#8 Gravel vs Stone Dust

#8 Gravel

Small crushed stone approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch in size. Good for walkways and as a top dressing for driveways. #8 gravel bridges the gap between coarse aggregates and fine pea gravel, offering a balance of comfort and stability.

Stone Dust

Stone dust is a finely crushed aggregate made up of stone particles smaller than 1/4 inch. It compacts tightly when installed and lightly moistened, creating a firm, smooth surface ideal for leveling and base preparation.

#8 Gravel

• ✓ Walkways
• ✓ Patios
• ✓ Between pavers
• ✓ Asphalt mix
• ✓ Top dressing
• ✓ Drainage backfill

Stone Dust

• ✓ Paver base
• ✓ Walkways
• ✓ Patios
• ✓ Leveling layer
• ✓ Pathways

#8 Gravel

• + Smaller size is more comfortable to walk on
• + Compacts better than larger stone
• + Good for filling gaps between pavers
• + Excellent drainage
• + Smooth driveway top-dressing

• − Can migrate without edging
• − Not as stable as larger crushed stone
• − May be tracked by shoes
• − Less commonly stocked than #57
• − Dusty when dry

Stone Dust

• + Compacts very tightly
• + Creates a smooth, level surface
• + Affordable and widely available
• + Easy to shape and grade

• − Poor drainage
• − Can become muddy if overwatered
• − Dusty when dry
• − Erodes without edging

#8 Gravel

#8 gravel consists of angular crushed stone pieces from 3/8" to 1/2" in diameter. Like other crushed stone, color varies by source quarry — gray, blue-gray, tan, and brown are most common.

Stone Dust

Fine crushed stone particles under 1/4 inch. Color varies by source rock and is typically gray or tan.