#89 Stone: Size, Uses, Weight and How Many Tons

#89 stone is a small crushed aggregate from the ASTM size chart that sits between #8 and #9. Most of the pile is chips from about 3/8 inch down to the size of coarse sand grains, so it reads as a fine gravel rather than drain rock or dust. Yards sell it for permeable paver joints, concrete and masonry mixes with thin sections, asphalt and seal work, and thin leveling lifts. For planning, a cubic yard usually weighs about 1.35 to 1.5 tons. Below you will find what the number means, how #89 compares with nearby sizes, where it fits, how deep to place it and how to work out the tons to order.

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What “#89” means on a stone ticket

The size number comes from ASTM D448, the aggregate size table that also defines #57, #67 and #8 (AASHTO M 43 is the highway twin). A two-digit size like 89 is a blended band that runs from the top of one single size (#8) to the bottom of the next (#9). For size No. 89 the nominal range is 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) down to the No. 16 sieve (1.18 mm). The table sets how much of the sample by weight must pass each screen:

Screen opening	Share passing, by weight (size No. 89)
1/2 inch	100%
3/8 inch	90 to 100%
No. 4 (about 3/16 in)	20 to 55%
No. 8 (about 3/32 in)	5 to 30%
No. 16 (about 1/20 in)	0 to 10%
No. 50	0 to 5%

Read the table this way: almost nothing is bigger than 3/8 inch, roughly half to most of the stone is caught on the No. 4 screen, and very little is fine enough to call dust. That spread gives #89 a bit more range than #8 while still leaving open gaps between the pieces.

Yard names do not always follow the table. You may see #89 sold as “89s,” “3/8 chip,” “paver chip” or even as a pea gravel substitute. If a plan, a paver manufacturer or a permit calls for ASTM size No. 89, ask for the gradation sheet so you know the pile matches.

#89 stone vs #8, #9 and #57

Higher numbers mean smaller stone, and blended sizes cover a wider band than the single sizes on either side.

Size	Nominal range	Where it usually goes
#57	1 in to No. 4	Drainage, concrete, driveway top layers
#67	3/4 in to No. 4	Concrete, slab and pipe bedding
#8	3/8 in to No. 8	Permeable paver bedding and joints, exposed aggregate
#89	3/8 in to No. 16	Narrow paver joints, fine concrete and masonry mixes, thin lifts, seal and surface work
#9	No. 4 to No. 16	Fine chips for mixes, choke layers, very narrow joints

Against #8, the top size is the same, but #89 lets more fine chips through the No. 8 and No. 16 screens. The result packs a little tighter and fills narrower gaps. Against #9, #89 keeps more of the 3/16 to 3/8 inch pieces, so it is coarser and drains better. Against #57, there is no comparison for drainage volume: #57 has far larger voids and carries far more water.

Where #89 stone works well

Permeable paver joints. Permeable interlocking pavers leave open joints that are filled with clean crushed chips so rain can pass through. Industry guidance commonly lists #8, #89 or #9 for the joints, chosen by joint width; narrower joints call for the finer sizes. Follow the paver maker’s chart. Our permeable pavers guide walks through the full section.
Concrete and masonry with thin sections. Small coarse aggregate is useful where a mix has to flow around tight rebar or fill a thin topping, cap or block core. The mix designer picks the size; #89 is one of the options.
Asphalt surface and seal work. Small crushed stone in this band shows up in fine surface mixes and as cover aggregate on some chip seal jobs. Road agencies and plants set the exact grade, so the nickname on the pile is not the spec.
Thin leveling lifts and choke. A thin layer worked into the top of coarser open stone tightens the surface while keeping it free draining. See choke stone over an open-graded base for how that is done.
Small paths and decorative fill. Angular #89 locks underfoot better than rounded pea gravel of a similar size, which helps on garden paths and between stepping stones.

Where it is the wrong pick

#89 is too small to be the main stone in a French drain or a deep drainage trench. Larger clean stone such as #57 moves far more water; our French drain gravel guide covers the usual choices. It also makes a poor driveway base on its own. Without larger pieces and some fines to bind it, a thick layer of small chips ruts under tires and scatters at the edges. For a packed driveway, build on a dense-graded base such as crusher run or ABC, then use small stone only as a thin top dressing if you want the look. Our page on driveway gravel sizes by layer shows a typical build.

How much a yard of #89 stone weighs

Small crushed limestone or granite in this band usually comes in around 1.35 to 1.5 tons per loose cubic yard, which is about 2,700 to 3,000 pounds. Use 1.4 tons per yard as a planning number unless the quarry lists its own weight. Heavier rock such as trap rock and stone loaded wet off a wash plant both push the ticket weight up. Our chart of crushed stone weight per cubic yard lists other common products for comparison.

How deep to place #89 stone

Paver joints: fill to the depth the joint allows, then top off after the first rains settle it.
Choke or leveling lift over coarse stone: often about 1/2 to 1 inch, worked into the surface rather than left as a loose blanket.
Garden path or stepping stone fill: about 2 inches over a firm, compacted base.
Mixes: the plant meters it by weight, so there is no field depth to plan.

These are starting points. A paver system chart, an engineer’s section or a permit detail overrides them.

How many tons of #89 stone to order

Measure the area in square feet and the depth in inches, then:

Cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324
Tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.4 (about square feet × inches × 0.0043)
Square feet one ton covers ≈ 230 ÷ depth in inches

Add roughly 10 percent for settling, uneven ground and spillage.

Depth	Approx. area per ton	Tons per 100 sq ft
1 inch	about 230 sq ft	about 0.4
2 inches	about 115 sq ft	about 0.9
3 inches	about 77 sq ft	about 1.3

Example: a garden path 3 feet wide and 60 feet long, 2 inches deep. 3 × 60 = 180 square feet. 180 × 2 ÷ 324 = about 1.1 cubic yards. 1.1 × 1.4 = about 1.6 tons. With 10 percent added, order about 1.75 tons, or round up to 2 if the yard sells by the whole ton.

Example: a 1-inch choke over a 20 by 24 foot stone pad. 480 square feet × 1 ÷ 324 = about 1.5 cubic yards, or about 2.1 tons. Order about 2.5 tons.

Paver joints use much less stone than a full layer. The paver maker usually lists joint fill per square foot of paving, so use that figure rather than a depth calculation. If you are hauling it yourself, our guide to tons of gravel in a dump truck helps you match the order to the truck or trailer.

Tips for placing it

Check the pile against the sieve range you need before it loads, not after it is spread.
Compact the layer underneath. Small stone over soft soil just sinks and mixes with dirt.
Spread thin. It is easy to dump too much small stone and clog the voids of a drainage layer you meant to keep open.
For joints and choke layers, sweep the chips in, run a plate compactor with a pad if the paver system allows it, then sweep in more.
Keep soil, mulch and clay off the stockpile. Dirty chips stop draining after the first heavy rain.

Buying tips

Name the spec. Ask for ASTM D448 size No. 89 and the latest gradation sheet if the job depends on it.
Ask if it is washed. Washed stone has less dust and drains better, which matters for permeable joints.
Crushed beats rounded for locking. Angular faces interlock; rounded fine gravel rolls under feet and tires.
Watch small-load fees. Joint fill and thin lifts can come to only a ton or two. Combining the order with base stone or picking up a trailer load can save a delivery minimum.

Questions people ask

What size is #89 stone?

ASTM size No. 89 runs from 3/8 inch down to the No. 16 sieve, about 1/20 inch. All of it passes a 1/2-inch screen, 90 to 100 percent passes 3/8 inch, and only a small share is fine enough to count as dust.

What is the difference between #89 and #8 stone?

Both top out at 3/8 inch, but #89 allows more small chips down to the No. 16 sieve, while #8 stops near the No. 8 sieve. That makes #89 pack a little tighter and fit narrower joints.

Is #89 stone the same as pea gravel?

Not quite. Pea gravel is usually rounded natural stone, while #89 is normally angular crushed stone. They can be similar in size, but crushed #89 locks together better underfoot.

How much does a yard of #89 stone weigh?

Usually about 1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, roughly 2,700 to 3,000 pounds. Plan with 1.4 tons per yard unless the quarry gives its own figure.

Can #89 stone be used for permeable pavers?

Yes, it is one of the common joint fill sizes for permeable interlocking pavers, usually chosen for narrower joints. Use the stone sizes the paver manufacturer lists for its system.

Is #89 stone good for drainage?

It drains better than dense base or stone dust, but it is too small to be the main stone in a French drain. Larger clean stone such as #57 moves much more water.

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