Gravel in Seattle, WA

Costs vary by material, quantity, and truck access, but expect roughly $50-$120 per ton delivered for common crushed rock in Seattle neighborhoods; specialty materials like decorative river rock or decomposed granite are usually more. Hello Gravel has a 3-ton minimum and offers transparent quotes—use our site to get a zip-code-specific estimate or contact our team for an exact price.

For driveways and heavy drainage needs, crushed rock (3/4" minus or 3/8"-3/4" angular stone) is the best choice because it compacts and locks together. Pea gravel and river rock work well for decorative areas and light-use paths but are poor for driveways, and decomposed granite is popular for paths and patios but requires edging and stabilization in rainy Seattle conditions.

Seattle's frequent rain increases erosion, compaction, and weed growth in gravel surfaces, so good drainage and a stable base are essential. Use a well-compacted crushed-rock base, proper grading, and consider geotextile fabric to separate soil from aggregate to reduce rutting and washout.

As a rule of thumb, 1 ton of gravel covers about 120 sq ft at 2" depth or about 80 sq ft at 3" depth. For a typical 1-car driveway (about 200 sq ft) plan on roughly 2.5-5 tons depending on depth and whether you include a 4" crushed-rock base; a 2-car driveway (about 400 sq ft) will commonly need about 5-10 tons. Hello Gravel's material calculator can refine these numbers for your exact dimensions and recommended base depth.

Many suppliers, including Hello Gravel's network, have a 3-ton minimum, and additional fees may apply for tight access, long driveway drops, or use of smaller trucks. Seattle-specific surcharges can appear for downtown deliveries, narrow streets, or restricted access; request a delivery assessment when you order to confirm any extra charges.

Permits are not usually required just for placing gravel, but any work that changes curb lines, stormwater flow, or involves excavation may require a permit from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. HOA rules can vary, so check your covenants before changing driveway material; when in doubt, consult the city website or contact Hello Gravel for guidance on common local requirements.

Expect to regrade and add top dressing every 2-5 years depending on use and exposure, and to handle spot fixes after heavy rains. With a proper compacted base and periodic maintenance, a gravel driveway can last 10-20+ years for the surfaced areas, while the underlying base can remain serviceable much longer if drainage is managed.

Gravel typically has the lowest upfront cost per square foot and offers good drainage in rainy Seattle, but it requires ongoing maintenance. Asphalt gives a smooth, low-maintenance surface but costs more initially and is less permeable, while permeable pavers are the most expensive up front but deliver excellent stormwater control and a durable finish; choose based on budget, maintenance willingness, and stormwater rules for your lot.

A common build-up is 4"-6" of compacted crushed-rock base (class 2 road base or similar) topped with 2"-3" of angular surface stone for driveways. In wetter or softer spots use thicker base, geotextile fabric to stabilize the subgrade, and ensure proper slope to shed water away from structures.

Recycled aggregate is often available in the Seattle area and can be less expensive, especially for base layers and subgrade work. For final surface material, new crushed rock is usually preferred because it is cleaner and more consistent; recycled material is a good budget-friendly option for base courses if appearance and uniformity are less critical.

Small jobs (resurfacing or minor grading) often run a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, while a full driveway install including excavation, base import, compaction, and edging commonly ranges from about $1,500 to $6,000 depending on size and site conditions. Factors that raise cost include difficult access, large haul distances, retaining walls, or required permitting; get a local estimate for an accurate number.

Pacific Northwest projects often use dark basalt and gray crushed rock for a modern look, tan or buff river rock for a softer natural palette, and decomposed granite for warm-colored paths. Regional trends favor muted, natural tones that blend with native plants—note that natural variation is common, so add color preferences in your order notes and ask for photos if you need a closer match.

As of today, we require 2 business days for delivery.

Use our material calculator here: https://hellogravel.com/calculator/ to enter the length, width and depth measurements of your project. It will automatically calculate the cubic yards/tons needed. If you are unsure how much to order, contact our team for guidance.

Please type in your zip code on any product screen and it will let you know if we service your area. The chances are that we do!

The material will be delivered via dump truck. If your order is under 20 tons, then it will likely be just one dump truck load. If your order is more than 20 tons, it will be more than one dump truck load.

Absolutely! Try our aggregate quiz here: https://hellogravel.com/aggregate-quiz/ Alternatively,you can call us, chat with us (box in the bottom right corner of the website), or email us!

We cannot get out of the truck and manually spread it. However, depending on the location, safety, and comfortability of the driver – we may be able to tailgate spread your material. This involves pulling the truck forward as material is being dumped to make it easier for you to distribute material after delivery.

The minimum order size is 3 tons.

Hassle Free! Our goal is to make the buying process for gravel and other aggregates as easy and seamless as possible. Enter your zip code on our site, select how much material you need (see below FAQ’s to determine order size), select the date and time frame you would like your material delivered at Checkout, and place your order with any major credit card. After the order is placed our in-house support team will contact you to confirm the details. We will send additional confirmations on the day before and the day of delivery. On delivery day, a dump truck will arrive to dump the materials at your specified location. We request that you have someone available to accept the delivery so that we can make sure to dump it in the correct location. That’s it!

No, because we are a national supplier, we utilize our existing network of suppliers across the country. Therefore, the materials will likely be delivered from a contracted trucking company.

We specialize in making the aggregate buying process as easy and seamless as possible by managing the process from end to end. We have a network of suppliers that we source the materials from where we have negotiated rates. However, we do charge a markup and because of this you may be able to find the materials cheaper on your own. But if you want a hassle free experience, then we are for you!

Please fill out the Quote Request form and we will work up a quote for you! https://hellogravel.com/quote-form/

Although uncommon, due to regional sourcing, the type and color of our materials may vary somewhat from the images on our website, reflecting the unique geological offerings of your area. Please communicate any specifications you desire to our team so we can consider them during the sourcing process.

Please contact our customer service team promptly if you experience any delivery or product quality issues. We will work to resolve them satisfactorily.

We are headquartered in New Orleans, LA. However, we have a network of suppliers across the country from which we provide the materials.