Crumb Rubber Mesh Sizes Explained: How to Pick the Right Size
The size on the purchase order matters. A football field, a batting cage, a molded mat, and an asphalt mix can all use recycled tire rubber and still need different grades. Here’s how we talk about those sizes at Willig Tire Recycling.
We make our crumb from quality truck tires in Galion, Ohio. It’s all-black, wire-free material. Tires go through a primary shredder, a secondary shredder, and a cracker mill, then we screen to size. The standard crumb grades are 10/20 mesh, 20 minus, 20/30 mesh, and 30 minus. We also make 1/4 inch recycled rubber and TDF chips. Custom sizes are available if you need something outside that list.
What Mesh Means, and What “Minus” Means
Mesh is a sieve size. The number is the openings per linear inch in the screen. A higher number means smaller holes and smaller particles. 30-mesh material is finer than 10-mesh material.
A name with two numbers, like 10/20 mesh or 20/30 mesh, is a cut. The rubber passed the coarser sieve and was held on the finer one. You get a band of sizes, not everything smaller than a given screen.
A name with “minus,” like 20 minus or 30 minus, is a passing grade. The rubber went through that sieve. 20 minus includes the 20-mesh fraction and everything finer. People sometimes say “20 mesh crumb rubber” when they mean 20 minus. If the spec says 20/30, that is not the same order.
Rubber Infill for Football, Soccer, and Lacrosse Fields
Most of the football turf we get asked about is specified with 10/20 mesh crumb rubber. The crumb sits in the carpet, helps the fibers stand, and changes how soft the field feels. Soccer, lacrosse, and multi-sport fields work the same way when they’re built as synthetic turf systems.
Infill depth comes from the turf manufacturer. Play knocks rubber out of the hashes, the goal mouth, and other high-wear spots, so fields often need a top-off. We can quote the size you need.
G-max is a shock test run on the finished field, not on a bag of rubber. The result depends on the turf, any pad, the infill depth, and maintenance. There’s more on this on our sports turf infill page.
Baseball Field Rubber
A synthetic turf baseball or softball field uses crumb rubber infill in the turf, often 10/20 mesh, the same idea as a football field. That’s one kind of baseball field rubber.
The other kind is coarser. Batting cages, bullpens, and some practice areas often want a larger particle. 1/4 inch recycled rubber is a size we supply for work like that. Warning tracks and infield mixes are specified by the field designer. Send that spec if that’s the job you have.
Finer Crumb for Molding, Asphalt, and Running Tracks
Molded mats, wheel chocks, and speed bumps usually want a finer crumb than a football field does. 20/30 mesh, 20 minus, and 30 minus are the grades we quote most for that work. See molded rubber products.
Asphalt rubber and crumb-modified binders also tend to want a fine cut or a passing grade, because the rubber has to mix into the binder the way the recipe is written. State DOTs and other agencies have specs for this kind of mix. We quote the size in the design. Details are on our asphalt rubber page.
Bound running tracks are another fine-crumb job. They are not loose-infill football fields. If the track spec lists a mesh size we make, we can quote it.
1/4 Inch Rubber for Playgrounds and Horse Arenas
1/4 inch recycled rubber is coarser than mesh crumb. Playground specs that want a loose rubber surface often name a size in this range. Depth still has to match the fall height of the equipment, and installers use tests such as ASTM F1292 to check impact attenuation. Our playground surfaces page covers that in more detail, along with our all-black rubber mulch made from semi tires.
Some equestrian arena footing mixes also use a coarser recycled rubber, including 1/4 inch. If you have a footing recipe, send the size and we’ll tell you what we can load.
TDF Chips Are Fuel, Not a Mesh Grade
TDF chips are shredded truck-tire fuel for cement kilns, paper mills, utilities, power plants, and steel mills. They are all-black material, like our crumb, but they are not a substitute for a mesh size on a field or in a mold. If you’re buying fuel, start with the TDF chips page and our tire-derived fuel overview.
Which Size to Order
If you have a written spec, send it and we’ll quote the size it names. Football, soccer, lacrosse, and turf baseball often use a screened cut such as 10/20 mesh. Molding and asphalt often use 20/30 mesh, 20 minus, or 30 minus. Playgrounds and some arenas often use 1/4 inch or rubber mulch. Fuel users should look at TDF chips.
A cut holds a size band. A minus grade sets a top size and keeps the finer material. If you’re not sure, send us the spec. Ask for a spec sheet on the grade you’re looking at. If the standard grades don’t match, ask about a custom size.
We package sized rubber in bulk bags or ship it in bulk loads, by truckload nationwide. Include quantity and delivery location with the size when you request a quote.
Willig Tire Recycling has plants in Galion, Ohio (North, 352 South St.) and Hamilton, Ohio (South). Crumb is produced in Galion, from truck tires, and it’s all black. Email sales@willigtire.com or use the contact form if you want a grade confirmed, a spec sheet, or a truckload quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a mesh cut and a minus grade?
A cut such as 10/20 or 20/30 is held between two sieves, so the crumb stays in a size band. A minus grade such as 20 minus or 30 minus passes that sieve and includes all of the finer material.
What crumb rubber size is used on football fields?
Many football turf systems specify 10/20 mesh crumb rubber infill. Some systems use a finer cut or a passing grade. We can quote a new load or a top-off.
Do you make baseball field rubber?
Yes. Synthetic turf baseball and softball fields often use a mesh infill such as 10/20. Batting cages and some practice areas may use a coarser product, including 1/4 inch recycled rubber.
What is your crumb rubber made from?
We make it from truck tires at our Galion, Ohio plant. It is all-black, wire-free crumb. TDF chips are a separate all-black fuel product made from truck tires.
Request a Quote
Tell us the size, how much you need, and where it’s going. We’ll confirm availability and how we can load it. You can also email sales@willigtire.com.