INDOT #53 vs #73 vs #8 Stone (Indiana Stone Guide)

#53 vs #73 vs #8 Stone Comparison

When to Use #53 Stone

#53 is the workhorse of Indiana gravel driveways. The mix of crushed limestone and fines locks together when compacted, creating a firm, well-shedding surface that holds up to traffic and freeze-thaw cycles. It's used both as a base layer and as the final driving surface.

• •New and resurfaced gravel driveways.
• •Parking pads and equipment areas.
• •Compacted base under sheds, barns, and slabs.

When to Use #73 Stone

#73 is very similar to #53 but with a slightly different gradation and fines content that some crews prefer for a smoother, tighter finish. It also compacts well and is used for driveways and bases. In practice, #53 and #73 are often interchangeable depending on quarry availability.

When to Use #8 Stone

#8 is a clean, washed stone with no dust, so it never packs down hard. That's exactly what you want for drainage and bedding, but not for a driving surface, where it will shift and rut.

• •French drains and drainage trenches.
• •Bedding under pavers and flagstone.
• •Decorative top dressing over a compacted base.
• •Mud control in high-traffic gateways (over a base).