What Is #57 Stone? (Uses, Size, Coverage & Cost)
Part of Landscaping & Aggregate
Quick answer
#57 stone is crushed stone screened to about 3/4 inch with the fines washed out, so it drains freely and doesn't pack tight. The number "57" is the size grade from the ASTM/AASHTO sieve spec, not a brand. It's the go-to stone for driveway surfaces, French drains, pipe bedding and as the aggregate in concrete. It costs roughly $30–$45 per ton, weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, and one ton covers about 115 ft² at 2 inches or 58 ft² at 4 inches deep.
"#57" is a size grade, not a rock type — it tells you the stones passed a 1-inch screen and stopped on a smaller one, landing around 3/4 inch with the dust washed off. Because there are no fines, the stones can't lock together, so #57 stays loose and lets water run straight through. That single property is what makes it so versatile.
What #57 stone is used for
- Driveways — a clean, drainable driving surface (often over a crusher-run base).
- French drains and footing drains — water flows through the clean stone to the pipe.
- Pipe and tank bedding — it self-levels and won't trap water around the pipe.
- Concrete aggregate — the coarse stone mixed into ready-mix and bagged concrete.
- Backfill and drainage behind retaining walls.
#57 stone vs. crusher run
| #57 stone | Crusher run | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3/4" washed, clean | 3/4" down to dust |
| Fines (dust) | None | Lots |
| Compacts? | No — stays loose | Yes — packs hard |
| Drains? | Freely | Poorly (holds water) |
| Best for | Surface, drainage, concrete | Compacted base layers |
A common mistake is using #57 where you need a hard base — it won't compact, so it shifts. Pair it with crusher run: crusher run on the bottom to pack solid, #57 on top to drain and drive on.
Coverage and cost
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | ~115 ft² | ~162 ft² |
| 3 in | ~77 ft² | ~108 ft² |
| 4 in | ~58 ft² | ~81 ft² |
#57 stone runs about $30–$45 per ton (roughly $45–$70 per cubic yard delivered) and weighs around 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Get the cubic yards and tons from the #57 stone calculator, then multiply by your supplier's per-ton rate. Source: US national average-cost references. Last verified: June 2026.
FAQs
What does the 57 in #57 stone mean?
It's the size number from the ASTM/AASHTO grading spec, which sorts crushed stone by the sieve sizes it passes. #57 is graded to about 3/4 inch with no fines — it's not a brand or a mineral.
How much does #57 stone cost?
About $30–$45 per ton, or roughly $45–$70 per cubic yard delivered. Delivery adds $50–$150 per load, and a full dump truck (10–15 tons) runs $300–$700 delivered.
How much does a ton of #57 stone cover?
About 115 ft² at 2 inches deep, 77 ft² at 3 inches, or 58 ft² at 4 inches. A ton is roughly 0.7 cubic yards of #57 stone.
Can you use #57 stone for a driveway?
Yes, as the top driving layer — it drains well and looks clean. But it won't compact, so put it over a packed crusher-run base and edge the driveway so the loose stone doesn't migrate.