Quick answer: #57 describes an aggregate size distribution, while 304 and 411 are construction item numbers in the Ohio examples below. They are not three exact stone diameters. Ask which grading specification your local supplier uses before choosing material for a driveway or drain.
Limestone size chart at a glance
This chart compares published grading designations from different standards and states. It is not a nationwide size conversion: stone made from another rock can meet the same gradation, and the grading limits allow a range of particle sizes. See the source notes for editions and limits.
| Designation | Standard or jurisdiction | What the specification describes | Typical documented role | Buyer caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 57 / #57 | AASHTO M 43 size designation (as shown in FHWA Table 3) | Coarse, relatively open-graded stone: 100% through a 1½-in. sieve; 95–100% through 1 in.; only 0–10% through No. 4. | Documented in open-graded backfill research; may be specified for drainage or other uses after design checks. | Not a guaranteed ¾-in. stone or inherently limestone; the project must call for an appropriate product. |
| Item 304 | Ohio DOT Item 304 and material §703.17 | Aggregate base with a distribution extending down to fines. Under the cited §703.17 gradation, 100% passes 2 in. and 30–60% passes No. 4. | Compacted aggregate base under designed paving layers. | A DOT construction item, not a #304 national particle size; limestone is not the only allowed source. |
| Item 411 | Ohio DOT Item 411 and material §703.18 | Stabilized crushed aggregate course; cited non-RAP/non-granulated-slag gradation passes 1½ in. entirely and includes fine material. | Compacted surface or course where the project documents specify Item 411. | Different materials have different §703.18 provisions. “Stabilized” in the item title does not by itself mean cement-treated. |
| No. 53 | Indiana DOT 2026 grading chart | Dense-graded aggregate: 100% through 1½ in.; 35–60% through No. 4; 5–13% through No. 200, subject to source-specific notes. | Aggregate base and other uses when required by Indiana project specifications. | Not automatically interchangeable with Ohio 304 or 411. |
Sources: FHWA-HRT-23-046, Table 3 (2023); Ohio DOT CMS §703.17–703.18, reproduced by BuildSpec; INDOT 2026 chart. Check the controlling project edition and supplements.
What do limestone grade numbers mean?
A gradation is the distribution of particle sizes in an aggregate sample. A test laboratory uses a stack of sieves with measured openings, then reports the percentage by dry mass passing each sieve. A size designation such as No. 57 relates to those sieve limits. A DOT item number such as Ohio 304 identifies a specified type of construction work and its material and installation requirements.
Maximum size and nominal maximum size are not necessarily the same. Technical conventions for nominal size depend on the specification, so a supplier's “1-inch stone” label is not an adequate replacement for its percent-passing schedule. ASTM D448-12(2022) defines aggregate size-number classifications; Ohio CMS §703.01 also allows sizing by the applicable construction item, material specification, or AASHTO M 43. Neither system states what geological rock must be used solely by assigning a size number.
What is #57 limestone?
#57 limestone means the specified No. 57 aggregate size distribution made from limestone. A 2023 FHWA study, reproducing selected AASHTO M 43-05 sieve limits, gives these checkpoints: 100% passing the 1½-inch sieve; 95–100% passing 1 inch; 25–60% passing ½ inch; 0–10% passing No. 4 (4.75 mm); and 0–5% passing No. 8 (2.36 mm). That is not a claim that every piece is 1 inch or ¾ inch. FHWA-HRT-23-046, Table 3.
The same FHWA study evaluated several types of rock under identical size designations, illustrating why stone type and aggregate size are separate decisions. Suppliers may sell clean or washed #57 limestone. A properly graded, low-fines stone can be considered for certain drainage or backfill applications, but the filter compatibility, pipe or geotextile requirements, and project design still control. “#57” alone is not engineering approval for a French drain.
What is #304 limestone?
In Ohio, Item 304 describes aggregate base. Its material requirement is CMS §703.17, which permits crushed carbonate stone, crushed gravel and certain slags—not exclusively limestone. Under the cited grading for those aggregate types, all material passes a 2-inch sieve, 70–100% passes 1 inch, 30–60% passes No. 4 and 0–15% passes No. 200 (75 micrometers); steel slag has a different No. 200 limit. The material is placed and compacted as an engineered base under Item 304. CMS §703.17.
For a retail purchase labeled “304 limestone,” confirm the seller is supplying crushed limestone to an identified gradation, rather than relying on the name to prove the material source, lab result, or suitability. The number 304 identifies the Ohio item, not the diameter of the stone.
What is #411 limestone?
Ohio Item 411 is called Stabilized Crushed Aggregate. Under CMS §411.01–411.03, the work is a compacted course using materials from §703.18; its placement references Item 304 methods with additional compaction requirements. The cited non-RAP/non-granulated-slag gradation in §703.18 has 100% passing 1½ inches, 75–100% passing 1 inch, 30–60% passing No. 4 and 3–15% passing No. 200.
Section 703.18 also includes separate requirements for reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and granulated slag, so the preceding numbers must not be asserted for every source material. Nor is “411” a nationwide recipe for mixing #57 stone with limestone dust. The key distinction from Ohio 304 is the governing item, permitted materials, full gradation schedule and construction requirements; both are used as compacted aggregate courses in appropriate designs.
Other crushed limestone sizes and regional names
Indiana No. 53: INDOT's 2026 chart categorizes No. 53 as dense graded, with 100% passing 1½ inches and 5–13% passing No. 200 for the ordinary chart column. INDOT's aggregate technician reference identifies No. 53 in aggregate-base work. This is an Indiana designation, not an automatic synonym for Ohio 304. INDOT chart, 2026; 2026 specifications.
No. 8, No. 67 and other size numbers: These identify other aggregate gradations where the relevant AASHTO/ASTM or DOT table calls for them. A larger number is not a reliable formula for stone diameter across all numbering systems. Check the specific chart, not an assumed ranking of sizes.
2A, DGA, ABC, crusher run, screenings: Regional and trade terms can describe graded base blends or smaller aggregate fractions, but their full gradations may differ by authority and supplier. A tri-state supplier chart usefully documents naming differences among Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; it does not establish national equivalence. Treat any proposed substitute as a separate product to verify against the job specification.
Dense-graded versus open-graded limestone
Relatively open-graded
More emphasis on coarse particles and fewer small particles. Connected voids may allow drainage when the material and whole system are properly designed. It may not form the same tight, fine-filled bearing surface as a dense-graded base.
Dense-graded
A broader mix of large and small particles, including permitted fines. Proper grading and compaction can produce good load support, while greater fine content can reduce free drainage. It is not automatically a specified drainage layer.
The FHWA Granular Base guidance describes the trade-off between gradation, support, stability, permeability and fines. The FHWA Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, §7.3 distinguishes a load-bearing base from a free-draining one. “Clean” is supplier terminology; require a measured specification if cleanliness or fine content matters.
Which limestone grade should you use for a driveway?
A driveway may have a compacted base, a different surface course and, if required, a designed drainage layer. Ohio's Location and Design Manual, Volume 1 shows Items 304 and 411 as aggregate-course alternatives in specific paved-drive treatments; those details are not a universal residential driveway recipe. Material choice depends on subgrade, loads, drainage, thickness, local requirements and installation method. Do not substitute #57 for a base item just because both are crushed stone.
For quantities after choosing the material, use our crushed limestone calculator. For selecting a driveway base and surface course in more detail, read our Crushed Limestone for Driveways guide.
Which grades work for drainage?
Start with the drainage system specification, not the grade number. Coarse low-fines stone such as an appropriately graded #57 product can provide spaces for water to move through, but its performance also depends on gradation, surrounding soil, filter fabric compatibility, pipe details and outlet. A fine-rich base aggregate such as a 304 or 411 material should never be substituted for a specified clean drainage aggregate without approval. The FHWA base-layer guidance emphasizes very low fines for free-draining applications. Once you know which drainage stone meets your project specification, use our Drain Rock Calculator to estimate volume and weight.
How to read an aggregate gradation specification
Each row names a sieve opening. The reported figure is the percentage of the sample's dry mass that passes through that opening. For example, “100% passing 1½ in.” means no tested sample mass is retained on that sieve. “30–60% passing No. 4” is a permitted interval for the material finer than the 4.75 mm opening, not a single particle diameter.
Read these real specification checkpoints
These are selected checkpoints only, independently organized from the cited public technical sources. A dash means this comparison does not list a requirement at that opening; it is not a zero-percent requirement. Never use this shortened table as a purchase specification.
| Sieve | AASHTO No. 57 (FHWA 2023) | Ohio Item 304 (§703.17) | Ohio Item 411 (§703.18; non-RAP, non-GS) | Indiana No. 53 (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1½ in. (37.5 mm) | 100% | — | 100% | 100% |
| 1 in. (25 mm) | 95–100% | 70–100% | 75–100% | 80–100% |
| No. 4 (4.75 mm) | 0–10% | 30–60% | 30–60% | 35–60% |
| No. 200 (75 µm) | — | 0–15% (steel slag exception) | 3–15% | 5–13% (see source notes) |
Read with the full original tables: FHWA-HRT-23-046 Table 3, printed p. 12; Ohio CMS 703.17.A and 703.18.A; INDOT 2026, dense-graded No. 53 column and footnotes.
Worked reading example: Ohio §703.17 lists 30–60% passing No. 4 for its standard 304 aggregate materials. A laboratory result of 45% at that sieve meets this one row because 45 lies between 30 and 60. It does not establish that the entire aggregate passes every gradation, durability or quality requirement. By contrast, the cited AASHTO #57 interval is 0–10% passing No. 4, so the same 45% result would not meet that particular #57 checkpoint. This comparison is arithmetic on published requirements, not a laboratory test of any supplier's product.
How to order the correct limestone grade
Send the supplier a clear written request. These questions are more useful than asking whether its stone is “about three-quarter inch”:
- What is the exact product designation and source quarry? Is the material truly crushed limestone or a different stone, recycled aggregate, slag or blend?
- Which written specification applies? Request the standard, state DOT item, year and any contract special provision.
- Can I see the full sieve gradation or product data sheet? Ask how it compares with the relevant percent-passing limits, including No. 200 fines.
- Is it clean/washed, open-graded or dense-graded? Ask what those terms mean on that supplier's ticket, not only in advertising.
- Is the proposed use suitable? Explain whether this is base, surface, bedding, backfill or drainage and confirm plans or engineer requirements.
- How is quantity sold and measured? Request a loose bulk density in pounds per loose cubic yard (or US short tons per loose cubic yard), including moisture and compaction basis.
- What are the order terms? Clarify whether the quote is per US short ton (2,000 lb) or cubic yard, minimum amount, rounding, separate delivery charges and truck-access limitations.
How much crushed limestone do you need?
The size chart helps identify which material you need; dimensions and a product-specific density determine how much. For a rectangular loose layer measuring 12 ft × 9 ft × 4 in., geometric volume is 12 × 9 × (4 ÷ 12) = 36 ft³ = 1.33 yd³. This is an uncompacted volume, not a tonnage guarantee. To estimate weight, multiply the appropriate loose cubic yards by the supplier-confirmed loose bulk density in US short tons per cubic yard. For a finished compacted layer, confirm the loose-volume factor separately and avoid double-counting allowances.
Use the Crushed Limestone Calculator for dimension, supplier-density and ordering-unit estimates; it cannot decide whether a grade meets your project's specification.
Common limestone grade mistakes
- Reading “57” as a measured diameter: it is a gradation number with sieve tolerances, not a universal ¾-inch chip.
- Reading “304” or “411” as national sizes: these are Ohio DOT items in our cited examples, while local suppliers may use the names differently.
- Treating crusher run as clean stone: dense-graded fines and drainage-grade voids serve different functions.
- Assuming limestone is the only allowed material: size and item specifications can permit other aggregate sources.
- Using a short supplier size label instead of a sieve test: descriptions may omit a critical fine-fraction limit.
- Using solid-rock density for delivery: loose bulk aggregate includes voids between stones.
- Confusing units: one US short ton equals 2,000 lb; it is not a cubic yard or a metric tonne.
Frequently asked questions
What does #57 limestone mean?
It means limestone crushed and graded to a No. 57 aggregate size designation. The governing sieve distribution, not one exact diameter, defines the grade. Ask which standard or DOT gradation the supplier uses.
Is #57 limestone always ¾ inch?
No. FHWA's example AASHTO M 43-05 #57 gradation includes 95–100% passing the 1-inch sieve, but only 25–60% passing the ½-inch sieve. The stones are not all ¾ inch.
What is the difference between #304 and #411?
In Ohio, Item 304 is aggregate base (§703.17 material); Item 411 is stabilized crushed aggregate (§703.18 material), with different gradation and construction provisions. Neither number describes a nationwide, fixed stone diameter.
Is crusher run the same as #304?
Not by definition. “Crusher run” is a supplier/trade term and may describe a dense-graded material. Confirm whether the actual product meets Ohio §703.17 or whatever specification controls your project.
Is #57 limestone good for drainage?
A suitably graded low-fines #57 limestone may be appropriate for some designs, but drainage depends on the full system, surrounding soil, geotextile/filter compatibility, and pipe and outlet details. Follow the project specification.
Are limestone grades the same across states?
No. National aggregate-size classifications coexist with state DOT item numbers and local product labels. Indiana No. 53 and Ohio Items 304/411 cannot be equated from their names alone.
Can I replace one crushed stone grade with another?
Only after the controlling specification or designer allows it. Compare complete gradation, material type, durability, fines and intended use, not just a size nickname.
How do I convert limestone cubic yards to tons?
Multiply the appropriate loose cubic yards by the supplier's loose bulk density expressed in US short tons per loose cubic yard. Do not use solid limestone density or an unverified universal tons-per-yard factor.