DIY Pea Gravel Patio on a Budget: Our $670 European Patio in One Weekend

Want that European-style pea gravel patio from your Pinterest board? We built ours in one weekend for $670, and here’s exactly how.

Looking to build your outdoor European installed patio, let me help you! I pinned so many of these on my Pinterest board, until maternity leave had me inspired to just DO IT!

At first, we wanted to use only tiles, but that got extremely pricey and decided to switch to concrete stones and pea gravel.

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Things you need:

You can do this in one weekend! Our area was 15ft by 9ft and cost us $670 to do from our local Lowe’s (mainly). Our patio set cost around $900 after we got the chairs, but if I could go back, I’d thrift something cute. We did add a TV on the house as well, so this area is easily one of our favorites, especially when we are entertaining.

Instructions

Step 1: Till and Level the Ground

The start of our project — We repurposed that grass to where our pool builders had gone in and out.

You will want to get your foundation tilled and level as possible with a small slope (if possible), because of the gravel, you have room to just have a plain level surface and water will go through the rocks.

Step 2: Add Edging and Kill the Weeds

You will want to do your edging and then make sure to spray a really good weed and grass killer. I picked up Spruce because it is known for being safe for pets, and honestly I love it (not sponsored, but we wish we were). For this, I chose to have edging, because I knew I would get paranoid at the rocks if I messed them up or they were out and about in our yard.

Weed killer was a huge step to not miss — This was where we realized there was no turning back

Step 3: Lay the Landscape Fabric

Step 4: Place the Pavers and Pea Gravel

Lay a landscape barrier really well. Tack it down and make sure it is good. Originally, ours sat because of the rain and ended up redoing it tight to make sure it was good to go.Put the bricks down in one row length and width wise to ensure we liked the stone-colored concrete and the pea gravel we chose together (ours are linked). Once we saw what they looked like, we did not want to cut anything, so we left a gap of all gravel against our short side, since our drain is connected for the pool. This allows the gravel to catch the rain and water (the gravel is about 3 inches deep).

Step 5: Glue the Gravel (Twice)

Glue your gravel with a sprayer.For the best results, do it again the next day. Ours catch rain, have chairs on them, and a fire pit, and 18 months later we are having to re-glue only spots our chairs were on while people were sitting in them.

Gluing gravel to firepit — Hannah carried all of these bricks since I was postpartum- wife of the year

What it cost

Our patio is 15 × 9 ft, and we bought almost everything at our local Lowe’s.

Item	What we used	Cost
Tiller	Garden tiller	$89.99
Weed and grass killer	Spruce Weed & Grass Killer	$7.99
Weed barrier and stakes	Landscape fabric and stakes (1 roll)	$14.00
Edging	Edging	$45.00
Pavers	23 × 23 in concrete stones (24 at $9.99 each)	$239.76
Pea gravel	Multicolor pea gravel (10 bags at $6.99 each)	$69.90
Mulch glue	Mulch glue	$48.00
String lights	String lights	$75.00
Sales tax and small extras		$80.36
Total		$670
Optional: furniture and fire pit	Patio chairs and fire pit	$900

What We’d Do Differently

If we built this patio again, we’d change three things. First, we’d thrift the furniture. Our chairs and fire pit cost about $900, more than the whole patio, and a secondhand set would look just as cute for a fraction of the price. Second, we’d pull the landscape fabric tight and stake it down well from the very start. Ours sagged after the first rain, and we had to go back and redo it. Third, we’d lay an extra-thick coat of mulch glue wherever the chairs sit. About 18 months in, the only spots we’ve had to re-glue are right under the chairs, where people sit and shift around. Everything else has held up through rain, a fire pit, and plenty of nights entertaining.

Let us know if you have any questions and tag us in yours to see how it turns out!

Does pea gravel need glue?

No, but we’re really glad we used it. Loose pea gravel shifts under chairs, gets tracked into the grass, and slowly spreads past the edging. Since we have a toddler and pool, this was a nonnegotiable for us. Mulch glue locks the top layer in place so it feels firm underfoot. We put down a thick coat, added a second coat the next day, and about 18 months later we’ve only had to touch up the spots under our chairs.

How deep should the gravel be?

Ours is about 3 inches deep. That’s enough to cover the landscape fabric completely and sit level with the pavers, without being so deep that chairs sink in. Fill a little at a time and rake it level as you go, so you don’t end up with high and low spots.

Will weeds grow through?

Very few, if you prep well. We sprayed weed and grass killer first, then laid landscape fabric under everything, and the glue adds one more layer on top. A weed may still sprout now and then from seeds that blow in on top of the gravel, but they’re shallow and pull right out.

Can you put a fire pit on pea gravel?

Yes, we have one on ours. Gravel doesn’t burn, which is why it’s a popular base for fire pits. Two things to check first: your fire pit’s manual for how much clearance it needs from your house and any string lights overhead, and your mulch glue’s label for any heat warnings. If you’re unsure, set the fire pit on one of the pavers instead of the glued gravel.

Is it safe for dogs?

With two dogs, pet safety mattered to us. Pea gravel is small and smooth, so it’s easy on paws, but it can get hot in direct summer sun, so check it with your hand on hot days. We picked Spruce weed killer because it’s known as a pet-safe option. Follow the label on both the weed killer and the glue, and keep pets off the area until each one is fully dry.

See how we updated our kitchen backsplash on a budget – also renter friendly 🙂