Looking for free gravel near you?
Our comprehensive guide will help you find the best sources for free gravel to save money on your next project. Learn where to look and how to secure free gravel in your area today.
Gravel is a durable, versatile material that has so many uses around the home.
Gravel can be used as a replacement for mulch – It shares a lot of properties with wood mulch. For example, it prevents evaporation.
Gravel is much more resistant to the elements than mulch or wood chips though, and it won’t blow away, it won’t rot due to moisture, and it’s more durable – i.e. pests won’t destroy it!
It’s also great to use around the home, working well in a multitude of landscaping projects. This includes driveways, ponds, patios, garden borders, walkways, and paths.
There are many types of gravel available for free, each suitable for various home improvement projects.
Some of these include:
- Pea Gravel: Small, smooth, round stones often used in landscaping, pathways, and driveways.
- River Rock Gravel: Larger, smooth stones typically used in water features, garden beds, and decorative accents.
- Marble Chips: Crushed marble pieces, often white and shiny, used for decorative landscaping and pathways.
- Crushed Stone Gravel: Sharp-edged stones, available in various sizes, commonly used for driveways, drainage projects, and as a base material.
- Slate Gravel and Chips: Flat, thin pieces of slate, perfect for pathways, mulch, and decorative accents.
- Jersey Shore Gravel: Rounded, often multi-colored stones resembling those found on the Jersey Shore, used for decorative landscaping and driveways.
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Where Can I Get Free Gravel Near Me?
Starting your home improvement projects on a budget is feasible by sourcing these types of gravel for free. It’s easier than you might think!
Here’s how:
1. Craigslist
Anyone looking for free materials to use around the home – like mulch, wood chips, or, you guessed it, gravel, should try Craigslist. The platform has a bunch of free stuff available. This can include gravel.
Under the “For Sale” section on your city’s Craigslist, go to the “Free” section. Click on that and it will take you to a section for freebies.
People list stuff they’re giving away on there and this could include gravel. To find what you’re looking for type in “gravel” into the search bar.
Although there’s not always someone giving away free gravel on there, it’s still worth a look.
2. Local construction sites
Construction companies have to clear out the land before they build on it. This means they dig out a lot of materials like dirt, rocks, stones, and other materials.
You could ask at local construction sites whether they have any gravel that they’d give to you for free. They may start a pile for you!
3. Facebook Marketplace
Much like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace has a selection of freebies available.
Have a search on there for free gravel. You can find lots of DIY and home improvement materials there for free.
4. Quarries
Local rock quarries can sometimes have gravel available. It depends on what is being excavated at the quarry. They excavate gravel, sand, rock, riprap, dimension stone, like marble, slate, or granite, construction aggregate, like gravel, crushed stone, and sand.
Local quarries may need to offload unwanted materials. This can be a good way to get some free gravel. Others may sell materials, like gravel, to the public at a discounted price.
5. Renovation sites
At some point, it’s likely that someone in your neighborhood is renovating the outside of their home.
They may have some old or leftover materials from their landscape renovation that they’d be willing to give to you for free. Just ask!
People may be happy for you to take unwanted gravel off their hands. After all, you’re saving them a trip to the dump!
6. Landscaping companies
Call local landscaping companies to ask if they have any gravel to give away. Landscaping companies often have materials left over from projects. This can include gravel.
Give them a call and they may be happy for you to take this unwanted material off their hands.
Landscaping companies are also a good choice if you want other materials for the home, like mulch. They often have landscaping debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, which you can use as mulch.
7. Help a farmer
Farmers often need to clear their fields of rocks. Offer to remove rocks for local farmers and you could score some free materials to use in your home improvement projects.
Some farmers may already have a pile of rocks ready that you can just offer to remove. You’ll be helping out the farmer and getting your hands on some free rocks.
Gravel Grab: Get Yours Free Today!
Getting free gravel nearby is simple with our tips.
You can use your free gravel in so many projects around the home whether you’re looking to build a new driveway or a pond in the backyard.
