Sandbags for Erosion Control

Best Sandbags for Erosion Control

Engineered Solutions for Stormwater, Sediment, and Slope Protection

On today’s construction sites, erosion control isn’t just best practice — it’s the law. Projects disturbing more than one acre of soil must comply with the EPA Clean Water Act and a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). That means using approved Best Management Practices (BMPs) to keep sediment-laden runoff out of storm drains, waterways, and wetlands.

Sandbags for erosion control on slopes and construction sites

Among all BMP tools, few are as versatile as the gravel-filled sandbag. Unlike straw wattles or silt fence, properly built gravel bags are heavy, conformable, permeable, and reusable — they don’t blow over, they don’t get undercut, and they seal to almost any surface without trenching.

Field Insight: Gravel-filled DuraBags outperform silt fence and straw wattles in high-flow areas. Their weight prevents blowouts, while their flexibility lets them settle into minor washouts instead of bridging over them.

How Gravel Bags Work in SWPPP BMPs

Gravel-filled sandbags form permeable check structures that slow, pond, and filter stormwater. They are ideal for:

Check dams in ditches, channels, and swales
Storm drain inlet and curb opening protection
Perimeter control around stockpiles and disturbed soil
Slope interruption on long, erosive grades

By reducing flow velocity, gravel bags allow suspended sediment to settle before water continues downstream. When installed in series, multiple check dams can significantly reduce Total Suspended Solids (TSS) leaving the site.

DuraBag® – The Gold Standard in Erosion Control Sandbags

DuraBag® Sandbags are America’s toughest erosion control bags, designed for long-term, high-duty use in construction, municipal, and DOT stormwater projects.

High-strength polyethylene mesh shell built for vehicle & equipment run-overs
Air and water permeable — ideal for gravel-filled BMPs
5-year UV resistance for multi-season or semi-permanent installations
Available empty or pre-filled on pallets with clean ½" washed gravel
Supplied with steel ties for secure closure and placement

Choose DuraBag when you need maximum durability and long service life on exposed sites.

Geotextile Gravel Bags – For Specified BMP Projects

Geotextile Sandbags are built from nonwoven geotextile fabric in 4 oz and 8 oz weights to meet common agency and engineer specifications.

Permeable nonwoven fabric for drainage with sediment control
DOT / EPA suitable for regulated stormwater and environmental work
Resists tearing, moisture, and biological degradation
Available empty or as pre-filled 3,000 lb pallets ready for immediate deployment

Use Geotextile bags when your SWPPP or public works spec explicitly calls for geotextile-based BMPs.

Big Hoss® – Rapid Erosion Berm and Barrier Construction

Big Hoss® Bulk Bags provide large-scale sediment and flow control using heavy equipment instead of hand labor.

Each bag holds up to ≈3,000 lbs of sand, gravel, or stone
Forms a stable 3 ft³ block for berms, channels, and slope toes
Wrapped in 5-year UV-rated DuraBag fabric for long-term exposure
Integrated lift loops for forklifts, loaders, or telehandlers

Ideal for post-wildfire stabilization, channel armoring, and emergency erosion barriers where speed and scale matter.

Sandbag Filling Machines for SWPPP Production

For contractors producing significant volumes of gravel bags, automated filling equipment turns erosion control into a predictable, scalable operation. The Sandbag Store designs and builds its own bagging systems in Las Vegas, ensuring compatibility with DuraBag and Geotextile products.

Rapid Fill Bagger – Mobile, Job-by-Job Production

Rapid Fill Bagger is built for mobile crews and medium-volume work who need to “make what they need today” right at the stockpile.

Compact footprint and quick setup at jobsite
Timed discharge for consistent bag weights
Ideal for emergency response, pop-up check dams, and short runs

Ultimate Bagger® – High-Volume Production System

Ultimate Bagger® is a fully featured, digitally controlled production line for agencies, yards, and contractors who need pallet after pallet of gravel bags.

Engineered for high throughput and repeatable fills
Integrated bag counter and production controls
Best choice for municipal stockpiles and long-duration programs

Product Selection Guide

Application	Recommended Product	Notes
General check dams, inlets, perimeter control	DuraBag® (empty) or DuraBag® pallet	Longest life and best all-around durability
Engineer / agency-specified geotextile BMPs	Geotextile Bags or Geotextile Pallet	Nonwoven geotextile meets many DOT/EPA specs
Large berms, slope toes, channel barriers	Big Hoss® Bulk Bag	3,000 lb blocks placed by machine, not hand
Mobile, jobsite-based bag production	Rapid Fill Bagger	Best for agile crews and storm prep
High-volume pallet programs and stockpiles	Ultimate Bagger®	Ideal for cities, counties, and large contractors

Quick Specs

Attribute	Details
Primary Use	SWPPP-compliant sediment & erosion control (check dams, berms, inlets, slopes)
Primary Bags	DuraBag® (poly mesh) and Geotextile Sandbags (nonwoven)
Strength / Life	Up to 380 PSI Mullen burst, 5-year UV life (DuraBag®)
Fill Material	Clean ½" washed gravel (recommended for BMPs)
Colors	Green, White, Black, Red, Tan, Brown, Blue, Yellow, Orange (varies by product)
Manufactured	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA \| Free U.S. shipping on most orders

Bottom Line: When your SWPPP, inspector, or engineer is watching, DuraBag®, Geotextile, Big Hoss®, and our filling machines give you BMPs that perform in the real world — not just on paper.

Erosion Control Sandbag FAQs

When should I use gravel bags instead of silt fence or straw wattles?

Use gravel bags in high-flow or concentrated-flow areas, at inlets, and where trenching is impractical. Their weight and flexibility prevent undercutting and blowouts common with silt fence and wattles.

What size rock or fill should I use in erosion control sandbags?

Most SWPPP applications call for clean ½" washed gravel. It drains well, resists clogging, and provides the right balance of weight and permeability.

How long will DuraBag® and Geotextile bags last in the sun?

DuraBag® is rated for up to 5 years of UV exposure. Geotextile bags are also UV-resistant and suitable for multi-season deployments when properly installed.

Are these bags DOT/EPA compliant?

Yes. DuraBag® and Geotextile sandbags are used nationwide on DOT and EPA-regulated projects and are suitable for SWPPP BMPs when installed per project specifications.

Do I really need a sandbag filling machine?

For small projects, hand-filling may be enough. If you’re building dozens of check dams, inlets, or berms, a Rapid Fill or Ultimate Bagger can reduce labor hours, standardize weights, and keep you ahead of storms.