to installing a gravel driveway, though, picking the right material may be holding your back. There's a lot to choose from, after all. But for driveways, it's hard to go wrong with quarry process, crushed limestone, or marble chips. Before getting into specific types of gravel, it's important to clarify what we're talking about. Gravel does not refer to a single type of rock. Rather, gravel is a way to classify crushed rock that has naturally eroded over time based on the size of its fragments. You can have gravel that is made of granite, limestone, sandstone, and more. For landscaping, you will also find crushed stones, which is not a product of erosion but rather man-made at quarries, grouped in with gravel.

For driveways, one of the best gravels is actually a crushed stone known as quarry process. It usually contains some mix of granite, limestone, or other natural stones that are mixed with stone dust. This dust can be annoying at first as it may get in the air. Eventually, though, it will settle and compact into a semisolid surface which is ideal for vehicles. However, this compaction can impact drainage so quarry process needs to be installed with a slope towards the edges of your driveway to allow for water run-off.

In addition to quarry process, another excellent and popular driveway option is crushed limestone. This material is commonly used in driveways due to its durability and density. One main factor setting crushed limestone apart from other gravels like quarry process is that it offers excellent drainage. Since limestone is naturally porous, water can quickly pass through it which helps prevent your driveway from collecting standing water or eroding. While both of these options are tried-and-tested in driveways, you might find that they lack a certain pizazz. Quarry process, after all, only comes in light browns or grays. While limestone is a bit prettier, it's still just another grey driveway. But if you want a more aesthetically pleasing material that sets your house apart from others, there is a solid option for you: marble chips. 

Although marble chips usually cost more than other gravels, many homeowners find their stunning appearance worth it. Made of crushed marble, this material is found in a glossy white. In addition to appearance, marble chips are favored in driveways because they still have all the natural durability of marble. This allows them to stand up to vehicular traffic and the weather. However, you will need to occasionally clean marble chips to keep up their shiny white appearance.

If you've done landscaping before, you might have come across pea gravel which is one of the most popular types available today. While pea gravel is sometimes used in driveways, it's not always ideal because it shifts super easily. This is because pea gravel is made of small, smooth rocks, so it's not able to grip together. Although you can still use pea gravel for your driveway, you'll need to mix it with other aggregates or add edging to prevent any issues from it shifting around. 

When narrowing down which gravels to avoid for your driveway, there's a more important factor to consider than just the type of rock, though. A common mistake people make when building a gravel driveway is ignoring the importance of gravel size. For driveways, larger stones may pose an issue as the gaps between them allow your driveway to shift more easily. On the other hand, smaller gravel has less space, and, as long as it isn't super smooth like pea gravel, it can interlock to create a compacted, stable surface. Generally, you should pick gravel between 3/8 and 3/4 inches in diameter, although you should do research based on your climate and drive type to determine the best option. However, you can also explore gravel options that harden like concrete to bypass common issues like your driveway shifting. No matter what stone you choose, though, you should follow points to properly maintain your gravel driveway and save yourself any future headaches.