304 vs 411 Limestone: Which One Your Driveway Needs

You probably don't have to choose between them. #304 is the coarse, load-bearing base that goes down first. #411 is the finer topping that goes on top and packs into a smooth running surface. Both are crushed limestone with fines mixed in, and a durable driveway in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana usually uses both, in that order.

The confusion is understandable. The two numbers sit side by side on a supplier's price list, they look similar in the truck bed, and they cost about the same. This guide covers what each one is, where it belongs, how thick to lay it, what it costs, and the mistakes that lead to ruts and potholes.

TL;DR

• 304 is the dense-graded base course. It carries the weight. 411 is the finer top layer that compacts into the surface you drive on.
• Both contain fines, so both lock together when compacted. Clean stone like #57 or #8 does not, which is why it rolls under tires.
• Use 304 on the bottom and 411 on top. Using only one for the whole job is the most common reason driveways fail early.
• Compact in thin lifts. Without a heavy roller, a 304 lift should not exceed 4 inches compacted.
• Delivered prices in regional Ohio bids ran about $28 to $34 per ton. Haul distance moves the number more than the spec does.

Table of Contents

• What 304 and 411 actually are
• 304 vs 411 at a glance
• Why a driveway needs both layers
• How thick, and why lifts matter
• Where #57, #8 and recycled products fit
• Cost: what to expect per ton
• Limestone's weak spot: water
• Our perspective: where we see 304 and 411 go wrong
• Choosing for your situation
• Ordering without regrets
• Let us handle the driveway and the clearing
• FAQ
• Sources

What 304 and 411 actually are

The numbers come from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) construction specifications. Item 304 is "aggregate base," and ODOT's materials guidance for Item 304 lets it be made from crushed carbonate stone, which is the technical name for limestone, along with other approved material types. Item 411 is a stabilized crushed aggregate, the spec behind what many suppliers sell as a driveway topping.

According to Ohio Rock Supply's FAQ, both are crushed limestone with fines in them, but they have different jobs. 304 is the foundation. 411 is the surface that compacts for smooth traffic.

The difference shows up in the gradation, the share of material that passes each sieve size. By the same source, the fines passing the No. 200 sieve run 0 to 15 percent for 304 and 3 to 15 percent for 411. In plain terms, 411 is guaranteed to carry at least some dust-sized material, and that dust acts like mortar. It fills the gaps between larger pieces and lets the surface pack tight and smooth.

Local suppliers describe 411 as a mix running from dust up to about an inch, and 304 as the larger-sized mix. Naming varies from yard to yard. Some people say "crusher run," "dense grade" or "road base" for the same thing. One landscape material reference lists crusher run, road base, DGA and #411 among the names used for a well-graded, compactable stone. When you call a quarry, ask for the ODOT item number and ask what the actual top size is. That removes the guesswork.

304 vs 411 at a glance

Fines figures: Ohio Rock Supply.

Why a driveway needs both layers

Think of the driveway as a system, not a pile of stone. The base spreads the weight of a loaded truck or a delivery van over a wider patch of soil. The topping gives you a surface that is pleasant to drive and easy to maintain.

Ohio Rock Supply's contractors point to the same error again and again: buying one material for the whole job. Use only 304 and the surface stays rough and sheds loose stone. Use only 411 deep and the lower layer lacks the coarse skeleton to carry load, so ruts show up early.

The layered logic is the same one paving contractors use. Even a paved lot or driveway sits on a base course that does the structural work before anything is laid on top. Gravel works the same way, it just skips the asphalt.

A typical build, bottom to top

1. Prepared subgrade. Strip the sod and soft topsoil, shape the ground so water leaves it, and compact the soil.
2. Geotextile fabric where soils are soft. On clay or wet ground, fabric keeps the stone from sinking into the dirt. Our guide to driveway geotextile fabric covers sizing and installation.
3. 304 base in compacted lifts. Spread, wet lightly, and compact each lift before adding the next.
4. 411 topping. Spread over the finished base, shape it with a slight crown, and compact again.
5. Edges and drainage. Contain the stone at the sides and give water a place to go. See why gravel needs a compacted base and edging.

How thick, and why lifts matter

The stone you buy matters less than how you compact it. The ODOT specification, as reproduced by BuildSpec, limits the thickness of each compacted lift of 304. Without heavy vibratory rollers, do not exceed 4 inches compacted. Rollers with effective weights of 10 to 12 tons allow up to 6-inch lifts, and anything heavier than 12 tons allows up to 8-inch lifts.

That matters for homeowners because a rented plate compactor is nowhere near a 10-ton roller. If you want 8 inches of base, plan on two lifts, each compacted on its own. Dumping the whole depth and running over it once leaves soft spots underneath. They surface later as potholes or ruts, however good the limestone was.

We use a simple rule of thumb on residential jobs, which we cover in our 6 inch formula for budget gravel driveway installation: build the compacted base first, then add a modest topping. Exact depths depend on your soil, your traffic and whether anything heavier than cars will use the drive. A shallow driveway on soft clay behaves very differently from one on well-drained ground.

Where #57, #8 and recycled products fit

Clean stone is a different tool

#57 and #8 are clean, non-graded stones with no fines. Ohio Rock Supply notes that clean stone does not lock together, so it rolls under tires and is a poor driveway surface. It is the right choice for drainage work such as French drains and trenches, where water has to pass through.

The reverse mistake is just as costly. Put 304 or 411 in a drain and the fines clog it. Match the material to the job: graded stone with fines for load and surface, clean stone for water.

Recycled asphalt and the 411 spec

Some municipal standards allow more than limestone under 411. According to one Ohio city's street standards, the 411 spec permits crushed stone, crushed gravel or recycled asphalt, but not crushed slag, granulated slag or recycled concrete. If you are working on a public right-of-way or a permitted site, check what your project allows. On a private driveway, ask your supplier what they actually stock and how it is screened.

Cost: what to expect per ton

Stone prices move with the quarry and the truck, not just with the spec. In Medina County's 2026 aggregate bid tabulation, delivered unit prices for ODOT-spec limestone in the 411 and 304 family landed between $28.78 and $30.04 per ton. Regionally, delivered limestone base material generally sits between about $28 and $34 per ton, depending on location and volume. County contracts buy in bulk, so a small residential delivery can cost more per ton, and the delivery distance is the biggest lever.

The U.S. Geological Survey's 2025 crushed stone summary expects price increases to persist in urban and industrialized regions, because zoning restrictions limit new quarries. The practical takeaway: a quarry close to your property usually saves more money than any choice between 304 and 411.

For a full driveway budget, including labor, fabric and drainage, see our guides to gravel driveway installation cost and Ohio gravel driveway repair costs.

Limestone's weak spot: water

Limestone base is not indestructible. ODOT's own materials guidance notes that some crushed carbonate stone used in 304 base can occasionally soften after extreme rain or winter freeze-thaw cycles. Managing drainage alongside the base is what prevents the saturation behind that softening.

If your driveway already turns to soup in spring, more stone is rarely the fix. Look at where the water comes from and where it goes. Our articles on a muddy gravel driveway and driveway drainage solutions walk through it.

Our perspective: where we see 304 and 411 go wrong

We repair and install gravel driveways across the Cincinnati area and the wider Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana tri-state, and most of the failed driveways we look at share one story. Someone bought a single material, spread it once and hoped for the best. The stone is rarely the villain.

Here is how we think about it:

• Order for the layer, not for the price. If you are paying for a truck, the cheapest ton is the one in the right place. A topping buried as a base, or a base left as a surface, is money wasted.
• Fix water first. A base that stays saturated will soften no matter what you call it. Crown, ditch, culvert or edge before adding stone.
• Compact in lifts. It feels slow and it is the step that separates a driveway that lasts from one that needs rebuilding.
• Know your site. Overgrown edges, stumps and brush along a driveway hold moisture and shade, and they slow drying. Clearing them often improves the drive as much as new stone does. That is where our forestry mulching and brush work comes in, since we handle clearing and gravel in one visit.

We do not publish prices for the stone work, because a driveway depends on length, width, soil and access. We would rather look at the site, or start from your measurements, than guess.

— Yoshua

Choosing for your situation

If you are comparing stone types more broadly, our article on questions to ask a supplier about crushed stone versus gravel gives you a checklist before you place an order.

Ordering without regrets

• Ask for the ODOT item number (304 or 411), not just a nickname.
• Ask about the top size and whether the material is virgin limestone or recycled.
• Calculate in tons, not just cubic yards. Suppliers usually sell by weight.
• Check the delivery charge and whether the truck can reach where you need the stone. A tight turn or low branches can change the plan.
• Plan the sequence. Base first, compaction, then topping, ideally within a dry stretch.

Let us handle the driveway and the clearing

If the idea of coordinating stone, compaction and drainage sounds like a weekend you would rather skip, that is what we do. Our gravel driveway repair and installation service covers repairs and new builds in the Cincinnati area. If brush, saplings or stumps are crowding the drive, we can clear them first through our land clearing and brush services. For bigger jobs, you can get instant pricing for the clearing portion, and financing options are available.

FAQ

Is 304 or 411 better for a driveway?

Neither is better alone. 304 is the structural base and 411 is the surface topping, so a long-lasting driveway uses both. If you have to pick one for a light-duty path, 411 gives a smoother surface, but it will not carry heavy loads as well over soft ground.

Can I use 411 as the base layer?

You can, and some people do, but it is not what the spec is meant for. It contains more fines, so it can hold moisture and rut under heavy traffic when it is the only layer. Putting a compacted 304 base underneath is the more reliable approach.

Why not just use #57 stone?

#57 is clean stone with no fines, so it does not lock together and moves under tires. It works well in drains and trenches, where you want water to pass. For a driveway, use graded stone such as 304 and 411 instead.

How much does 304 or 411 limestone cost?

In 2026 Medina County bids, delivered ODOT-spec limestone ran about $28.78 to $30.04 per ton. Regional delivered prices generally range from $28 to $34 per ton. A small residential load can price differently, and your haul distance changes it the most.

Sources

• Ohio Rock Supply, Gravel Delivery FAQ
• ODOT Item 304 materials guidance
• BuildSpec, ODOT Item 304 Aggregate Base
• Medina County 2026 Aggregate Bid Tab
• USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: Crushed Stone
• City of Chardon street standards
• Landscape Material Calculator

Recommended

• 5 Supplier Questions Homeowners Must Ask: Crushed Stone vs Gravel
• Driveway Edging for Homeowners: Why Gravel Needs a Compacted Base
• Driveway Geotextile Fabric for Homeowners: Choose, Size, Install
• Homeowners: DIY or Hire? Gravel Driveway Drainage and the 18 inch Rule