Decomposed granite costs $40 to $80 per ton (average $60) per HomeAdvisor, or $43 to $152 per ton per GoodGravel’s October 2026 price tracking.1,3 The spread is mostly geography: GoodGravel found Colorado yards near $46 per ton while California yards topped $150 in September 2026.3 By the yard, natural DG runs $40 to $100 and stabilized $100 to $225.2*
$40 – $80
per ton, HomeAdvisor
$43 – $152
per ton, GoodGravel
$40 – $100
per yard, natural
$100 – $225
per yard, stabilized
Quick math: a 20’ x 20’ patio at 3 inches deep = 100 cubic feet = 3.7 cubic yards, about 5.2 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. That is $207 to $415 at HomeAdvisor’s per-ton range or $223 to $788 at GoodGravel’s – our multiplication; check which region’s prices you are near.
Published prices at a glance
Three references, all fetched and read October 2026:
| Measure | HomeAdvisor1 | HomeGuide2 | GoodGravel3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per ton | $40 – $80 (avg $60) | – | $43 – $152 |
| Per cubic yard | $40 – $255 by type | natural $40 – $100 / stabilized $100 – $225 | $84 – $109 loose |
| Stabilized upgrade | $185 per ton | $100 – $225 per yard | +$10 – $30 per ton |
| Resin-coated / resin-bound | $225 per ton | $250 – $350 per yard | $8 – $15 per sq ft installed |
| Bagged (0.5 cu ft) | – | – | $6 – $10 (6-8x the bulk price) |
Natural vs stabilized vs resin
The three types price very differently. Natural DG is loose aggregate for beds and informal paths. Stabilized DG blends in a binder for patios and walkways – HomeAdvisor prices it at $185 per ton versus $60 for natural, while GoodGravel puts the stabilizer upgrade at just $10 to $30 per ton on top of loose DG.1,3 Those two framings disagree by a lot; treat stabilized pricing as quote-dependent. Resin-coated DG is the top tier at $225 to $350 per yard or $8 to $15 per sq ft installed by a contractor.2,3
Three worked examples (we did the math)
Using 1.4 tons per cubic yard (inside GoodGravel’s published 1.3 to 1.5 range3):
| Project | Volume | Weight | Material at $43 – $152/ton | Material at $40 – $80/ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden path 3’ x 50’ at 3 in. | 1.39 cu yd | 1.9 tons | $84 – $296 | $78 – $156 |
| Patio 20’ x 20’ at 3 in. | 3.70 cu yd | 5.2 tons | $223 – $788 | $207 – $415 |
| Bed 10’ x 12’ at 2 in. | 0.74 cu yd | 1.0 ton | $45 – $158 | $41 – $83 |
HomeAdvisor’s own example – a 400 sq ft patio at 3 inches – comes to $160 in materials and $800 with labor.1 Note its $160 material figure sits below what its own $40 to $80 per-ton range implies for the same volume (about $207 to $415 by our math), so we would not budget on it.
What else to budget for
Labor: landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour per HomeGuide.2
Weed fabric: $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot underneath.2
Delivery: GoodGravel prices a 10-ton truckload of loose DG at $430 to $1,520 before delivery.3
Related guides and tools
Gravel prices per ton and per yard | Pea gravel cost | Mulch cost | River rock prices | Gravel calculator | Crushed concrete driveway cost
FAQ
How much does a ton of decomposed granite cover? About 77 to 80 square feet at 3 inches deep – GoodGravel publishes 80, our math on its 1.3 to 1.5 tons-per-yard density gives 77.3
Is stabilized DG worth the extra cost? GoodGravel’s take: at $10 to $30 more per ton it is worth it for any patio, driveway or path that gets traffic, because it sets up hard and sheds water.3
How much does bagged DG cost? $6 to $10 per half-cubic-foot bag at home centers – 6 to 8 times the bulk price per GoodGravel.3 Bags are for patching, not patios.
Does DG compact well? Yes – GoodGravel notes it compacts into a firm surface and that a 3-inch loose layer packs to about 2.5 inches.3
Sources
- HomeAdvisor – Decomposed Granite Cost
- HomeGuide – Decomposed Granite Cost
- GoodGravel – Decomposed Granite Prices and Specs
*Prices are 2025-2026 national averages from the cited sources and vary heavily by region and distance to a granite source. Get local quotes before budgeting.