Gravel Size Chart — Crushed Stone Grades #3 to #10 and #411
The standard crushed-stone grades sold by US quarries, their typical size ranges, and what each is used for — with the selection logic that suppliers assume you know.
What do gravel grade numbers mean? Crushed stone grades like #57 and #411 refer to sieve-size designations from AASHTO M 43 / ASTM D448 — lower numbers mean larger stone, and the blend of sizes decides drainage versus compaction. #57 (≈3/8–1″, clean) is the general-purpose grade; #411 adds fine screenings so it compacts hard for bases. Full chart below.
How stone sizing actually works
Quarry grade numbers are sieve designations, not exact dimensions — a batch of #57 passed a 1-inch sieve but was caught by finer ones, so every piece is under about an inch. The numbering comes from the AASHTO M 43 and ASTM D448 standard aggregate designations that quarries across North America sort by. That is also why "#57 from two quarries" can look slightly different: the designation fixes the sieve band, not the rock or its shape.
Two properties matter more than the number itself. Fines content — whether stone dust is left in the blend — decides if it compacts (#411, crusher run) or drains (#57, #67). Angular versus rounded — crushed versus river-run — decides if it locks or rolls. Every grade below is crushed and angular unless noted.
The chart: common grades and their uses
These size ranges are typical values compiled from published quarry specifications; exact gradation varies by quarry and region.
| Grade | Typical size | Fines? | Best uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 / #2 (rip-rap class) | ≈ 2–4″ | No | Erosion control, slope armoring, drainage channel lining |
| #3 | ≈ 1½–2½″ | No | Driveway sub-base first course, railroad ballast, heavy drainage |
| #4 | ≈ 1–2″ | No | Sub-base over soft ground, septic system stone, drainage |
| #5 | ≈ 1–1½″ | No | Drainage, road base middle layer, landscaping accents |
| #57 | ≈ 3/8–1″ | No (washed) | The all-purpose grade: French drains, pipe bedding, driveway layers, concrete mix |
| #67 | ≈ under ¾″ | No | Same jobs as #57 where smaller stone is wanted; slab base, asphalt mix |
| #8 | ≈ 3/8–½″ | No | Decorative beds, walkway topping, roofing aggregate |
| #9 | ≈ 1/8–3/8″ | Light | Paver jointing sand alternative, chicken grit, fine pathways |
| #10 (screenings / fines) | Dust to 1/8″ | Yes | Paver bedding, dust cap over base, mixing into #411 |
| #411 | Up to ≈1″ + fines | Yes | Driveway bases, shed pads, paver bases — compacts hard |
| Crusher run / QP / DGA | Up to ≈1″ + fines | Yes | Same family as #411; quarry-specific blends (see the crusher run guide) |
| Pea gravel (rounded) | ≈ 3/8″ | No | Paths, play areas, dog runs (guide) |
| River rock (rounded) | ≈ ¾–2″+ | No | Decorative beds, dry creeks (guide) |
Choosing a grade by project
Start from the job, not the catalog: structural layers want fines, drainage layers want none. The pairings below cover most residential decisions.
- Anything that must drain — French drains, curtain drains, pipe bedding: washed #57 (or #67).
- Anything that must compact — driveway bases, shed pads, paver bases: #411 or crusher run.
- Driveway sub-base on soft ground — #3 or #4 first, then #411, then surface.
- Walked-on surfaces — pea gravel or #8 for comfort; decomposed granite for firmness.
- Seen-not-walked beds — river rock, #8, or lava rock by color preference.
Sizing affects tonnage too: bigger stone has more voids, so a yard of #3 weighs less than a yard of #411 even though the rocks are larger. Densities per material are documented in our methodology.
What "washed" and "crusher run" mean on the quote
Read the adjectives on a supplier's price sheet — they change the material more than the grade number does. "Washed" means fines screened and rinsed out: clean stone for drainage. "Crusher run," "QP," "DGA," or "dense grade" mean the fines stay in: compactable base. The same quarry sells both from the same rock; ordering the wrong one for a French drain is the classic (and expensive) mistake.
When a quote just says "gravel," ask two questions: what grade designation, and washed or with fines. Then match the answer to the calculator's material list — or pick the closest density and confirm the load weight with the supplier.
Last updated: October 2026