Never bought gravel before? If you’re overwhelmed, you’re not alone. We covered some of the basics about buying gravel so that you can be more confident in selecting and ordering gravel for your project.
1. Gravel can mean many different things, so be specific about what you’re looking for.
Gravel is a tricky term because it means different things to different companies. Generally speaking, the word gravel can refer to any rock of a certain size, ranging from pea-sized to golf ball-sized. This term includes pea gravel, drain rock, crushed rock, quarried rock, driveway rock, etc.
Each of the products shown in the photos below are considered types of gravel.
Clarify what you’re looking for by using specific descriptions, like “crushed,” “washed,” “driveway gravel,” “minus,” etc.
2. Know the difference between clean gravel (i.e. washed gravel) versus minus gravel.
Crushed gravel can be purchased with or without fines. Fines are crushed rock particles that are so fine that they resemble dirt. Fines are important for projects like paths and driveways because they lock the rock in place by filling in the spaces between rock pieces.
When gravel contains fines, we add the word “minus” to it. For example, 1¼” Minus.
When gravel contains no fines, we add the word “clean” to it. For example, 1¼” Clean. Other suppliers will use the word “washed” instead, e.g., “washed gravel.”
Check out our article “Clean v. Minus” for more information.
3. Gravel sizes: they’re not what you think.
¾” gravel means every piece of gravel is ¾”, right? Not exactly.
First, it’s important to understand that ¾” refers to the largest screen size that the material must pass through. This includes pieces of rock that pass through the screen diagonally. So some pieces might actually be a little larger than ¾”.
Second, gravel sizes are usually based on local construction guidelines (more on that below). And these guidelines typically allow for a range of sizes within a product.
For example, ¾” Clean gravel will contain rocks ranging from 3/16″ up to ¾” in diameter. A little over half of this product is made up of rocks ½” or smaller, and the rest of the product is made up of rocks ranging between ½” and ¾”.
Because of the way gravel is made, if you can’t find the exact product you want, the next closest size will probably fit the bill. For example, 5/8” Minus is often used by people looking for ¾” Minus.
4. Gravel options are based on local construction requirements. The sizes available and the names used differ by state and sometimes by city.
Washington Rock, for example, sells products that are made to meet the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Standard Specifications. A WSDOT manual called “Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction” is updated every year and contains a broad list of requirements for construction materials, including rock, sand, and soil products used in government jobs. The 2025 manual is 1,215 pages long!
These guidelines are the reason why we sell 5/8” Minus rather than ¾” Minus, and 7/8” Drain Rock rather than 1” Drain Rock. Contractors want to buy products that meet WSDOT’s specifications, so those are the products we primarily make.
Other states have different preferences and different guidelines, so suppliers in other states may make different sizes or use different names. For example, #57 is a popular product name in other parts of the country. It’s what we call ¾” Clean.
Large cities like Seattle may have their own construction standards that build additional requirements on top of state guidelines. Our Bioretention Soil Mix, for example, is based on a City of Seattle specification.
5. Colors vary within the same mine because of geologic processes.
Some customers may be frustrated that they can’t perfectly match the gravel they bought years ago, even when they’re buying the same product from the same supplier. It’s important to accept that products made by nature vary and may need to be blended with previously purchased products.
At Kapowsin Quarry, for example, the blue-gray color of our stone can vary from light grey to a dark blue-gray depending on which part of the quarry is being mined. Some veins may also include rust-colored deposits, iron pyrite, and white and green crystalline structures.
In the photos below, both materials came from Kapowsin Quarry. But you’ll notice that the gravel on the left contains some green crystalline structures while the gravel on the right is a lighter color.
King Creek Pit has even wider color variation. Our round rock, which was likely left behind by a glacier thousands of years ago, varies widely from grays and reds to whites and browns. The proportion of each color can vary from load to load.
As much as we wish we could control colors, we only get what Mother Nature offers.
6. Local options are limited by local geology. Some colors and varieties have to be imported.
Because the gravel mined in your area is limited by geology, some rock products may be more expensive or unavailable.
For example, basalt is common in Washington. The specialty products you see in your retail yard, like Mexican beach pebbles, salt and pepper gravel, lava rock, and rainbow rock, are usually imported from other states and cost more as a result.
Note, too, that some products don’t exist in nature. You might have seen a yard with a high-contrast blend of black gravel and white gravel. It may surprise you to know that products like this are made by combining rock from two different sources.
7. Know the difference between quarried rock and rock from a sand and gravel pit.
You’ve probably seen gravel driveways with rock pieces of many different colors, then noticed driveways with sharper-looking rock pieces that were more homogenous. The difference is the source of material.
In the photos below, one gravel is made from crushed rounded rock (left) and one gravel is made from crushed quarried rock (right).
Gravel from a Washington state sand and gravel pit looks like the rocks you might see in a stream or river. The rocks vary in color and are rounded. When this gravel is crushed, it results in gravel pieces that vary widely in color. The pieces may appear blunter and less “sharp” than crushed quarried rock.
Gravel from a quarry tends to have a more consistent look, and the pieces tend to look “sharper” or more jagged.
8. Where can you buy gravel? Here are a few common sources.
- Retail Yard/Supply Yard: Supply yards have bunkers of many different types of materials, including gravel, river rock, and mulch. They may offer these materials in bags at a higher price per pound. Some also sell common landscaping materials like flagstone, pavers, etc. Most yards offer pick up or delivery options. Some retail yards who sell our products include Valley Landscape Supply and Rainier Landscape Supply.
- Nursery: Many plant nurseries have bunkers of the most popular products, like lava rock, driveway gravel, etc. They likely have a smaller wheel loader to load pickup trucks. They may offer delivery and installation. An example of a nursery who carries our products is Kent East Hill Nursery.
- Landscaper or Contractor: If you hire a landscaper or contractor for your project, they may have their own material stockpile or may have a wholesale account with a local supply yard or mine. They can also order deliveries in your behalf.
- Mine (Quarry or Sand and Gravel Pit): Many mines are closed to the public and sell only to contractors and supply yards. But some mines like Washington Rock Quarries are open to the public and can load pickup trucks and trailers.
- Big Box Store: Stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s sell bagged gravel. This is a convenient option and may include specialty rocks not available locally, like marble chips. Bagged gravel is great for smaller projects and projects in tight areas. However, bagged rocks are not a cost-effective option for large project areas (see the point below).
9. Be aware of the upcharge for bagged gravel and know where to get the best deals.
If bagged rock is the best option for you—due to limited yard access, project size, or other concerns—consider purchasing from your local supply yard instead of a big box store.
At $6.57 for 0.5 cubic feet, the bagged lava rock on Home Depot’s website seems cheap. But that price is equivalent to $354.78 per cubic yard.
A supply yard in Puyallup offers large lava rock for $66 per cubic yard (approximately one loader bucket of rock). Even their bagged lava rock is 39% cheaper at $7.99 per cubic foot. The equivalent amount of material from Home Depot would cost $13.14.
10. Some rock sizes should be left to the professionals.
Larger rocks like boulders and rockery rock should be picked up by and installed by professionals. Due to safety issues and liability concerns, we don’t load small vehicles with rocks over a certain size.
Boulders and rockery rock (aka landscape rock for rock walls) are typically loaded piece by piece into a dump truck. To install large products, it’s important to have a staging area where products can safely be dumped without damaging surrounding structures. Heavy machinery and a skilled operator is a must for moving these products. Safety must always come first.
To find a landscaping contractor who can assist you with these projects, use search terms like “rockery installation,” “retaining wall installation,” and “rock wall installer.”
11. Know how much material you need.
We have a handy article and video with information about how to measure your project area and determine how many cubic yards of material you need. Check it out here.
12. Know the differences between delivery trucks.
There are many different types of dump trucks. Most retail yards will have a 5-yard or 10-yard dump truck for smaller deliveries.
Washington Rock Quarries offers a variety of truck types:
- Solo: this is a traditional dump truck that can haul up to 12 cubic yards of material. The driver dumps material by raising the box and opening the tailgate. This is the smallest transportation option we offer.
- Truck and Trailer: this is a traditional dump truck with a trailer attached. It can haul up to 30 cubic yards of material. When needed, the driver can detach the trailer, making it possible to load each box with a different type of material (a “split load”).
- Truck and Transfer: this is very similar to a truck and trailer, but the truck has a track system that can pull a loaded trailer box into the empty front box. This is a great option for tight spaces where only a solo dump truck can fit but a large amount of material is needed.
- Side Dump Trailer: Side dumps have one long trailer that dumps material by rotating to either side. They can haul up to 24 cubic yards of material. This is a great option for narrow areas.
Check out our article “What Does a Cubic Yard Look Like?” for a visual guide to truck types.
13. Plan installation ahead of time.
If you’re planning to install gravel on your own, make sure you have the necessary tools, like a wheelbarrow, shovel, tamper, gloves, steel toe boots, etc. Keep in mind that a wheelbarrow full of gravel can be extremely heavy. Smaller loads may be more manageable and save you from injury.
For driveway gravel installations, some drivers may be able to spread the material by slowly tilting their box while driving forward. This may not result in a perfect distribution of material, but it can make installation a little faster. Note that this is a service that requires skill, and the best drivers have had many years of practice.
If you need assistance, some supply yards offer installation services. Landscape contractors are also a good bet.
14. Prepare for delivery.
Some customers realize too late that they have ordered gravel too soon. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re ready for delivery:
- Make sure vehicles are moved away from the drop-off area.
- Do any ground prep work prior to delivery.
- Lay out a tarp where you would like the material dumped—ideally as close to the project area as possible. Large quantities of material can smother and kill grass and make impressions in the ground.
- Plan to be present during the delivery window. If you can’t be present—and the supplier is okay with this—clearly mark the area where you want the material unloaded.
15. If you’re picking up your order, heed instructions to a T.
It’s dangerous to exit your vehicle in a loading area, even when your vehicle isn’t being loaded. Listen closely to instructions. Use only a designated area to tarp off or secure your load.
Mine safety is especially important. Mines are full of dangers, including steep cliff faces and moving equipment as big as houses.
Mines are regulated by a federal agency called MSHA (the Mine Safety and Health Administration). MSHA can fine a mine if customers are caught outside their vehicles on a mine site without proper protection. Do yourself—and the business—a favor by staying in your vehicle at all times on the mine site.
On Washington Rock’s mine sites, mining machinery always has the right of way. Within our mines, we use CB radios to communicate with each other. The weighmaster (scalehouse attendant) will use a CB radio to communicate with loader operators in behalf of customers without radios. The weighmaster will also issue instructions and direct customers where to go to be loaded.
Our social media accounts, displayed below, features photos of our mining operations and the projects we contribute to. It gives you a better of idea of the scale of our operations.
We hope this information was helpful to you. Please let us know if there is anything else we should add to the list!
Check out other helpful articles on our blog:
- “Choosing a Topsoil or Soil Mix”
- “Clean v. Minus”
- “Comparing Crushed Rock Sizes & Types”
- “How Do I Make a Gravel Surface Wheelchair-Accessible?”
- “How Do I Pick a Gravel Grid Product?”
- “How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need?”
- “How to Find, Vet, and Hire a Contractor Who Can Work with Rock”
- “Should I Put Landscape Fabric Under Gravel?”
- “What are Gravel Grids?”
- “What are the Pros and Cons of Using Gravel Grids?”
- “What Does a Cubic Yard Look Like?”
Washington Rock Quarries is a family-owned business that produces rock, sand, and soil products at Kapowsin Quarry and King Creek Pit in Orting, Washington. To learn more about our products, check out our Products page.