How Deep Should Decorative Chippings Be? A Complete Guide
‘How deep should decorative chippings be?’ is a question we are always asked… Whether you’re creating a low-maintenance garden border, refreshing a pathway or finishing a driveway, laying your decorative stone at the correct depth is one of the most important steps in achieving a professional-looking result.
Too little stone can leave the weed membrane visible and allow weeds to take hold, while laying it too deeply can make the surface unstable and increase the amount of material you need unnecessarily.
In this guide, we’ll explain the recommended depth for decorative chippings in different applications, how to calculate how much you’ll need, and a few simple tips to help your project look its best for years to come.
Why Does the Depth Matter?
The depth of your decorative stone affects much more than its appearance. Getting it right will:
- Create an even, attractive finish.
- Help suppress weed growth when used with a weed control membrane.
- Prevent bare patches from appearing over time.
- Improve stability underfoot.
- Ensure you order the correct quantity, reducing waste and unnecessary costs.
Whether you’re using decorative chippings, slate or limestone chippings, the same principles generally apply.
What Is the Recommended Depth for Decorative Chippings?
As a general rule, decorative stone should be laid at 40mm-50mm for most landscaping projects. This provides good coverage while allowing the stone to settle naturally without exposing the ground beneath. For areas without footfall (garden borders, flower beds & areas around trees and shrubs) you can have 30mm-40mm, but we think sticking to 40mm regardless is the easiest way to remember!
Recommended depths:
| Application | Recommended Depth (mm) |
| Garden borders | 30-40mm |
| Flower beds | 30-40mm |
| Decorative areas | 40-50mm |
| Garden paths | 40-50mm |
| Around trees and shrubs | 30-40mm |
| Driveways* | 40-50mm |
*Driveways require a suitable compacted sub-base beneath the decorative stone. The exact depth may vary depending on the size and type of stone used and the amount of vehicle traffic. Please also bear in mind that not all chippings are suitable for driveways. For more information on what chippings are not suitable you can visit ‘A Guide to Decorative Chippings and Their Uses’.
Does Stone Size Affect the Depth?
Yes. Larger decorative chippings can require a slightly deeper layer than smaller chippings to provide full coverage, but if your chippings are around 20mm then 40mm-50mm depth will be plenty.
If you’re unsure, our team can always advise on the most suitable depth for the material you’ve chosen. You can also use our built in bag calculator which you will find on every bagged product.
Should You Use a Weed Membrane?
In most landscaping projects, we recommend laying a quality weed control membrane before adding your decorative chippings.
A membrane helps to:
- Reduce weed growth.
- Prevent the stone from sinking into the soil.
- Keep the decorative chippings cleaner.
- Separate the stone from the soil while still allowing water to drain through.
It’s worth remembering that no membrane will stop every weed. Wind-blown seeds can still germinate on the surface over time, but overall maintenance will be much easier.
How Much Decorative Chippings Will You Need?
Working out how much decorative chippings you need is easier than you might think, and the simplest way is to use our online bag calculator, you’ll find this on every bagged product in our decorative chippings section. Just choose your product and within the section that says ‘Not sure how many bags you need? Use our handy bag calculator!’ enter the dimensions of your area, and it will calculate how many bags you’ll need.
Before you use the calculator, you’ll need three key measurements:
- Length – Measure the length of the area in metres.
- Width – Measure the width of the area in metres.
- Depth – Decide how deep you want to lay the stone. For most decorative applications, we recommend a depth of 40–50mm (see the table above).
Example
Let’s say you’re covering a garden border that measures:
- Length: 5 metres
- Width: 2 metres
- Recommended depth: 40mm
When you click ‘calculate’ it will tell you that you need 1 bag of material which you can now add to cart.
Top Tip
We always recommend ordering a little extra material to allow for uneven ground, natural settling and any small spillages during installation. It’s much easier to have a small amount left over than to run short before the job is finished. However if you are using our 20mm Dorset Limestone Chippings and you do run short we offer convenient 23kg bags, ideal for topping up!
If you are local you can also visit our Mannnings Heath Depot in Poole where you can buy as much or as little as you want (minimum charge £5), ideal for topping up or if you are slightly short! For more information on our Poole depot click here.
Preparing the Ground
A little preparation makes a big difference and can effect the finished of the overall project. Before laying any decorative stone you need to:
- Remove any weeds, grass or existing vegetation.
- Level the ground as much as possible.
- Install edging to help keep the stone in place (Our Purbeck Stone Setts are ideal for this).
- Lay a weed control membrane – not essential but it will make your life easier in the long run!
Once you have laid your decorative chippings:
- Spread the decorative chippings evenly using a rake.
- Check the finished depth across the whole area to ensure it is even.
Like most things, taking time at the preparation stage will help keep the finished surface looking its best for much longer.
Which Decorative Chippings are best for my project?
We have many options, and the right choice depends on the look you’re trying to achieve and where you are using it.
Slate Chippings
A modern choice available in a range of colours, ideal for contemporary gardens, borders and pathways. Not suitable for driveways.
Limestone Chippings
A durable, natural stone that’s well suited to driveways, paths and traditional garden designs. Our Dorset Limestone Chippings are quarried out of our Swanworth Quarry in the Isle of Purbeck. We recommend our 20mm Dorset Limestone Chippings for driveways.
Shingle
A versatile option for pathways and borders.
For more information on which chippings are suitable for certain applications please see ‘A Guide to Decorative Chippings and Their Uses’.
Frequently Asked Questions on ‘How Deep Should Decorative Chippings Be’
Can decorative chippings be too deep?
Yes. Laying decorative chippings much deeper than recommended can make it more difficult to walk on and increase the amount of material required without improving the finished result.
What happens if I don’t lay enough stone?
If the layer is too shallow, the weed membrane may become visible, weeds may establish more easily, and the decorative finish can quickly become patchy.
Do I need to compact decorative chippings?
No. Decorative chippings are usually spread and levelled with a rake rather than compacted.
If your project requires a sub-base, this should be compacted before the decorative chippings are added.
If you are looking for a more compacted finish, our 10mm to dust compacts to create great pathways as shown here.
Should I top up decorative chippings?
Over time, some decorative chippings may naturally settle or become displaced. Adding a small top-up every few years can help keep borders and pathways looking fresh.
Need Help Choosing Your Decorative Chippings?
At Suttles, we’ve been supplying high-quality aggregates and landscaping materials for decades, helping homeowners, landscapers and contractors choose the right products for projects of every size.
If you’re unsure which decorative chippings are best for your garden or how much you’ll need, our experienced team is always happy to help.
Explore our range of decorative chippings, crushed limestone aggregate, building aggregates and more, or get in touch for expert advice before you order.
For some behind the scenes action why not check out our Suttle Stone Quarries youtube here
