FIRST LIFT
The bottom layer over the dirt. Its job is to bridge soft ground and spread the weight out. Big rock or shale goes here.
ROAD BASE TYPES: WHICH BASE ROCK DO YOU NEED?
For most driveways and pads, the answer is 3" crusher run as the base with 1 1/2" crusher run on top. If the plans name ODOT Type A or TBSC Type E, order exactly that. On soft ground and a tight budget, shale makes a cheap first lift. Here is what each one does and where it goes.
01
THE LAYERS, IN PLAIN TERMS
A drive or pad is built bottom to top. Each layer has one job.
BASE
The main load-bearing layer. Graded rock that packs tight and gives the surface something solid to sit on.
TOP COURSE
What your tires touch. Smaller rock with fines that packs into a smooth, firm surface.
Plenty of home drives only need two layers: 3" crusher run as the base and 1 1/2" crusher run on top. Soft or wet ground may call for a first lift underneath. We deliver each load in a pile; you or your contractor shape and pack each layer before the next one goes down.
02
THE BASE CUTS WE HAUL
Every price is one full load delivered in Tulsa County, sales tax extra.
| Material | Where it goes | One load, delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Shale | Cheap first lift on soft ground | $315 |
| 3" crusher run | Base for drives and pads | $425 |
| 3" marble | Same job as 3" crusher run, lighter color | $425 |
| ODOT Type A aggregate base | Spec roadwork and commercial pads | $510 |
| TBSC Type E base | Spec work that calls for Type E | $510 |
| 1 1/2" crusher run | Top course over the base | $425 |
Material color and size vary by source and batch. Final tonnage is by scale ticket.
03
WHAT EACH ONE IS FOR
3" crusher run. Crushed rock up to three inches, fines and all. The big pieces bridge soft spots and the fines lock everything together. This is the default base for a new driveway, a shop pad or a turnaround. Most people lay it 4 to 6 inches deep.
3" marble. Does the same job as 3" crusher run in a lighter color. Order whichever you like the look of, or whichever matches what is already on the ground.
ODOT Type A aggregate base. A state spec graded base. When an engineer, a city or a contract names Type A, that is the material to order, not a lookalike.
TBSC Type E base. Another spec base. Same rule: if the plans say Type E, order Type E by name.
1 1/2" crusher run as a top course. Smaller rock with fines that packs into the finished surface over a base. It is the standard driveway gravel. Lay it 3 to 4 inches deep.
Shale as a first lift. Compacted clay rock and the cheapest load we haul for building up ground. It packs very firm, which makes it a good bottom layer for pads and drives over soft dirt. It needs rock on top; it is not a finished surface. Shale is listed with topsoil and fill dirt.
04
HOW MUCH TO ORDER
Each load is 14 to 16 tons, roughly 10 to 12 cubic yards of rock. A load covers about 800 to 950 square feet at four inches deep, so a thicker base layer covers less ground per load. For exact numbers, see what a yard weighs, or put your length, width and depth into the calculator on the gravel page.
Ordering two materials for one job? Tell us the order you want them in. The base load has to land first so it can be spread before the top course arrives.
05
ROAD BASE QUESTIONS
What is the best road base for a driveway?
For most home driveways, 3 inch crusher run as the base with 1 1/2 inch crusher run on top. In Tulsa County a load of 3 inch crusher run runs $425 delivered and a load of 1 1/2 inch runs $425, sales tax extra.
What is the difference between road base and crusher run?
Road base is a job, and crusher run is a kind of rock. The 3 inch crusher run we haul is a common road base. The 1 1/2 inch cut is smaller and usually goes on top as the driving surface.
Is 3 inch marble the same as 3 inch crusher run?
It does the same job as a base layer. The main difference is color: marble is lighter. Pick whichever matches your project or your taste.
When do I need ODOT Type A or TBSC Type E?
When plans, a contract or a city permit call for it by name. Those are spec bases. If nobody has named a spec, 3 inch crusher run is the usual pick for a home drive or pad.
Can I use shale as a driveway base?
As the first lift over soft ground, yes. At $315 a load delivered it is the cheapest way to build up ground. Cap it with rock, because shale on its own is not a driving surface.
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KNOW YOUR LAYERS? GET THE ROCK.
Call it in or send the quote form below. Same-day answers during business hours.
More guides: what a yard weighs · crusher run vs ASTM #57 stone · millings vs gravel. Every cut and price: gravel & crushed rock · topsoil, fill dirt & shale · all materials & prices.