Base & Ground Materials

Base and ground materials are the foundation of every successful hardscape and landscape installation. Commonly installed under pavers, flagstone, artificial turf, gravel paths, and concrete pours, these crushed aggregates compact tightly, drain efficiently, and create a stable substructure that prevents settling and shifting over time. Earth Stone Rock supplies bulk base rock, road base, and ground prep materials for residential and commercial projects, available for yard pickup or delivery anywhere in the United States. Browse our selection of base and ground materials below to find the right foundation for your project.

Jump to:

Products Project Ideas Buying Guide FAQ

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (in)

Area —

Cubic Yards —

Approx. Tons —

* ~1.5 tons per cubic yard.

Road base, drain rock and aggregates Driveways, paver bases and drainage Bulk delivery or yard pickup

Jump to: Products • Project Ideas • Buying Guide • FAQ

Need help choosing? Browse project ideas, see size and use guidance, or read our buying guide.

Projects Sizes Guide

Common Uses for Base & Ground Materials

From driveway base to drainage and dry wells, see where road base, drain rock, and aggregates do the heavy lifting on a project.

Driveway & Road Base

Class II road base packs down into a hard, stable surface that holds up to trucks and daily traffic. Spread it in lifts and compact each layer so the finished grade does not rut or shift. It is the standard sub-base under gravel driveways, parking areas, and road shoulders.

Shop Base & Ground Base Rock Tips

Paver & Slab Base

A compacted road base layer under pavers and stone slabs spreads the load and keeps the surface flat for years. Set 4 inches of base for patios and walkways and more under driveways. Top it with a thin sand setting bed, then lay your pavers.

Shop Base & Ground Paver Base Tips

Drainage & Dry Wells

Open-graded drain rock has no fines, so water moves through it fast. Use it to backfill dry wells, fill drainage trenches, and pull standing water away from foundations and low spots. Wrap the rock in filter fabric so soil does not clog the gaps over time.

Shop Base & Ground Drainage Tips

French Drains

A French drain pairs a perforated pipe with washed aggregate to carry water away from problem areas. Streambed and drain-grade gravel surround the pipe and keep the channel flowing. Slope the trench, set the pipe, backfill with rock, and cap it so the yard drains clean.

Shop Base & Ground French Drain Tips

Recycled & Eco Base

Asphalt grindings are recycled pavement that compacts into a firm, dark surface for driveways, lanes, and parking pads. The leftover binder helps it knit together and shed water once it is rolled. A budget-friendly, eco-minded alternative to fresh aggregate.

Shop Base & Ground Driveway Surface Tips

Top Dressing & Mineral Mulch

Mineral mulch dresses bed surfaces with a clean stone finish that never breaks down like bark. Spread it around plantings and over base areas to hold moisture, slow weeds, and tidy the grade. A practical top layer that pairs with the base materials beneath it.

Shop Base & Ground Top Dressing Tips

Base & Ground Materials Buying Guide

Pick the right base rock for the job, learn compaction and drainage tips, and size your order before you buy.

Base and ground materials are the foundation layer under driveways, pavers, and slabs, and the open rock behind your drainage. We carry Class II road base that compacts into a hard surface, washed drain rock that moves water fast, streambed aggregate for French drains, and recycled asphalt grindings for budget-friendly drives.

Browse the full base and ground materials collection and match each product to your project. Not sure which to use? The table below pairs each material with the jobs it does best.

Quick Links

Shop All Base & Ground Sand Landscape Gravel Decomposed Granite

Base Materials vs Use Cases

Material	Best For	Compaction	Drainage	Cost
Class II Road Base	Driveways, paver and slab base, parking pads	Excellent	Moderate	$
Drain Rock	Dry wells, drainage trenches, foundation backfill	None	Excellent	$$
Streambed / Aggregate	French drains, dry creek fill, surface drainage	Light	Excellent	$$
Asphalt Grindings	Recycled driveways, lanes, parking surfaces	Excellent	Moderate	$

Top base rock with a sand setting bed under pavers, and wrap drain rock in filter fabric for drainage.

What Contractors Know

Compact road base in lifts. Spread it 2 to 4 inches at a time and compact each layer before adding the next. One thick lift never packs down evenly and leaves soft spots that rut later.
4 inches of base under pavers, more under driveways. Patios and walkways are fine on 4 inches of compacted base. Driveways and anything that takes vehicle weight want 6 inches or more so the surface stays flat.
Use open-graded drain rock for drainage. Drain rock has no fines, so water passes straight through. Road base is the opposite, it packs tight to hold a surface. Match the rock to whether you want flow or firmness.
Wrap drain rock in filter fabric. In dry wells and French drains, surround the rock and pipe with landscape fabric so soil does not wash in and clog the gaps. It keeps the drain working for years instead of months.
Wet the base before you compact it. A light spray of water helps road base and grindings knit together and pack to full density. Bone-dry base will not lock in and keeps shifting underfoot.
Order by the ton and use the calculator. Base materials are sold by weight and run roughly 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Use the calculator at the top to turn your area and depth into a ton figure before you order.

Need Help?

(800) 215-7372

FAQ

What base goes under pavers?

Compacted Class II road base is the standard sub-base under pavers and stone, topped with a thin sand setting bed. Set 4 inches of base for patios and walkways and 6 inches or more under driveways. Browse the base and ground materials for the right product.

What's the difference between road base and drain rock?

Road base contains fines that let it pack into a hard, stable surface, so it is used under driveways, pavers, and slabs. Drain rock is washed and open-graded with no fines, so water moves through it fast, which makes it the pick for dry wells, trenches, and drainage. Use road base for firmness and drain rock for flow.

How much base material do I need?

Use the coverage calculator at the top of this page. Base materials weigh about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and 1 cubic yard covers roughly 80 square feet at 4 inches deep. Enter your area and depth and the calculator returns a ton figure for ordering.

How deep should a driveway base be?

Plan on 6 inches of compacted road base for a residential driveway, and more in soft or clay soils that need extra support. Spread and compact it in lifts so the full depth packs evenly. A solid base is what keeps a gravel or paver driveway from rutting over time.

Can I install base materials myself?

Smaller paver bases, drainage trenches, and dry wells are DIY-friendly with a wheelbarrow, rake, and a rented plate compactor. Larger driveways and load-bearing work often go faster with a contractor and our delivery team. Call (800) 215-7372 with your zip and project size for guidance.

Find the Right Base for Your Project

Road base, drain rock, and aggregates in every size, sold by the ton or the load. Pick at the yard or have it delivered to your site. Project consultation available.

Shop Base & Ground

Your cart is empty

Base & Ground Materials

Categories

Filters

Asphalt Grindings

Class II Road Base

Drain Rock

Mineral Mulch 3/8" - 3/4"

Red Brick Gravel

Streambed Gravel