How to Build a Gravel Patio (Materials and Steps)
A cheap, quick patio from a compacted base and a top layer of gravel: how deep, which stone, edging and how much you need.
A gravel patio is the quickest and cheapest way to make a solid, level seating area. There’s no cutting, no mortar and no curing. A weekend and a few tons of stone will usually do it.
How it’s built
- Edging around the outside holds everything in.
- Fabric separates the stone from the soil (optional; see Do You Need Landscape Fabric Under Gravel?).
- A compacted base of crushed stone with fines, about 3–4” deep, gives a firm, flat layer that won’t rut.
- A top layer of decorative gravel, about 1½–2” deep, is the surface you see and walk on.
Choosing the top gravel
- Pea gravel: smooth, rounded and comfortable underfoot, but it shifts and rolls. Keep it to about 2” or chair legs sink in.
- Crushed stone (¼”–⅜” chips): angular pieces lock together and feel firmer, so they’re better for furniture.
- Decomposed granite: packs down almost like a hard surface and gives a natural, sandy look. It can track indoors.
See Types of Gravel Explained for more options.
Materials for a 12 × 12 ft gravel patio
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Crusher run base, 4” deep | 3.07 tons (2.04 cu yd) |
| Pea gravel, 2” deep | 1.24 tons (0.89 cu yd) |
| Landscape fabric | 159 sq ft (with overlap) |
| Edging | 48 ft (6 × 8 ft pieces) |
| Soil to remove | about 2.67 cu yd |
Other sizes
| Patio | Base (tons) | Top gravel (tons) | Total (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 2.13 | 0.86 | 2.99 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 3.07 | 1.24 | 4.31 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 4.09 | 1.66 | 5.75 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 6.81 | 2.77 | 9.58 |
Step by step
- Mark out the patio with stakes and string or spray paint. Call 811 (in the US) before digging.
- Dig out about 6” (base plus top layer) so the gravel finishes level with the lawn or slightly above. Give it a slight slope away from the house; see How to Level Ground for a Patio.
- Compact the soil with a plate compactor or hand tamper.
- Install the edging (steel, aluminum, plastic, timber, or a row of bricks or pavers). It should stand about an inch above the finished gravel to keep stones out of the grass.
- Lay the fabric, overlapping seams by a foot and running it up the inside of the edging.
- Spread and compact the base in two layers, dampening it lightly. This is the step that makes the patio feel solid.
- Spread the top gravel evenly with a rake. Don’t compact pea gravel; a light rolling is enough for crushed chips.
Keeping it looking good
Rake it level every so often, top it up every few years as it thins, and blow or rake off leaves before they break down into soil where weeds can grow. Stepping stones or pavers set flush in the gravel make a firmer path to the door and for a table.
Price your own gravel patio in the Gravel & Stone Planner, which handles the base and top layers together.