Rip Rap Armor Stone

Surge Stone

Surge stone is large, rough quarry rock, usually about 4 to 12 inches across. The pieces are angular and mostly unsorted, so they lock together and let water pass through the gaps. Think of it as the size class between your regular crushed stone base and the big rip rap boulders that sit on a shoreline.

The name comes from where it's used — soaking up surges of water at culverts, pipe outlets, and stream crossings. You'll hear the same rock called surge rock or quarry run, and the exact size window shifts a bit from one quarry to the next. It's usually cheaper by the ton than sorted rip rap because the quarry doesn't have to screen it as tightly.

named grades in this family

Compare every grade

Grade	Size	Shape	Washed	Top use	We deliver
Surge Stone	—	Angular	—	Landscaping	Reference only
Surge Stone (2″ To 6″)	2" To 6"	Angular	—	Electrical protection	Reference only
Surge Stone (3.5″ Minus)	3.5" Minus	Angular	—	Erosion control	Reference only
Surge Stone (8″ Minus, Dust)	8" Minus	Angular	—	Driveway base	Reference only

What people use it for

Choke stone under rip rap on shorelines and stream banksFill around culverts and pipe outletsBase for heavy access roads over soft or wet groundErosion control at drainage discharge pointsTrench backfill where you need water to keep moving through