#57 Gravel vs Washed Gravel: Size, Cost, and Which to Use

#57 Gravel

The 57 comes from the ASTM C33 grading table. Size #57 means most of the stone passes a 1-inch screen and stays on a #4 sieve (about 3/16 inch), with the bulk of it between 1/2 and 1 inch. It is "clean" stone, so there are no fines. That leaves about 35 percent air space in a pile, which is why it drains so well and why it stays loose on its own.

Washed Gravel

Washed gravel consists of crushed or rounded stone that has been mechanically washed to remove all fines and dust. Without fines, the stones do not compact, allowing water to flow freely between them. Washed gravel is commonly used where drainage is the primary concern.

#57 Gravel

• ✓ Driveways
• ✓ French drains
• ✓ Concrete mix
• ✓ Pipe bedding
• ✓ Backfill
• ✓ Parking pads
• ✓ Septic systems

Washed Gravel

• ✓ Drainage systems
• ✓ French drains
• ✓ Foundation backfill
• ✓ Septic systems
• ✓ Pipe bedding

#57 Gravel

• + Cheapest useful stone at $20 to $35 per ton
• + Stocked at every quarry in the country
• + Drains fast, about 35 percent void space
• + Angular pieces interlock under load
• + Works for driveways, drains, concrete, and backfill

• − Too coarse to walk on comfortably
• − Stays loose, rolls to the edges under tires
• − Needs a finer top layer on driveways
• − Not decorative

Washed Gravel

• + Excellent drainage
• + No dust or mud
• + Does not retain water
• + Clean, uniform appearance

• − Does not compact
• − Can shift under load
• − Requires edging or containment

#57 Gravel

#57 gravel is angular crushed stone screened to 3/4 inch to 1 inch, with a few pieces down to 1/2 inch. Color depends on the quarry: gray or blue-gray limestone through the Midwest and Northeast, gray, white, and pink granite in the Southeast, tan limestone in Texas, and dark basalt in the Northwest.

Washed Gravel

Typically available in 3/4" (#57), 1"–2", or mixed clean stone sizes. Color varies by source material but is usually gray, tan, or off-white.