Calculators · Decomposed Granite Calculator
LandscapingDecomposed Granite Calculator
Enter your path, patio or driveway size and depth to get tons, cubic yards and bags of decomposed granite, with a compaction allowance.
Decomposed granite to order
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How to calculate how much decomposed granite you need
Decomposed granite, or DG, is sold by the ton or the cubic yard but it is spread loose and then compacted. So the number you want is the loose material that ends up as your finished depth.
| Step | Formula |
|---|---|
| 1. Cubic feet, compacted | length (ft) × width (ft) × final depth (in) ÷ 12 |
| 2. Add compaction | cubic feet × (1 + extra ÷ 100) |
| 3. Cubic yards | cubic feet ÷ 27 |
| 4. Short tons | cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 |
Type the depth you want after the DG is wet down and compacted. The calculator adds the compaction extra on top. Use one area for each path, patio or bed. Circles take a diameter, and measurements like 10'6" work too.
Example: a stabilized patio
A patio measures 10 ft by 20 ft and you want 3 inches of stabilized DG after compaction, with 15% extra. The weight used is 2,800 pounds per cubic yard, the midpoint of the GoodGravel range of 2,600 to 3,000.
| Step | Operation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet, compacted | 10 × 20 × (3 ÷ 12) | 50.00 ft³ |
| With 15% extra | 50 × 1.15 | 57.50 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 57.5 ÷ 27 | 2.13 yd³ |
| Pounds | 2.1296 × 2,800 | 5,963 lb |
| Short tons | 5,963 ÷ 2,000 | 2.98 tons |
| Half cubic foot bags | 57.5 ÷ 0.5 | 115 bags |
| Dry stabilizer | 2.98 tons × 10 to 15 lb | 30 to 45 lb |
Over the whole 2,600 to 3,000 range the same job is 2.77 to 3.19 tons. One ton covers about 67 square feet of this patio.
How much compaction should you allow for?
DG packs down when it is wet and run over with a plate compactor, so you order more loose material than the finished volume. The sources do not agree on how much. They were checked in October 2026.
| Source | What it says | Extra to order |
|---|---|---|
| GoodGravel | Compaction is about 12 percent, so order a bit extra | about 14% (1 ÷ 0.88 = 1.14) |
| GoodGravel | A 3 inch loose layer packs to about 2.5 inches | 20% (3 ÷ 2.5 = 1.2) |
| Hello Gravel | Add 10 to 15 percent for compaction, waste and maintenance | 10 to 15% |
| Hello Gravel | DG loses about 20 to 25 percent of its loose volume | 25 to 33% |
| Gravelshop | Its DG calculator shows a total with 15 percent compression | 15% |
A volume that shrinks by a share of its loose size needs 1 ÷ (1 − share) times the finished volume, which is where the 14, 25 and 33 percent come from. The calculator starts at 15 percent, the figure the Gravelshop calculator uses and close to the 14 percent of the GoodGravel figure, and you can type any other number.
How much does a cubic yard of decomposed granite weigh?
| Source | Pounds per yd³ | Tons per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| GoodGravel, 1/4 or 3/8 in minus | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.30 to 1.50 |
| Hello Gravel, product page | about 2,700 | about 1.35 |
| Earth Stone Rock, calculator | 2,800 | 1.4 |
| Gravelshop, 1/2 in minus | 2,410 | 1.21 |
GoodGravel is an information site on gravel types and the others are suppliers. Gravelshop uses the same 2,410 figure for its sands and screenings, so it is a default of that calculator. If you know the weight of the product you are buying, choose “Custom density” and type it.
How many square feet does one ton cover?
At 2,800 pounds per cubic yard a ton of loose DG is 19.3 cubic feet. Before compaction it spreads over the area in the first row. After a 15 percent allowance for compaction it covers the area in the second row.
| One ton covers | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loose, no allowance | 116 ft² | 77 ft² | 58 ft² | 39 ft² |
| Finished, 15% allowance | 101 ft² | 67 ft² | 50 ft² | 34 ft² |
How deep should decomposed granite be?
| Use | Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paths and decorative areas | at least 2 in compacted | Stone Centers |
| Garden paths and walkways | 2 to 3 in over compacted soil | GoodGravel |
| Patios | 3 in of stabilized DG over 3 to 4 in of compacted base | GoodGravel |
| Driveways | at least 4 in | Stone Centers |
| Light car traffic | 4 in of stabilized DG over 4 in of crusher run base. Not for heavy trucks | GoodGravel |
Use the quick depth box to fill in 2, 3 or 4 inches. The base layer under a patio or driveway is crushed stone or crusher run, and you can figure it with the crushed stone calculator or the gravel calculator. For a smaller job, here are the tons with 15 percent extra at 2,800 pounds per cubic yard.
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² | 0.99 tons | 1.49 tons | 1.99 tons |
| 200 ft² | 1.99 tons | 2.98 tons | 3.98 tons |
| 400 ft² | 3.98 tons | 5.96 tons | 7.95 tons |
Loose or stabilized decomposed granite
GoodGravel describes loose DG as the raw screened material and stabilized DG as DG with a binder, either dry polymer mixed in at the yard or a liquid stabilizer sprayed on after compaction. It says stabilized suits patios and paths with daily use. For a loose volume the calculator is the same, and ticking the stabilized box adds the dry polymer estimate. See also the tons to cubic yards converter and the paver calculator if the DG goes between pavers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1 ton of decomposed granite cover?
At 2,800 pounds per cubic yard, one ton of loose decomposed granite covers about 116 square feet at 2 inches, 77 square feet at 3 inches and 58 square feet at 4 inches. Earth Stone Rock quotes about 115 square feet at 2 inches and GoodGravel quotes about 80 at 3 inches. Compaction shrinks the layer, so the area you finish is a little smaller, about 101 square feet at 2 inches with 15 percent allowed. The result box shows the figure for your own depth.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of decomposed granite?
The sources we checked in October 2026 do not agree. GoodGravel gives 1.30 to 1.50 tons per cubic yard, Hello Gravel about 1.35 tons, Earth Stone Rock 1.4 tons and the Gravelshop calculator 1.21 tons. Moisture and the grade of the material move the number, so ask your supplier for the figure for the product you are buying.
How many cubic feet is 1 ton of decomposed granite?
Divide 2,000 pounds by the weight of one cubic yard and multiply by 27. At 2,800 pounds per cubic yard a ton is 19.3 cubic feet. At 2,600 it is 20.8 cubic feet and at 3,000 it is 18.0 cubic feet. For other materials, see the tons to cubic yards converter.
How many cubic feet does a 50 lb bag of decomposed granite cover?
A weight is not a volume. At 2,800 pounds per cubic yard, 50 pounds is about 0.48 cubic feet. That covers about 2.9 square feet at 2 inches deep and 1.9 square feet at 3 inches. If the bag prints its volume in cubic feet, use that number and type it in the bag size box.
How much extra decomposed granite should I order for compaction?
The figures we found range from about 10 to 15 percent extra (GoodGravel lists 12 percent compaction, about 14 percent extra by the rule below, Hello Gravel says 10 to 15 and the Gravelshop calculator adds 15). Hello Gravel also says DG loses 20 to 25 percent of its loose volume, which means 25 to 33 percent extra. The calculator starts at 15 percent and you can change it. Ask your installer what they use.
How deep should decomposed granite be?
Stone Centers recommends at least 2 inches compacted for paths and decorative areas and at least 4 inches for driveways. GoodGravel suggests 2 to 3 inches for paths, 3 inches of stabilized DG on a compacted base for patios and 4 inches of stabilized DG over a crusher run base for light car traffic. These are supplier guidelines, so follow your installer or the local specification.
How much stabilizer do I need for decomposed granite?
GoodGravel says dry polymer stabilizer is added at the yard at about 10 to 15 pounds per ton. Tick the stabilized box and the calculator multiplies your tons by that range. A liquid stabilizer is sprayed on after compaction, and we did not find a quantity for it, so follow the product label.
More calculators
- Crushed Stone Calculator Get the tons and cubic yards of crushed stone for a driveway or base, with an option for compaction.
- Gravel Calculator Calculate the cubic yards and tons of gravel for a driveway, path or base.
- Paver Calculator Estimate the pavers, base gravel and bedding sand for a patio or walkway.