#89 Stone vs Fill Dirt

#89 Stone

Small angular crushed stone approximately 3/8 inch and smaller. Similar in size to pea gravel but with angular edges that provide better compaction and stability. A versatile fine aggregate used in both construction and landscaping applications.

Fill Dirt

Subsoil material free of organic matter, used for grading, filling, and raising elevation. Fill dirt is a lower-grade soil that lacks the nutrients of topsoil, making it ideal for structural and non-growing applications where settling must be minimized.

#89 Stone

• ✓ Walkways
• ✓ Pipe bedding
• ✓ Asphalt mix
• ✓ Between pavers
• ✓ Top dressing
• ✓ Drainage backfill

Fill Dirt

• ✓ Grading
• ✓ Filling depressions
• ✓ Raising elevation
• ✓ Backfill
• ✓ Construction site prep
• ✓ Under slabs

#89 Stone

• + Angular edges compact better than rounded pea gravel
• + Small size fills tight spaces
• + Good for pipe bedding and utility trenches
• + Comfortable enough for walkways
• + Excellent drainage

• − Too small for driveway base layers
• − Can migrate without edging
• − Less decorative than pea gravel
• − May be tracked by shoes
• − Not widely stocked at all suppliers

Fill Dirt

• + Very affordable — often cheapest material available
• + Compacts firmly for structural support
• + Does not decompose or settle like organic soil
• + Widely available from construction sites
• + Ideal base under gravel or concrete

• − Not suitable for growing plants
• − Must be free of debris and contaminants
• − May contain clay that drains poorly
• − Needs compaction in layers for stability
• − Quality varies widely between sources

#89 Stone

Angular crushed stone pieces 3/8" and smaller. Color varies by quarry — typically gray, blue-gray, or tan. The angular shape distinguishes it from similarly-sized pea gravel.

Fill Dirt

Fine to coarse soil particles, free of organic matter like roots, grass, or leaves. Color ranges from tan to reddish-brown depending on local geology. "Clean fill" means free of debris, rocks larger than 3", and contaminants.