Pea Shingle — The Complete Guide

Pea shingle is one of the most recognisable aggregates — small, rounded, smooth pebbles used everywhere from driveways to drainage. Its natural look and excellent drainage properties make it a popular choice for landscaping and civil engineering.

What is Pea Shingle?

Pea shingle (also called pea gravel) consists of small, smooth, rounded pebbles typically 10mm in size, though 6mm and 20mm variants are also available. The smooth, rounded shape comes from natural weathering — most pea shingle is river-dredged or sea-dredged. It's usually a mix of grey, brown, and cream colours. Unlike crushed stone, pea shingle doesn't compact — it stays loose, which is ideal for drainage but means it needs edging to stay in place.

Common uses

Driveway and pathway surfaces
Garden decoration and ground cover
Drainage layers around pipes and soakaways
French drains and land drainage
Aquarium and pond edging
Decorative mulch around plants
Play area surfaces

Sizes & grades

6mm (fine), 10mm (standard — most common), 20mm (coarse). For driveways, 10mm is the most practical size. For drainage, 10–20mm.

How much do you need?

For a driveway at 50mm depth: length × width × 0.05 × 1.7 tonnes/m³. A 5m × 3m driveway needs approximately 1.3 tonnes. For drainage trenches, fill to within 150mm of the surface.

Pro tip

Pea shingle driveways need proper edging (block, timber, or steel) to stop the gravel spreading onto lawns and borders. A membrane underneath prevents weeds without affecting drainage.