Gravel Around Pavers

Filling Gaps Between Pavers and Stepping Stones

Gravel between pavers creates a striking visual contrast while providing practical benefits like drainage and weed suppression. This technique works beautifully for stepping stone paths, courtyard areas with widely spaced pavers, or traditional Japanese garden styles. For a 4 metre by 4 metre area at 50mm depth, the total area calculation gives approximately 0.8 cubic metres. However, the actual gravel needed will be less since the pavers themselves occupy some of this space.

For areas where pavers cover roughly 30-40% of the surface, you'll need approximately 0.5 cubic metres of crusher dust to fill the gaps. This weighs around 800 kilograms, a quantity that's manageable for self-collection with a small trailer or as a modest bulk delivery. The exact amount depends on your paver spacing and the proportion of the area they cover.

Calculating for Paver Coverage

The calculator above shows the total area volume, but you'll need to adjust for your paver coverage. If your pavers cover about a third of the area, multiply the result by 0.7. If they cover half the area, multiply by 0.5. For widely spaced stepping stones covering perhaps a quarter of the area, multiply by 0.75. When in doubt, order slightly more than you think you need as the excess is easily used elsewhere in the garden.

Gravel Selection for Paver Infill

Crusher dust is the standard choice for filling between pavers because it compacts firmly and stays in place. Fine crusher dust also provides a comfortable walking surface between stones. For a more decorative look, consider small decorative pebbles or white quartz, though these tend to shift more easily and may require occasional raking. Ensure whatever gravel you choose sits at least 10mm below the paver surface so it doesn't interfere with walking.

Planning a different paved area? Use our main gravel calculator to enter your specific dimensions.