How Much Does Decomposed Granite Cost in 2024?
Highlights
The average cost of natural decomposed granite is between $40 and $80 per ton.
Decomposed granite is a popular material for surfacing patios, driveways, walking paths, and garden beds.
There are three types of decomposed granite: basic/natural, stabilized, and resin-coated.
Certain types of decomposed granite, such as stabilized and resin-coated, are more durable and therefore more expensive.
When calculating the cost of decomposed granite, you’ll need to consider the depth, surface area, type, and labor for installation and site prep.
Installing decomposed granite, also called crushed granite, on a 400-square-foot area typically costs between $75 and $150, with a national average cost of $110. The cost of materials alone ranges from $40 to $80 per ton, assuming you use basic crushed granite instead of stabilized decomposed granite. If you opt for the stabilizing add-ins, it could cost as much as $300 per ton. The most important cost variables are the granite’s quality and depth of coverage.
Average Crushed Granite Costs per Ton
| Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60 | $300 | $40 |
Decomposed Granite Installation Costs
Decomposed granite installation costs range from $50 to $100 per hour for labor. However, contractors usually quote a price for the entire job rather than the time required for each task. Contractors are more likely to provide an hourly rate when you supply the granite and other materials yourself. The time contractors require to complete a project depends on the project's size and type.
Crushed Granite Driveway
The labor cost of installing a crushed granite driveway is usually between $40 and $120. This figure assumes a 10-by-50-foot gravel driveway covered to a depth of six inches, which is adequate for supporting the weight of vehicles. It should take approximately two hours to dump and spread the crushed granite. However, this price doesn’t include the labor needed to level and grade the driveway, which is typically between $3 and $8 per square foot, meaning you’ll spend between $1,500 and $4,000 for a 500-square-foot driveway. If there are trees or roots in the way, you’ll also have to pay to remove them—about $300 to $2,000 per tree, depending on their size.
Crushed Granite Patio
The total labor cost of a crushed granite patio is between $400 and $700, assuming a typical 10-by-10-foot patio at three inches deep. The labor cost of installing the granite itself is about $130, and materials will only cost between $40 and $100, but contractors will also need to excavate and prepare the site. These tasks require additional time and labor.
Crushed Granite Walkway
Most busy walkways require about three inches of gravel to ensure a comfortable, safe step. The labor costs to install a 4-by-50-foot granite walkway typically range from $275 to $395. The time it takes for a pro to level and prepare the site also contributes to the cost, meaning the project may cost more depending on the landscape.
Decomposed Granite Cost per Cubic Yard
The cost of decomposed granite is between $40 and $100 per cubic yard for the most inexpensive types. Transportation is by far the greatest cost variable for decomposed granite due to the weight of this material. All suppliers charge a fee for moving the granite to the work site, but specific pricing models vary. Some suppliers charge a flat rate per mile for transportation, while others charge a flat fee per cubic yard within a given service range.
| Coverage in Square Feet | Cubic Yard Required | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.5 | $20–$50 |
| 100 | 1 | $40–$100 |
| 150 | 1.5 | $60–$150 |
| 200 | 2 | $80–$200 |
| 250 | 2.5 | $100–$250 |
| 300 | 3 | $120–$300 |
| 350 | 3.5 | $140–$350 |
Decomposed Granite Cost per Square Foot
Covering a 20-by-20-foot area to a depth of six inches with decomposed granite costs between $300 and $740, which is $0.75 to $1.85 per square foot. This project would require 200 cubic feet of material or about 7.4 cubic yards. You may also need to add a stabilizing agent to the gravel if you live in an area with heavy rainfall, which increases the cost of materials.
Decomposed Granite Cost per Ton
The cost for a ton of basic decomposed granite is between $40 and $80, assuming the gravel is basic (not stabilized), and has an average size of 0.5 inches. A cubic yard of half-inch decomposed granite weighs about three tons, but this weight will decrease as the size of the gravel increases.
Calculate the cost per ton by dividing the cost per cubic yard by the number of tons in a cubic yard. This figure assumes the gravel isn’t compressed, which occurs when the gravel remains in one place for a prolonged period.
Granite Rock Prices by Type
There are three primary types of granite rock. The type you choose affects your overall costs.
| Type of Crushed Granite | Average Price per Cubic Yard | Ideal Use |
|---|---|---|
| Natural | $40–$100 | Gardens and around trees |
| Stabilized | $100–$225 | Patios and walkways |
| Resin-coated | $250–$350 | Driveways, roads, and parking areas |
Natural Decomposed Granite
Natural decomposed granite provides nutrients and drainage for plants, making it a popular and longer-lasting alternative to mulch. This type of granite typically costs around $60 per ton.
Stabilized Decomposed Granite
Stabilized decomposed granite costs about $185 per ton. The price for this type of granite is much higher than that of simple crushed granite because the supplier must add and mix a stabilizing agent with the granite. The granite also requires time to decompose.
Decomposed Granite With Resin
Decomposed granite with resin additives resembles asphalt, and it’s typically the strongest and longest-lasting decomposed granite type. Many people use it for driveways since it doesn’t erode as quickly as other granite types. However, it’s among the most expensive granite types at around $225 per ton.
Budgeting for Decomposed Granite
Compared to stone pavers or concrete, decomposed granite is a very cost-effective way to surface driveways, roads, paths, or to simply finish a garden bed. Here are a few ways to further reduce the cost of this project when it’s time to call a local granite and paving professional:
Calculate how much crushed granite you need and purchase it beforehand in order to reduce labor and transportation costs.
Choose the right granite for your needs—reserve more expensive, durable options like stabilized or resin-coated crushed granite for driveways and paths.
Hire a decomposed granite professional in the drier summer months for faster installation and more budget-friendly labor costs.
Consider how deep your crushed granite needs to be in order to be effective—driveways should be six inches deep, while patios can be just 2.5 to three inches deep.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
The depth of decomposed granite primarily depends on the weight that the surface must support. A driveway must support vehicles, so it should be about six inches deep. A surface that people will walk on regularly will need at least three inches of gravel, while largely decorative surfaces can get by with only one inch of gravel.
Decomposed granite with a stabilizer should last seven to 10 years before it shifts enough to require replacement. It primarily depends on how tightly packed the granite is and how often your location receives heavy rainfall. The slope of the surface is also an important factor for the length of time the site will retain the granite; higher slopes will result in shorter granite retention periods.
A cubic yard of gravel will cover 54 square feet to a depth of six inches. This figure is for the depth at the time of installation, which will decrease over time. Most local gravel suppliers recommend reducing this coverage by at least 15% when estimating the stable depth.
Yes, decomposed granite is typically cheaper than concrete. For example, concrete driveway costs range from $1,800 to $6,000, while decomposed granite driveways usually range from $1,500 to $2,000. Depending on your location and the area you need covered, you could save even more by choosing decomposed granite over concrete.
Weeds can grow through decomposed granite, albeit slowly and sparingly. You can prevent weed growth by laying a weed cloth down before installing the granite. You can also hoe, pull, or rake weeds when you see them to help minimize spreading.
