Gravel size chart: quick answers
See all 16 sizes ↓#57 stone
Clean drainage aggregate; for slabs and bedding where specified.
#67 stone
Smaller clean aggregate for specified bedding and mixes.
#8 stone
Small aggregate used in specified mixes and utility bedding.
Important: These are nominal sieve bands, not strict minimum and maximum particle dimensions. Grading specifications permit stated fractions outside the bands; supplier names such as “¾-in clean” are not exact replacements for numbered gradings. See sieve percentages.
Compare any two gravel sizes
Compare #57, #67, #8 or another grading
#57 vs #67: #57 has a 25 mm nominal upper sieve, while #67 has a 19 mm nominal upper sieve. Both include a grading range, not a single rock diameter. The chart below works without JavaScript.
Pick a numbered stone or a supplier trade name. Results update automatically and can be shared by URL.
Full gravel size chart: 12 numbered sizes and 4 trade names
Numbered rows use U.S. aggregate grading designations; the lower and upper values are their nominal sieve bands. The “100% passing” column is the top sieve requirement, not the nominal upper size. Producer grading requirements and the FHWA comparison table show why the two differ.
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| No. 1 stone | 1½–3½ in | 37.5 | 90 | 100 | Large stone layers; erosion-control assemblies where specified | Open graded; verify project design |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 2 stone | 1½–2½ in | 37.5 | 63 | 75 | Large aggregate layers where specified | Open graded; not a fine wearing course |
| No. 3 stone | 1–2 in | 25 | 50 | 63 | Coarse base/drainage layers; construction access | Open graded; verify underlying support |
| No. 4 stone | ¾–1½ in | 19 | 37.5 | 50 | Coarse aggregate or drainage layer where specified | Open graded |
| No. 5 stone | ½–1 in | 12.5 | 25 | 37.5 | Specified bedding, slab support or aggregate mixes | Open graded |
| No. 57 stone | ≈3/16–1 in (No. 4–1 in sieves) | 4.75 | 25 | 37.5 | Drainage; under slabs; specified pipe bedding | 0–10% passing No. 4; 0–5% passing No. 8 |
| No. 67 stone | ≈3/16–¾ in (No. 4–¾ in sieves) | 4.75 | 19 | 25 | Smaller clean aggregate; specified bedding or mixes | 0–10% passing No. 4; 0–5% passing No. 8 |
| No. 7 stone | ≈3/16–½ in (No. 4–½ in sieves) | 4.75 | 12.5 | 19 | Small bedding aggregate; surface treatments or mixes | Open graded |
| No. 8 stone | ≈3/32–⅜ in (No. 8–⅜ in sieves) | 2.36 | 9.5 | 12.5 | Small clean topping; specified utility bedding | 10–30% passing No. 4; 0–10% passing No. 8 |
| No. 89 stone | ≈3/64–⅜ in (No. 16–⅜ in sieves) | 1.18 | 9.5 | 12.5 | Small aggregate in specified mixes or bedding | Broader small-size grading than No. 8 |
| No. 9 stone | ≈3/64–3/16 in (No. 16–No. 4 sieves) | 1.18 | 4.75 | 9.5 | Chip surfacing; block production or specified small aggregate | A very small grading; not equivalent to No. 57 |
| No. 10 screenings | Fines–≈3/16 in (No. 4 sieve) | Fines | 4.75 | 9.5 | Screenings in specified mixtures or fine layers | Includes fine particles; not clean drainage stone |
| Pea gravel (trade name) | Supplier-defined | — | — | — | Decorative surfaces; some nonstructural landscape uses | Rounded shape; name does not certify a grading |
| Crusher run / dense-graded base | Supplier-defined top size + fines | — | — | — | Compacted base for pavement or hardscape when specified | Broad blend of coarse particles and fines |
| River rock (trade name) | Supplier-defined | — | — | — | Landscaping and decorative drainage features | Shape and source description, not a size standard |
| Riprap (engineered class) | Project class / mass-based | — | — | — | Slope and channel erosion protection | Select by hydraulic design and class specification |
Nominal bands describe a distribution and allow specified fractions outside the band. Fractional lower-size descriptions marked ≈ are approximate aids; the named laboratory sieves control. Other U.S. inch labels and standard metric sieve names are paired conventions, not exact mathematical conversions. “Use” entries are examples for selecting the right specification, not installation approvals. A dash means no universal numeric size is defined by the trade name.
Gravel Size Chart — all 16 reference rows. Read the stated conditions and sources.
On this page
What gravel size numbers actually mean
A stone number identifies a grading specification: how much material may pass each laboratory sieve. It does not describe the rock’s chemistry, color or source. Limestone, granite and natural gravel can be processed into a similar nominal grading but still differ in durability, angularity, density and suitability.
ASTM D448 establishes aggregate size designations for road and bridge materials. AASHTO and state agencies also define grading requirements. A purchase specification may impose additional limits, so match the standard, edition and local requirements named for the project.
A larger number is often associated with smaller aggregate in this set, but it is not a measurement formula. No. 57 is not 57 mm, and No. 8 stone is not automatically an eighth-inch product. Read the sieve band and the product test report.
No. 57 vs No. 67 vs No. 8: the useful differences
No. 57 and No. 67 overlap substantially. No. 57 has a larger nominal top size and permits a larger maximum sieve. No. 8 shifts the distribution toward much smaller particles. These differences affect voids, surface texture and the ability to place material around a pipe or component, but particle shape and fines also matter.
| Sieve | No. 57 | No. 67 | No. 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5 mm (1½ in) | 100% | — | — |
| 25 mm (1 in) | 95–100% | 100% | — |
| 19 mm (¾ in) | — | 90–100% | — |
| 12.5 mm (½ in) | 25–60% | — | 100% |
| 9.5 mm (⅜ in) | — | 20–55% | 85–100% |
| 4.75 mm (No. 4) | 0–10% | 0–10% | 10–30% |
| 2.36 mm (No. 8) | 0–5% | 0–5% | 0–10% |
A dash means that this abbreviated grading table does not specify a percentage at that sieve; it does not mean zero passing. Source: FHWA-HRT-15-034, Table 4, printed page 18. Use the complete project specification for acceptance testing.
Choose material by the job it must do
Drainage: a clean, open-graded aggregate is a common starting point because its connected voids can transmit water. Verify the required grading, the allowable fine content and the surrounding filter or geotextile design. Dirty stone or soil migrating into the voids can undermine drainage.
Pavement or paver base: a dense-graded blend is commonly chosen when the design needs a firm compacted layer. Clean drainage stone and crusher run perform different jobs and should not be substituted by matching only the advertised top size. Vulcan’s product categories distinguish base stone, coarse stone and fine aggregates for this reason.
Pipe bedding and slabs: follow the pipe, foundation or pavement specification. Maximum particle size, angularity, lift thickness and placement around the pipe can matter as much as the name. For decorative paths, also consider whether rounded particles will roll underfoot and whether edging can contain the material.
Driveways: the supporting base and exposed surface may need different gradings. A clean No. 57 product is not the same specification as “¾ in minus,” even when both are sold for driveways. Confirm whether you need interlocking clean stone, a dense-graded surface or a structural base before ordering.
Clean stone, washed gravel and crusher run
Clean generally describes a coarse grading with relatively few fines. Washed describes a processing step. A washed product still needs a grading result; washing by itself does not specify the exact size band or guarantee that the delivered material meets a particular drainage specification.
Minus, modified and crusher run often describe blends that include smaller particles and fines beneath a stated top size. The exact local product can vary. Ask whether the price is for loose delivery volume, a measured weight or a specified compacted quantity.
Open-graded stone can be consolidated and interlocked during placement. Its behavior is different from compacting a dense blend to a specified moisture-density relationship. Saying all clean stone “cannot compact” hides that practical distinction. Use the placement and acceptance method required by the project.
How much gravel is needed? Worked example
A 12 ft × 20 ft area at 3 in finished depth contains 12 × 20 × (3 ÷ 12) = 60 ft³ = 2.22 yd³ of in-place geometric volume. That is not automatically the number of loose cubic yards to order; consolidation, moisture, waste, and grade variation affect delivered quantity.
For a supplier quote in tons, use that material’s bulk density on the appropriate loose or compacted basis. Do not apply a generic tons-per-cubic-yard factor to in-place volume without accounting for its basis. Use the Gravel Calculator to estimate yards, tons and allowances for your specific dimensions.
What to confirm before ordering
Provide the supplier with the application, specified grading, location, quantity basis and access conditions. Request a current sieve analysis when the material has a structural or drainage requirement. A sample or photo helps confirm appearance but cannot replace the grading and durability requirements.
Regional names such as “2B,” “road base” or “¾ clean” may identify familiar products locally without having the same meaning everywhere. NESL’s regional product guide shows both named gradings and local blends, along with size ranges and example uses. Quote the specification on the order instead of relying on the nickname.
For riprap, use the specified class, particle-size or mass distribution, durability and placement details. A few oversized decorative stones do not establish an erosion-control design. For geotechnical soil classification, gravel has its own sieve-based meaning; that system should not be confused with aggregate trade names.
Gravel Size Chart FAQs
What size is No. 57 gravel?
Its nominal band is 25–4.75 mm, conventionally described as 1 in to the No. 4 sieve. The grading permits some larger and smaller particles: all material must pass 37.5 mm, 95–100% passes 25 mm, and 0–10% passes No. 4.
Is No. 57 gravel ¾ inch or 1 inch?
No. 57 is normally identified by a nominal 1-inch upper sieve, with 95–100% passing 1 in and 100% passing 1½ in under the selected AASHTO/FHWA grading. Some suppliers call it “¾-inch clean,” but that trade name alone does not establish the specified No. 57 sieve distribution.
Is No. 67 smaller than No. 57?
Its nominal upper size is smaller: 19 mm versus 25 mm. Their nominal lower sieve is the same, 4.75 mm, so the bands overlap. The full grading and fines limits distinguish the delivered products.
What is the difference between No. 8 stone and No. 8 sieve?
No. 8 stone is an aggregate grading. A No. 8 sieve has a 2.36 mm opening. The shared number does not mean No. 8 stone consists entirely of 2.36 mm particles.
Which gravel size is best for a driveway?
A driveway usually needs a suitable subgrade and a specified layered section, so there is no universal single best size. A compacted base blend and a clean decorative topping have different roles. Select the base, thickness, drainage and surface material for the soil, traffic and local specification.
Does pea gravel have a standard size?
“Pea gravel” is a trade name commonly used for small rounded material. It does not establish one mandatory grading. Ask the supplier for its actual size band and whether the product is washed.
Can I use crusher run for a French drain?
Do not substitute a fine-rich base blend for specified clean drain aggregate. Fines can fill voids and reduce drainage. Match the drain design, pipe requirements and filter details instead of choosing only by price or top stone size.
Is ¾ inch minus the same as No. 67 gravel?
No. “¾ inch minus” usually describes a local blend extending from a nominal top size down through fines. No. 67 is a numbered grading with specified sieve percentages, including limited passing at the No. 4 and No. 8 sieves. Ask for the sieve analysis and product specification rather than treating the names as equivalents.
Sources and Data Basis
Reference basis reviewed October 25, 2026. Follow the scope and conditions given with each table and lookup result.
- NESL — Size & Grading Requirements for Coarse AggregatesNumbered gradings, sieve percentages and regional cross references; producer-hosted 2026 chart.
- West Virginia DOT — Aggregate Sampling Inspector ManualTable 703.4, printed page 75 (PDF page 79): nominal grading bands and sieve requirements, including No. 10 nominal No. 4 to fines and 100% passing the 9.5 mm sieve.
- FHWA — Strength Characterization of Open-Graded AggregatesFHWA-HRT-15-034, Table 4 on printed page 18: selected AASHTO M43/ASTM D448 gradations. Table reproduced here only in an abbreviated comparison.
- ASTM D448 — Scope and designationStandard for aggregate size designations; project specifications may impose closer limits.
- NESL — Pennsylvania stone descriptions and usesProducer examples of products, regional names and uses; local products must be confirmed.
- Vulcan Materials — Construction aggregatesDistinguishes base stone, coarse stone and fine aggregates by application.