Bulk Bag Pebbles Delivered: What to Expect & How to Prepare

A standard bulk bag (also called a dumpy bag, tonne bag, or FIBC) is a woven polypropylene sack with lifting loops at the top. Despite the name "tonne bag", most decorative aggregate bulk bags weigh 800–875 kg — not a full tonne. This is because aggregates are sold by volume at a target weight, and natural stone density varies.

Detail	Typical Spec
Bag weight	800–875 kg
Bag dimensions	~90 cm × 90 cm × 90 cm
Coverage at 50 mm depth	~10–12 m²
Coverage at 40 mm depth	~12–14 m²
Delivery vehicle	Flatbed lorry with hiab crane

The bag itself takes up roughly 1 m² of ground space. It sits stable on flat, hard surfaces but will sink into soft ground, lawn, or gravel — so always have a hard-standing drop point ready.

Some suppliers also offer pallet delivery — the bulk bag sits on a wooden pallet and is lowered by the lorry's tail-lift rather than a crane. This is less common for garden aggregates but worth asking about if your supplier offers it, as it can reach tighter access points.

Delivery speed varies significantly between suppliers. Here's what to expect in the UK market as of 2026:

Speed	Typical Timeframe	Availability
Standard delivery	7–14 working days	Almost all suppliers
Express delivery	3–5 working days	Many suppliers (often free over a threshold)
Next-day delivery	1 working day	Select suppliers — e.g. Logs Direct from £137 for Scottish pebbles
Same-day dispatch	Dispatched same day (order before 1:30 pm)	Select suppliers — arrival next working day

Standard delivery (7–14 working days) is the norm for most online garden aggregate suppliers. The stone is often dispatched from the quarry or regional depot, not a central warehouse, so lead times depend on stock levels and haulage scheduling.

Next-day delivery is available from some suppliers, typically at a premium or built into a higher product price. If you need stone urgently — a weekend landscaping project, for example — check next-day availability before placing your order. Same-day dispatch (order before 1:30 pm) means the stone leaves the depot that afternoon and arrives the following working day.

Most suppliers provide a delivery-day phone call or text from the driver with an estimated time window, typically a 2–4 hour slot. Someone needs to be present to confirm the drop location — drivers can't leave 850 kg of stone on a public pavement without sign-off.

This is where most delivery problems happen. A hiab crane lorry is a large vehicle, and the crane arm has a limited reach. Before ordering, check these access points:

Access Checklist

• Road width: The delivery lorry is typically 2.5 m wide. Your access road needs to be at least 3 m wide for the vehicle to reach your property safely. Narrow lanes, parked cars, and overhanging trees are common obstacles.
• Overhead clearance: The crane arm swings upward and outward. Check for overhead power lines, telephone cables, tree branches, and low awnings above the drop zone. The driver will not operate the crane near overhead power lines.
• Drop zone: You need a flat, hard-standing area (driveway, concrete, tarmac) within reach of the crane arm — typically 3–4 m from the lorry. The bag cannot go onto soft lawn, gravel, or uneven ground.
• Weight: Make sure the drop surface can support 850+ kg in a 1 m² area. Standard domestic driveways and paths are fine; decorative gravel drives or thin paving over soft ground may not be.

Key fact: drivers CANNOT unload into gardens. The bag is placed kerbside or on your driveway. You then wheelbarrow the aggregate into your garden at your convenience. This is standard across the industry — don't expect the driver to place the bag in your back garden.

Crane Offload Into Gardens

Some suppliers offer an optional crane offload service starting from around £12.50 extra. If the crane can reach your garden without obstruction (no overhanging cables, clear line of sight, firm ground), the driver can swing the bag over a fence or wall and place it closer to where you need it. This saves you hours of wheelbarrowing and is well worth the small surcharge if your supplier offers it.

Bulk bag prices vary enormously depending on the stone type, supplier, and delivery distance. Here's the realistic range as of 2026:

Stone Type	Bulk Bag Price (delivered)
Budget gravel (10–20 mm)	£73–£100
Cotswold chippings	£95–£150
Plum/grey slate (20–40 mm)	£104–£220
Scottish pebbles (20–40 mm)	£137–£264
Premium polished pebbles	£200–£300+

Getting the Best Value

• Always check VAT: Some suppliers quote ex-VAT prices. A £104 ex-VAT bag is actually £124.80 inc-VAT. Always confirm the total delivered price including VAT before ordering.
• Order 10% extra: Aggregate settles after laying, and you'll lose some during spreading. Ordering 10% more than the calculator suggests avoids the pain (and delivery cost) of a top-up order later.
• Multiple bags: If you need 3+ bulk bags, ask about loose tipping. Some suppliers deliver loose aggregate by tipper lorry, which is significantly cheaper per tonne than individual bulk bags. The stone is tipped directly onto your driveway.
• Free delivery thresholds: Many suppliers include delivery in the bulk bag price. Others charge separately — typically £30–£60 for mainland UK. Check before ordering.

Use the gravel calculator to work out exactly how many bulk bags you need before ordering — getting the quantity right first time saves a second delivery charge.

Browse bulk bag options across all stone types at Stones4Gardens — popular choices include Black Basalt Gravel, Snow-White Thassos Pebbles, and Silver Granite Gravel. All prices include delivery — see our delivery information page for full details.