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Paramount Materials — Geosynthetics
AASHTO M288 Geotextile Fabrics
Woven and nonwoven geotextiles that meet the AASHTO M288 standard, organized by class and application. Match your specification, then order by the roll.
- Classes
- 1 · 2 · 3
- Applications
- 5 types
- Shipping
- Free · all orders
Meets AASHTO M288 property requirements
Woven & nonwoven constructions
Spec Finder for exact matching
The standard, explained
What AASHTO M288 Covers
AASHTO M288 is the national standard specification for geotextiles in highway construction. It sets the minimum property values — grab strength, tear, puncture, permittivity, and apparent opening size (AOS) — that a fabric must meet for each application, and sorts fabrics into three strength classes by installation survivability.
Use the selection chart to find the property requirements for your application and class, then match a compliant woven or nonwoven fabric below. If you already know your class or target values, the Geotextile Spec Finder will narrow it for you in a couple of steps.
Know your class or property values? Match a compliant M288 fabric by strength, AOS, and permittivity.
01
The Five M288 Applications
By function
Separation
Keeps aggregate and subgrade soils from mixing, so base layers stay clean and load-bearing.
Stabilization
Reinforces weak, saturated subgrades under roads, pads, and working platforms.
Subsurface Drainage
Filters soil while passing water into edge drains, French drains, and drainage blankets.
Permanent Erosion Control
Filter fabric beneath riprap and armor stone to hold fines and prevent scour.
Paving Fabrics
Interlayers between asphalt lifts for sealing, stress relief, and moisture control.
02
Survivability Classes
Class 1–3
Class 1
Highest strength. For severe installation conditions — sharp angular aggregate, weak subgrade, or high drop heights where survivability during placement is the priority.
Class 2
Standard. The most commonly specified class, covering typical roadway separation, stabilization, and drainage installations.
Class 3
Lighter duty. For mild installation conditions with favorable subgrade and smaller, well-graded aggregate.
Shop by class & application
M288-Compliant Fabrics by the Roll
Pricing and roll sizes for each fabric are shown below. All orders ship free.
03
Case Studies — M288 Geotextiles in the Field
3 projects
Weed-Free Landscaping Across Millions of Square Yards
A moderate-weight 5 oz nonwoven that let the arid Fort Bliss expansion use crushed-rock ground cover without the drainage and maintenance problems of impermeable liners.
The challenge
Fort Bliss needed low-maintenance landscaping over huge new areas. Earlier impermeable polyethylene liners trapped rainwater, and gravity pulled the wet crushed rock downhill — creating constant upkeep.
The design
Architects switched to a permeable geotextile: Mirafi 160N. Strong and thick enough to block vegetation, but absorbent and free-draining so water passed through instead of pooling.
The result
Installed over the leveled subgrade with 2-inch panel overlaps and 3 inches of crushed rock on top. Rolled out across millions of square yards over ten years and is still the standard for El Paso projects.
Durable, High-Flow Fabric for a New Sewer System
A woven geotextile with an 18 gal/min/ft² flow rate, chosen by Coachella Valley engineers to give a new sewer line the drainage and long service life the project demanded.
The challenge
The City of Thermal needed major water and sewer upgrades built to last. The right geotextile had to be durable while delivering a controlled, reliable flow rate.
The design
Engineers selected Mirafi FW700 for its durability and 18 gal/min/ft² flow — enough drainage and filtration to protect the new system for the long term.
The result
FW700 was laid on the trench subgrade under crushed aggregate and the new pipe, then wrapped to form an unbroken separation layer. It held the aggregate in place and delivered the required flow.
Filter Fabric Behind a 1.5-Mile Storm Revetment
Wrapped around the crushed-stone bedding beneath heavy armor stone, FW700 was called the most important part of a revetment protecting the Nahant causeway from tidal erosion.
The challenge
A $20M rehabilitation had to rebuild the aging armored revetment shielding a 1.5-mile causeway and beachfront parking from tidal waves and storm surge.
The design
FW700 was chosen to wrap a 6–12 inch layer of ¾-inch crushed stone bedding beneath armor stone, paired with a reinforced concrete seawall to stop subgrade erosion.
The result
The wrapped bedding allowed both filtration and exfiltration of seawater, preventing the subgrade washout that destroyed the original. Completed in 2011 and performing as designed.
Common questions
AASHTO M288 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is AASHTO M288?
AASHTO M288 is the national standard specification for geotextiles used in highway construction. It defines the minimum property requirements — grab strength, tear, puncture, permittivity, and apparent opening size — for each application and installation-survivability class. Most state DOT geotextile specs are written against M288.
What are the AASHTO M288 applications?
M288 defines property requirements for five applications: separation, stabilization, subsurface drainage, permanent erosion control (filtration under riprap), and paving fabrics. Each application has its own minimum values, so the right fabric depends on the job as well as the class.
What's the difference between Class 1, 2, and 3?
The classes rank geotextiles by installation survivability — how much handling the fabric can take during placement. Class 1 is the highest strength for severe conditions, Class 2 is the standard for most typical work, and Class 3 is lighter duty for mild conditions. Class 2 is the most commonly specified.
How do I choose the right M288 fabric?
Start with the application (what the fabric needs to do) and the class your project calls for, then match the minimum property values. The selection chart above lists the requirements; the Geotextile Spec Finder will narrow those directly to a compliant woven or nonwoven fabric.
Do these fabrics meet state DOT specs?
Because nearly all state DOT geotextile specs derive from AASHTO M288, an M288-compliant fabric generally satisfies most states' requirements. For a specific state, see the DOT-specified geotextile collection organized by state.
Match a Compliant Fabric in Seconds
The Geotextile Spec Finder narrows every fabric by AASHTO class, strength, AOS, and application — so you can confirm the right M288 roll yourself. Pricing for most jobs is listed right on the site; need a volume quote? Request one below.
Free shipping on every order