#8 Stone: Size, Uses, and Weight per Yard
#8 stone is a small, clean crushed stone, roughly 3/8 inch in nominal size with pieces up to about 1/2 inch. It has few or no fines, so water drains through it easily. Contractors use it for permeable paver bedding and joints, as a choker layer over larger stone, around drain pipes, and as a small decorative stone for paths. The number comes from the standard aggregate size numbering system used by AASHTO and ASTM.
Volume and tonnage calculator →How #8 compares with other sizes
| Size | Approximate nominal size | Fines? | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| #8 | About 3/8 inch | No | Paver bedding, chokers, drainage |
| #57 | About 1 inch to 1/2 inch | No | Drainage, driveway topping, base for permeable systems |
| #2 | About 2.5 to 1.5 inches | No | Construction entrances, large base |
| Dense-graded base | About 1 to 2 inches to dust | Yes | Compacted base under slabs and driveways |
Why use #8 stone
- Drainage. Clean stone leaves voids for water to pass through.
- Permeable pavers. Many permeable paver systems use #8 for the bedding layer and joints, with #57 and larger stone below.
- Choke layer. #8 fills the surface voids of larger stone, giving a smoother, more stable surface. See choke stone over an open-graded base.
- Pipe bedding. Around drain tile and French drains.
- Paths and decorative areas. Small, angular stone stays put better than rounded pea gravel.
Weight and coverage
#8 stone typically weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard. One ton often covers roughly 100 to 120 square feet at 2 inches deep.
| Use | Depth | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding | About 1.5 to 2 inches | About 100 to 160 sq ft |
| Path surface | About 2 to 3 inches | About 70 to 120 sq ft |
| Choke layer | About 1 inch | About 200 to 240 sq ft |
These are rough figures. Calculate with area x depth / 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.35 tons per yard. The base calculator does this for you.
Limits
- #8 does not compact into a hard, solid surface like dense-graded base. It locks together somewhat because it is angular, but it can shift under heavy loads.
- Not ideal for steep driveways, where it may migrate.
- Not a structural base on its own for traditional pavers; most use a compacted dense-graded base with sand or fine stone bedding on top.
Buying tips
Ask whether the quarry’s #8 is washed. Washed stone has fewer fines and drains better. Color and stone type, such as limestone, granite, or trap rock, vary by region.
Bottom line
#8 stone is a clean, roughly 3/8-inch crushed stone used for permeable paver bedding, choke layers, drainage, and small-stone paths. Figure about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard and use it where drainage matters more than a hard-packed surface.
Questions people ask
What size is #8 stone?
About 3/8 inch nominal, with pieces up to about 1/2 inch.
What is #8 stone used for?
Permeable paver bedding and joints, choker layers, drainage, pipe bedding, and paths.
Does #8 stone compact?
It locks somewhat because it is angular but does not pack hard like dense-graded base with fines.
How much does a yard of #8 stone weigh?
About 1.3 to 1.4 tons, depending on rock type.
Is #8 stone the same as pea gravel?
No. #8 is crushed and angular, while pea gravel is rounded and shifts more.
Related guides
- What Choke Stone Does on an Open-Graded Asphalt Base
- Driveway Gravel Sizes: Which Stone Numbers Go in Each Layer
- 304 Limestone: Ohio’s Go-To Base Stone Explained
- How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per Yard by Stone Type
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