Decomposed Granite Cost Calculator

Installed DG typically runs $3 to $9 per square foot, so a 300 sq ft path is roughly $900 to $2,700 and an 800 sq ft patio $2,400 to $7,000-plus. The DG type is the biggest driver: natural/loose is $2 to $4 a foot, stabilized $4 to $7, and resin-coated $6 to $12-plus. The material itself is cheap — often $40 to $80 a ton — so most of the installed cost is labor, base prep, and any binder, resin, or edging. Application and base prep adjust it from there.

It's a trade-off between a natural look and durability. Natural/loose DG is just compacted granite fines — cheapest and softest-looking, but it tracks onto shoes, erodes, gets dusty, and needs raking and topping up. Stabilized DG mixes in a binder so it compacts into a firmer, erosion-resistant surface that still looks like DG — the popular middle ground. Resin-coated (poured) DG bonds the granite with resin into the hardest, most durable, nearly pavement-like permeable surface — the most expensive and lowest-maintenance. Traffic, slope, and maintenance tolerance decide which you need.

Match it to the use. For an informal garden path or ground cover on a budget where a little upkeep is fine, natural/loose works. For most walkways and patios that want the DG look with real durability, stabilized is the go-to — firm underfoot, resists tracking and ruts. For high-traffic paths, patios with furniture, accessible routes, or anywhere you want a clean, firm, low-maintenance surface, resin-coated is worth the premium. As a rule: the more foot traffic, slope, or accessibility need, the further up from natural toward stabilized or resin you should go.

Both, with the right type and base. For a patio, use stabilized or resin-coated DG (not loose) so furniture doesn't sink and it won't track indoors — resin gives the firmest, most accessible surface. For a driveway, use coarser stabilized DG over a thick, well-compacted gravel base with good drainage and edging; it suits rustic or light-use drives at lower cost than asphalt but can rut and needs periodic grading under heavy or turning vehicles. For high-traffic or formal areas, pavers or concrete are more durable. The calculator prices patio and driveway applications higher for the added prep.

Because DG is loose granular material — without a border it migrates into lawns and beds, erodes at the edges, and loses its shape, which looks messy and wastes material. Edging creates a physical barrier that contains the DG, holds the compacted surface together at the perimeter, and gives a crisp, finished line. Steel or aluminum edging (~$350) is the popular durable choice, but stone, concrete, or paver borders work too. Loose DG especially needs it; even stabilized and resin benefit for clean edges. Budget for edging — it protects the whole installation.

The crew marks and excavates the area to the finished grade, grades it for drainage so water sheds, and installs and compacts a gravel base where needed (more for patios and driveways). A weed barrier often goes down, then edging is set around the perimeter. The DG is spread in lifts, raked level, and compacted with a plate compactor while being moistened with water — stabilized DG has its binder mixed in, and resin-coated DG gets the resin applied and cured. Good base prep, drainage, edging, and compaction are what separate a lasting surface from one that ruts.

It depends heavily on the type. Loose DG needs the most: periodic topping up as it thins, raking to smooth ruts and low spots, dust and erosion control (especially on slopes), and weeding. Stabilized DG needs far less — the binder resists erosion and ruts, so it's mostly occasional spot repairs and weeding. Resin-coated DG is nearly maintenance-free, just sweeping and rinsing. Across all types, keeping drainage working, edging intact, and weeds down extends the life. If low maintenance matters, the extra upfront cost of stabilized or resin pays off.

Yes — it's a staple of xeriscaping and water-wise landscapes. DG is permeable, so rain soaks through and recharges the ground instead of running off, which helps drainage and reduces stormwater. Used as a ground cover in place of lawn or as pathways through drought-tolerant plantings, it cuts irrigation dramatically and fits Mediterranean, southwestern, and natural garden styles. It's also natural, non-manufactured stone. For a firm, accessible, permeable surface that supports low-water landscaping, DG — especially stabilized — is a strong, budget-friendly option compared with concrete or pavers.

Almost always, yes — DG is sold by the ton or cubic yard and is heavy, so unless you're hauling small quantities yourself, it's delivered by truck. Delivery (~$150) covers getting the granite (and any base gravel) to your site, and it's a real line item on most jobs, especially larger areas where multiple tons are needed. A path might need only a ton or two, while a patio or driveway can need several. The calculator includes delivery as an add-on so your estimate reflects the full cost, not just spreading the material.

Most residential paths and patios take one to two days. Loose DG over firm ground with simple prep is fastest; stabilized adds the binder-mixing and compaction step; and resin-coated needs the resin applied and cured before use, extending the timeline. Larger areas, driveways, or jobs with heavy excavation, drainage work, old-surface removal, or lots of edging can take several days. Compaction is done in passes with watering and shouldn't be rushed. Overall, DG is one of the quicker hardscape surfaces to install compared with pavers or poured concrete.