Pea gravel
Smooth, rounded 1/4"–3/8" stones — comfortable underfoot, popular for paths, dog runs, and dry creek beds. Does not compact well; tires and shovels displace it. Often sold in 0.5 cu ft bags for small projects.
Coverage: same cubic yard math as mulch. A yard covers ~108 sq ft at 3 inches.
Crushed stone and crusher run
Angular edges lock together when compacted. #57 stone (3/4–1") drains well for driveways and French drains. Crusher run (mix of fines and stone) forms a hard base layer.
Heavier than mulch — plan delivery instead of bagging for areas over ~100 sq ft at 4 inches.
- #57 / 3/4" clean: driveways, drainage, concrete prep
- Crusher run: base layer under pavers or asphalt
- #8 small crushed: paver joints, finer top dress
- Rip rap: erosion control, not for walking surfaces
River rock and decorative stone
Larger smooth stone for dry streams, accents, and xeriscaping. Expensive per yard and poor for driveways. Depth is often 2–3 inches for appearance — calculate volume the same way, but order by weight on some quotes.