Base Materials
We deliver every gradeTop Course
Top course is the finish layer on a gravel driveway or road. It's small crushed stone with the fines mixed in, usually 3/8 inch down to dust. The dust fills the gaps between the bigger pieces, so the whole layer locks up tight when you drive over it. That's what gives you a smooth surface that sheds water instead of holding ruts.
You'll also hear it called surface course, wearing course, or the top lift. Those are all road-builder terms for the same idea. It goes down after your base course is compacted, usually 1 to 2 inches thick. The exact rock changes by region. In some yards it's a #89 stone, in others it's a 3/8-inch minus or the crushed screenings from a nearby limestone or granite quarry.
Compare every grade
| Grade | Size | Shape | Washed | Top use | We deliver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Course (5/8″ Minus, Top Course) | 5/8" Minus | Angular | — | Pathways | We deliver it |
| Top Course (5/8″, Basalt, Top Course) | 5/8" | Angular | — | Pathways | We deliver it |
| Top Course (5/8″, Top Course, Recycled, Concrete) | 5/8" | Angular | — | Pathways | We deliver it |
| Top Course (5/8″, Top Course) | 5/8" | Angular | — | Driveway surfacing | We deliver it |
| Top Course (Crushed, Top Course) | — | Angular | — | Pathways | We deliver it |
What people use it for
How to choose within top course
Under pavers or concrete
A crushed base — usually 3/4" minus — compacts to a solid, load-bearing pad. Uniform depth matters as much as the material.
Under a shed or hot tub
Compact 4 to 6 inches of base material. More for anything that will sit long-term.
Driveway base
Crushed limestone or road base underneath, topped with a decorative or wear layer.
All top course grades
Top Course (5/8″ Minus, Top Course)
We deliverTop Course (5/8″, Basalt, Top Course)
We deliverTop Course (5/8″, Top Course, Recycled, Concrete)
We deliverTop Course (5/8″, Top Course)
We deliverTop Course (Crushed, Top Course)
We deliverMaterial calculator
How much top course do you need?
Pick a grade, tell us your area and depth, and we'll work out the tons plus your delivered price.
Area shape
Dimensions
Depth
shed baseEnter your area to see the math
Pick a material, shape and dimensions and we'll calculate the tons you need plus your delivered price.
Other base materials families
Aggregate Base Course
We deliverAggregate base course, or ABC, is a dense-graded crushed stone mix.
Road Base
We deliverRoad base is crushed rock mixed with stone dust, sized from about 3/4 inch down to fines.
Base Materials Fill Material
We deliverFill material is loose dirt, sand, or crushed rock you dump to raise a low spot or plug a hole in the ground.
Base Materials Sand
We deliverSand is rock ground down into loose grains, usually between 0.075 mm and 4.75 mm across.
Base Materials 10 Stone
We deliver#10 stone is crushed rock screened to 3/8 inch and smaller, with all the fine dust left in.
Base Materials Gravel
We deliverBase gravel is crushed rock with all the dust and small chips left in.
Paver Base
We deliverPaver base is crushed rock that runs from about 3/4 inch down to a fine dust, all mixed together in one load.
Base Materials 4 Stone
We deliver#4 stone is crushed rock roughly 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches across, with the fines washed out.
Base Materials Crushed Stone
We deliverCrushed stone is rock broken down at a quarry and screened into sizes.
Subbase
We deliverSubbase is the layer of rock that sits between the raw ground and your base gravel.
Base Materials 11 Stone
We deliver#11 stone is crushed rock screened from about 1/2 inch down to 1/4 inch, with most of the dust washed out.
Base Materials 2 Stone
We deliver#2 stone is crushed rock with pieces roughly 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches across.