Using pea gravel for your patios, driveways, playgrounds, or walkways is ideal for beautifying and protecting the landscape. But before you decide if pea gravel is the best option for this purpose, you must know how much it costs, including the installation. This is especially true if it is a new installation because of how it would affect your renovation or building budget.
The cost of pea gravel can vary; it depends on the size, depth, and space you want to cover. You must also consider the border, installation cost, and a few other factors. However, you can buy pea gravel in tons, per foot, in truckloads, or per cubic yard.
This article is a complete cost guide to help you determine how much it will cost to install these small stones in your residence or any other property. The good news is that it is much cheaper than asphalt or concrete, and it does not need much maintenance.
The Cost of Pea Gravel
The cost of this hardscaping material can vary between $25 and $55 per ton, with an average cost of $39 per ton. If you are buying per cubic yard, be prepared to pay between $20 and $67 or an average price of $46.
The cost of pea gravel per bag can be as low as $4, but you may also find it at the price of $7. A foot of gravel may cost about $10, depending on the color and texture. And a truckload of this gravel may cost you between $250 and $550.
- Cost per ton – $25 to $55
- Cost per foot – $10
- Cost per bag – $4 to $7
- Cost per cubic yard – $20 to $67
- Cost per truckload – $250 to $500
Most landscaping jobs are expensive, and installing pea gravel is no different. However, you have the option of installing it yourself to save money and get the specific results you want. Besides, the cost significantly reduces if you buy bulk pea gravel.
From the cost layout above, it is clear that you can get pea gravel at low rates, especially if you opt for plain ones. In other words, the amount you pay typically increases if you have special demands.
If you are interested in installing pea gravel in a residential place, it is best to buy it by the cubic yard. This measurement will help you determine the correct amount you need for the project size, without overshooting or having less than enough.
But if you want to use it on a patio or driveway, 200 square feet of pea gravel should suffice for an average-sized house and yard. In other words, it is better to measure by square foot instead of by cubic yards in this case. And if you want to buy gravel for 200 square feet, it will cost about $300.
Installation Cost
It is one thing to buy pea gravel and consider it within your budget. But it is entirely different to install it correctly. If you have a large project, using a professional landscaper is always ideal for the best results. However, you can opt to do the labor yourself, especially if it is a small pea gravel project.
Pea gravel installation cost significantly affects how much you will generally spend on the stones. A typically trained landscaper may charge around $14 per hour to lay pea gravel, but this price can increase to $69 per hour, depending on the contractor and the size of the area.
If you hire an individual landscaper, you can ask for lower prices, and they may be more inclined to reduce their charges. The same does not always apply to agencies and companies that send out teams or individual contractors. They usually charge hire and have fixed prices.
Below is the average cost of pea gravel installation you will find anywhere in the country, with some states and cities charging higher than others:
- The standard overall price range for the entire installation job – $275 to $395
- The lowest installation cost you will find on the market – $245
- The highest installation cost you will find on the market – $1235
- The national average cost for installation – $335
If you will install it yourself, consider the equipment and gear required to do a safe and excellent job. This list and total cost do not include pea gravel.
- Landscape rake – $50
- Hammer – $18
- Work gloves – $10
- Wheelbarrow – $155
- Safety goggles – $15
- Lever – $20
- Tamper – $65
- Tape measure – $15
- Hose with a nozzle – $40
- Shovel – $35
The above are basic tools and gear you will need for a DIY installation project. The attached prices are estimates; how much you spend will depend on your area. It may be more or less, depending largely on whether or not you need more or fewer items.
What Affects the Cost of Pea Gravel?
One of the primary factors that affect how much you will pay for pea gravel is the quantity. As mentioned, you can buy in bulk, which is cheaper, but you may not need a lot of pea gravel. If that is the case, you may spend more; the smaller the amount, the less likely it is that the vendor will reduce the price.
For example, if all you need pea gravel for is to cover your small garden bed, a bag should suffice, but it will cost about $10. Fortunately, pea gravel lasts long, so you do not have to replace it except by choice.
However, quantity is not the only cost determiner. There are a few other factors that can increase or reduce the cost of pea gravel alone. Sometimes, they can also affect the installation cost.
1. Pea Gravel Type
There are two main types of pea gravel: plain and colored. The calculations we have used in this guide are based on the cost of plain gravel. But you will also find glow-in-the-dark options, which are another type of gravel.
The fancier the type, the more expensive it will be. If you choose a pea gravel option that glows in the dark, you may pay an extra $40 for buying it, depending on the quantity.
2. Purchase Location
Another key factor affecting the cost of pea gravel is where you buy it. The reason the location affects the price is that it will determine the distance between the purchase point and the delivery area. Sometimes, the cost of delivery is as high as the cost of the pea gravel.
Also, the larger the quantity, the more difficult it will be to deliver. Consequently, the delivery company or distributor will charge extra for the inconvenience. Remember that pea gravel is basically stone or rounded pebbles, so it is typically heavy and may pose a hazard on the road if the distance is far.
There is also the issue of minimum quantity to qualify for delivery. For many stone yards and landscape suppliers, there is a specific amount of pea gravel you buy before they offer to deliver it. You may get free delivery if you live close and make a large order.
Otherwise, you may have the shoulder the transportation cost and hassles yourself. You may pay as much as $10 per ton or mile, depending on the offer and order. The farther the distance is, the more the delivery fees increase, sometimes going as high as $25 per ton.
3. Type of Border
You do not simply install pea gravel without installing a border to hold the loose stones in place. Pea gravel is loose, so it requires a hem to keep it from scattering. Otherwise, you will have an untidy job and the pea pebbles may spread to other parts of your yard, lawn, or driveway.
The border material can impact the cost of the entire project. Some materials are as simple as no-dig plastic, which is inexpensive. If you are creative and the project is not extensive, you can fashion a unique border or landscape edging. However, using limestone as a stone paver is quite expensive and can increase the project cost.
4. Gravel Texture
If you are installing pea gravel in areas where there is typically foot traffic, you will want soft and smooth pebbles. These pebbles will be kinder to the skin, especially where there are children or pets. But that also means you will spend more on the stones, as smooth pea gravel is more expensive.
Rough and undefined pea gravel is less expensive since you will use it in high-traffic areas. The quantity, texture, and shape are vital to how much you will spend
5. Gravel Color
The common color for pea gravel is gray and light brown, and other shades between them. Gray pea gravel is the commonest, so you will typically find it everywhere. However, there are gravels with different colors and shades, ranging from tan and brown to white or even blue and red.
The fancier the color is, the more expensive the pea gravel is likely to be. For example, you may find a bag of colored pea gravel at $8, while a bag of plain pea gravel may cost only $5.
Conclusion
How much does pea gravel cost? You may pay between $25 and $55 per ton of pea gravel, which is usually the standard for most big projects. But there are smaller project measurements, such as pea gravel per bag, which can cost as low as $4, or per foot, which costs $10.
However, these prices are estimates, and they can change based on several factors. The color, quantity, and texture are vital to the cost, as well as the type of gravel. Most important of all, consider the installation method. Some professionals charge more than others per hour, but you can install pea gravel yourself t save money.