Crushed Limestone vs Fill Dirt

Crushed Limestone

Crushed sedimentary rock with a pale gray to white color. Compacts well and provides good drainage. Limestone is a popular choice in the Midwest and South where it's quarried locally, keeping costs low.

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.

Crushed Limestone

• ✓ Driveways
• ✓ Pathways
• ✓ Base material
• ✓ Garden beds
• ✓ Parking pads
• ✓ Erosion control

Fill Dirt

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

Crushed Limestone

• + Compacts into a firm, stable surface
• + Light color brightens landscapes
• + Good drainage properties
• + Affordable in limestone-rich regions
• + Natural weed suppression when compacted

• − Can become muddy when wet (stone dust)
• − Limited color options
• − May raise soil pH over time
• − Dusty in dry conditions
• − Not available everywhere

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

Crushed Limestone

Available from fine limestone screenings up to 3-inch chunks. Most common sizes are 3/4" and 1.5". Color ranges from pale gray to off-white, sometimes with a slight yellow tint. Compacted limestone screenings create a smooth, almost concrete-like surface.

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.