How to choose the right type of gravel for your landscaping project?

The best gravel depends on the job. Pea Gravel suits pathways and play areas, ¾ Clear Limestone works for driveways and patio bases, River Rock is for decorative beds and drainage, and crushed stone like Granular A gives you a compactable base. Match the stone to purpose, drainage, and traffic.

When it comes to enhancing your outdoor space, picking the right gravel makes all the difference. Whether you are laying a garden path, adding a decorative feature, or building a driveway that holds up to daily traffic, the material you choose affects how the finished project looks, drains, and lasts. There are more options than most people expect, so understanding what each one does best saves you time, money, and a second delivery.

At We Deliver Gravel, we deliver high-quality aggregate across Toronto, Vaughan, and the GTA, and we help customers match the right stone to the right project every day. Here is our practical guide to the most popular gravel types, what each is good for, and how to decide between them.

Gravel types at a glance

What is pea gravel best used for?

Pea Gravel is a popular pick thanks to its smooth, rounded shape and warm natural tones. This small, versatile stone works beautifully in garden pathways, patios, and play areas, and because it is comfortable underfoot it holds up well in spots people walk through often. It also drains freely, which makes it a smart choice around flower beds and trees.

Best uses for Pea Gravel:

• Walkways and garden paths
• Patios and seating areas
• Playgrounds and dog runs
• Mulch alternative for plant beds

If you are planning a dog run or a budget-friendly path, our guides on building a pea gravel dog run and our contractor guide to pea gravel walk through the details.

What gravel is best for a driveway?

For driveways and parking areas you want a stone that stays put and handles weight. ¾ Clear Limestone is a strong option, known for its angular shape that locks together into a solid surface. Because it does not compact tightly, water flows through it, cutting down on pooling and erosion. It is also a reliable base layer under interlocking patios and a common fill for French drains.

Best uses for ¾ Clear Limestone:

• Driveways and parking areas
• Base layer for interlocking stone patios
• French drains and drainage solutions
• Durable, high-use pathways

Many driveway projects actually use two materials: a compactable base like Granular A underneath for stability, topped with a clear stone. Our posts on Granular A as a driveway base and driveway gravel suppliers in Toronto cover how to build a driveway that lasts.

When should you use river rock?

River Rock is the go-to when you want a decorative touch. These smooth, rounded stones come in a range of sizes and colours and bring a natural, elegant look to gardens, ponds, and edging. Since it does not compact, it is meant for decoration rather than walkways. It also makes an excellent ground cover around shrubs and trees, holding moisture in and keeping weeds down.

Best uses for River Rock:

• Decorative garden beds
• Pond and water feature accents
• Edging for pathways and driveways
• Ground cover for erosion control

We carry both small river rock and large river rock, and our river rock landscape ideas post has plenty of inspiration if you are planning a decorative project.

What gravel gives you the most stable base?

When you need a surface that packs down hard and stays put, crushed and screened materials are the answer. Granular A is a blend of crushed stone and fines that compacts into a firm sub-base, which is why it sits under so many driveways, patios, and paver installations. For the final setting layer under pavers, many installers switch to a finer material like Limestone Screenings or HPB.

Best uses for compactable base materials:

• Sub-base for driveways and pathways
• Base for patios and paver installations
• Foundation support for retaining walls
• General grading and levelling

If you are deciding on a patio base, our comparison of HPB vs limestone screenings is worth a read. We stock Granular A, Limestone Screenings, HPB, and recycled crusher run for budget-friendly base work.

How do you choose the right gravel?

Picking the right stone comes down to matching the material to what you need it to do. Run through these four questions before you order:

• Purpose: Are you after a decorative finish, a stable base, or a driveway surface? Naming the job narrows the field fast.
• Drainage: If water management matters, open stones like ¾ Clear Limestone and Pea Gravel let water pass through, while compacted bases hold firmer.
• Look: When appearance leads, River Rock and Pea Gravel give the most polished, natural finish.
• Traffic and durability: For heavy foot or vehicle use, lean on crushed stone and clear limestone for stability that lasts.

Still not sure? We are happy to talk it through. It also helps to know how much you need before you order, since gravel is sold by the yard and one cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Measure length by width by depth in feet and divide by 27 for your cubic yards, or let our gravel calculator do it in seconds. For more curb-appeal ideas, browse our top 10 gravel landscaping ideas.

Gravel delivery across Toronto, Vaughan, and the GTA

Once you know what you need, getting it delivered on time is the next step. We bring gravel loose and drop it right where you want it, whether that is a downtown Toronto backyard or a job site out in Vaughan. Our trucks reach neighbourhoods from Leslieville, The Beaches, Scarborough, and Etobicoke to Woodbridge, Maple, Kleinburg, and Thornhill.

For tight spaces or hard-to-reach areas, our stone slinger service places material exactly where it needs to go, right over fences and around obstacles. You can see everything we carry on our gravel products page or order online any time.

Ready to start your gravel project?

Choosing the right gravel is the first step, and getting it delivered reliably is the next. Tell the team at We Deliver Gravel what you are building and we will help you pick the right material and the right amount. Call 647-868-2447 for pricing and delivery timing, order online at your convenience, or send us a message on our contact us to book gravel delivery across Toronto, Vaughan, and the Greater Toronto Area.