Crushed Stone: Sizes & Uses
#57, #8, ¾″ minus — which crushed stone goes where.
Calculate crushed stone for your project
Crushed stone is angular rock produced by crushing quarried stone. Unlike rounded gravel, it locks together when compacted, making it ideal for structural base and drainage.
Stone sizes are graded by number: smaller numbers = larger stone. #1 is 2–4″ ballast; #57 is ¾″ (the workhorse); #8 is ⅜″ chip; #10 is stone dust. 'Minus' products (¾″ minus, ⅜″ minus) include the fines and compact hard.
Weight is ~2,700 lb per cubic yard. For a compacted base, order by weight and specify the size and whether you want washed (clean, no fines) or minus (with fines).
Common uses
- Driveway base (¾″ minus / crusher run)
- Drainage and French drains (#57 washed)
- Concrete aggregate
- Paver base
- Railroad ballast (#1, #2)
Types of crushed stone
Frequently asked
What's the difference between #57 stone and crusher run?
#57 is clean, uniform ¾″ stone that drains well. Crusher run has fines that let it compact into a hard base.
How many tons in a yard of crushed stone?
About 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
What stone goes under a paver patio?
4–6″ of crusher run compacted in 2″ lifts, topped by 1″ of concrete sand.