Crusher Run vs Jersey Shore Gravel: Size, Cost, and Which to Use
Crusher Run runs about $20 per ton and Jersey Shore Gravel about $60 per ton. Compare size, drainage, compaction, and which one to use.
Overview
Crusher run is crushed stone with the rock dust left in, sold as 3/4 inch minus or 1.5 inch minus. It costs $20 to $35 per ton in 2026, weighs 1.5 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard, and packs into a surface hard enough to drive on year after year. It is the standard base under roads, driveways, parking lots, and patios, and the best single-layer material for a gravel driveway. In the Southeast it is called crush and run. Highway departments call it aggregate base course, ABC, or Class 5.
Jersey Shore gravel is a naturally rounded, multicolored stone originating from river deposits in the northeastern United States. Its smooth texture and varied coloration make it a popular decorative gravel.
Common Uses
Crusher Run
- ✓ Driveways
- ✓ Parking areas
- ✓ Road base
- ✓ Paver base
- ✓ Walkways
- ✓ Shed and equipment pads
Jersey Shore Gravel
- ✓ Landscaping
- ✓ Garden beds
- ✓ Decorative ground cover
- ✓ Walkways
Pros & Cons
Crusher Run
- + Packs into a hard, drivable surface
- + Cheapest processed stone at $20 to $35 per ton
- + One layer does the whole driveway on firm ground
- + Grades smooth and repairs easily
- + Stocked at every quarry
- − Does not drain, sheds water instead
- − Dusty when dry, muddy when wet before it seals
- − Dense, so a ton covers less area than clean stone
- − Wrong choice for any drainage use
- − Plain gray look
Jersey Shore Gravel
- + Attractive multicolor appearance
- + Smooth texture
- + Low maintenance
- − Does not compact
- − Can shift under foot traffic
- − Higher cost than standard gravel
Cost Comparison
| Measure | Crusher Run | Jersey Shore Gravel |
|---|---|---|
| Per ton | $20 – $35 | $60 – $120 |
| Per cubic yard | $25 – $45 | $75 – $150 |
Sizes & Colors
Crusher Run
Crusher run is everything that comes off the crusher below a set size, usually 3/4 inch minus or 1.5 inch minus: angular stone at the top of the range down to sand and rock dust. Roughly a third of the mix is fines. Color matches the quarry rock, typically gray limestone or gray to tan granite, and it lightens as the dust dries.
Jersey Shore Gravel
Typically available in 3/8" to 1.5" sizes. Colors include tan, brown, gray, and red tones.
Published February 11, 2026
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