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Decomposed Granite Calculator

Updated How we build and test

Enter the size and depth of your DG path, patio or drive to see how many cubic yards and tons of decomposed granite (crushed granite fines) to order.

Shape of the area
%

For settling and uneven ground. Use 0 for the exact volume.

lb / yd³

Decomposed granite is heavier than most gravel at roughly 2,800–3,200 lb per cubic yard, about 1.5 tons.

$

Decomposed granite needed

Enter the area and depth to see how much decomposed granite you need.

How to use the decomposed granite calculator

  1. Pick a rectangle or a circle and enter the size of the area. Break L-shapes and curves into simpler pieces and add the results.
  2. Enter the depth you want once the material is spread and levelled. Depth is usually easiest in inches.
  3. Keep an allowance for settling and low spots unless the ground is already flat and firm.
  4. Check the weight per cubic yard against your supplier’s figure, then add a price to get a cost estimate.

Decomposed granite formulas

Volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × weight per yd³ (lb) ÷ 2,000
With extra = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)

Suppliers price decomposed granite by the ton or by the cubic yard, so the calculator gives both. Enter the weight per cubic yard your yard quotes if it differs from the default, because that number is what turns yards into tons.

Worked example: 30 × 5 ft at 3 in deep

  1. Volume: 30 ft × 5 ft × 0.250 ft = 37.5 ft³.
  2. Add 10% extra: 37.5 × 1.10 = 41.2 ft³.
  3. Cubic yards: 41.2 ÷ 27 = 1.53 yd³.
  4. Tons: 1.53 × 3,000 ÷ 2,000 = 2.29 tons.

How deep to go

Paths and patios are usually 2–3 in of DG compacted over a prepared subgrade, and 4 in where vehicles drive. Stabilised DG goes down at the same depth.

Coverage at each depth

Depth One cubic yard covers One ton covers Per 100 ft²
2 in 162 ft² 108 ft² 0.62 yd³
3 in 108 ft² 72 ft² 0.93 yd³
4 in 81 ft² 54 ft² 1.23 yd³
6 in 54 ft² 36 ft² 1.85 yd³

Figures use 3,000 lb per cubic yard. Change the weight in the calculator and the numbers move with it.

Questions

How much does a yard of decomposed granite weigh?

Roughly 2,800–3,200 lb, about 1.5 tons — heavier than pea gravel or river rock because the fines fill the gaps between particles.

How deep should decomposed granite be?

2–3 in compacted for a walking path or patio, and about 4 in where a car drives on it. DG is laid in layers and compacted, not poured loose.

How many square feet does a ton of DG cover?

About 72 ft² at 3 in deep and 108 ft² at 2 in, using 3,000 lb per cubic yard.

Does decomposed granite need a binder?

Not always. Plain DG works for informal paths but tracks into the house and washes in heavy rain. Stabilised DG, which has a binder mixed in, holds together far better on slopes and high-traffic paths.

Is decomposed granite the same as crushed granite?

DG is granite weathered or crushed to fine particles; ‘crushed granite’ often means the same fines, though some yards use it for larger 1/4 to 3/8 in chips.

Sources

  1. Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
    Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, crushed rock, soil and mulch.
  2. NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot and cubic yard conversions.

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