Gravel pad for a shed
A gravel pad is a compacted bed of angular stone, a little larger than the shed, so water drains and the building sits still. It is not a concrete slab and not a pile of decorative pebbles.
Crusher run, not pea gravel
Pea gravel is round. It rolls. A shed needs stone with sharp edges (crusher run / road base, or #57) so pieces lock when you compact. Use pea gravel on a path, not under a building.
Pad size
Pad = shed length and width plus overhang on every side (often 6–12″). That extra band sheds rain away from the walls.
Depth
4″ of compacted stone is the usual residential default. 6″ if the shed is large, the soil is soft, or you expect a heavy floor load. You will order a little extra because compaction eats volume.
Steps
- Mark the pad (shed + overhang), square the corners.
- Strip turf and dig to depth plus a little for fabric and compact.
- Geotextile on mud or clay so stone does not sink. Skip it only on clean, draining sand — still a judgment call.
- Border (timber, paver edge, or steel) so the pad does not creep.
- Fill in lifts. Compact each lift. Do not dump the whole pile and walk away.
Open the calculator with these defaults
Order bulk or bags
A dump of crusher run from a landscape yard is the normal buy. Bags make sense only for a tiny pad or a top-up. The calculator flags that split.
FAQ
Do I need a permit?
Check local building rules. Many small sheds do not; setbacks and frost still matter.
What about drainage?
Keep the pad slightly proud of the surrounding soil so water does not pond against the walls. Do not pipe roof water under the pad.
Can I use recycled concrete?
Sometimes, if it is angular and the yard will compact it. Confirm the product name on the ticket; do not assume “gravel” means crusher run.
Why extra percent?
Stone packs down. Ordering the loose volume only leaves a thin pad.