Crushed Granite Calculator
A crushed granite calculator turns L × W × depth ÷ 27 into cubic yards, then tons at 1.4 t/yd³; a 20 × 10 ft path at 3 in needs 2.59 tons of stone.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
1.85 yd³ · 2.6 tons
25 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
4 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
Crushed granite calculator: cubic yards × 1.4
This crushed granite calculator converts a path or driveway’s size into the tons a quarry sells. The formula is tons = (length × width × depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.4. The 1.4 is the assumed weight of loose crushed granite in tons per cubic yard. Tick the 10% option to allow for spreading losses and compaction; the tons are multiplied by 1.10 before pricing.
The math, step by step
- Area: length × width in feet.
- Volume: area × depth in feet. A 3 inch layer is 0.25 ft.
- Cubic yards: cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Tons: cubic yards × 1.4, so one yard weighs about 2,800 lb.
- Cost: tons × your price per ton.
Granite’s actual weight varies with size, moisture, and how much dust is mixed in. If your supplier quotes a different weight per yard, adjust the result by that ratio.
Worked examples
- Default path: 20 × 10 ft, 3 in deep, $55/ton
- Volume: 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³
- Tons: 1.852 × 1.4 = 2.59 tons, costing $142.59
- With 10% on: 2.85 tons, costing $156.85
- Driveway top layer: 50 × 10 ft, 4 in deep, $55/ton, 10% on
- Volume: 50 × 10 × 0.333 = 166.7 cu ft ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³
- Tons: 6.173 × 1.4 = 8.64 tons
- With 10%: 9.51 tons, costing $522.84
A load under 10 tons may fit one truck, depending on its size. Ask how much the truck carries before you split the order.
Crushed granite reference tables
| Area (3 in deep) | Tons | Tons with 10% |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 5 ft | 0.65 | 0.71 |
| 20 × 10 ft | 2.59 | 2.85 |
| 40 × 20 ft | 10.37 | 11.41 |
| Depth | Sq ft per ton (1.4 t/yd³) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 116 | Decorative beds over fabric |
| 3 in | 77 | Walking paths, side yards |
| 4 in | 58 | Driveway top layer |
| 6 in | 39 | Driveway over soft ground, in two lifts |
| Common size | Character | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ in minus, with fines | Packs firm | Paths, patio base |
| ⅜–½ in clean | Loose, drains | Walkways, beds, drip edges |
| ¾–1 in clean | Loose, drains | Driveways, drainage trenches |
Supplier naming varies, so ask whether a product includes fines before you order.
How to measure for crushed granite
- Rectangles: measure length and width in feet and enter them directly.
- Curving paths: measure along the center and average three widths.
- Depth: decide the finished depth. For stone you will compact, keep the 10% option on.
- Edges: if you will add steel or paver edging, measure inside it.
Laying crushed granite
Dig out the area to the planned depth plus any base. Edge it with steel, aluminum, or pavers so the stone stays where you put it. On a path, lay landscape fabric, then spread the granite with a rake to an even depth.
Granite with fines should be lightly wet and compacted with a plate compactor in layers about 2 to 3 inches thick. Clean, angular granite does not compact as hard but locks together better than rounded gravel. On a driveway, keep a slight crown so water runs off rather than pooling in tire tracks.
Common mistakes with crushed granite
- Confusing it with DG. Crushed granite and decomposed granite behave differently. DG needs its own math and compaction method; see the decomposed granite calculator.
- No fabric under decorative stone. Weeds and soil work up through a thin layer. Lay landscape fabric first.
- Using clean stone on a slope. Rounded or clean stone can migrate downhill. Stone with fines locks better.
- Mixing up loose and compacted depth. Compacted stone loses height.
- Ordering by the yard and the ton at once. Some yards sell granite by the scoop or cubic yard. In that case, order the cubic-yard figure (1.85 yd³ for the default path, 2.04 yd³ with 10%) and ignore the tons line.
- Skipping a base under a driveway. A 4 inch granite surface over bare clay ruts quickly. Put down a compacted gravel base first.
Related calculators
To compare stones, the crushed limestone calculator and the crushed stone calculator use the same method with their own weights per yard.
Frequently asked questions
Is crushed granite the same as decomposed granite?
No. Crushed granite is quarried rock broken into angular pieces, commonly sold in sizes from about ¼ in up to 1 in or more. Decomposed granite (DG) is granite that has weathered into fine, sandy grit and is used for compacted paths. Use the decomposed granite calculator for DG.
Why does crushed granite cost more than crushed limestone or generic gravel?
It often costs more because granite is hard and abrasive, which wears crushing equipment, and because it may be hauled farther where no local granite quarry exists. Prices depend heavily on region; where granite is the local stone, it can be the budget option.
What's the advantage of crushed granite over crushed limestone for a driveway?
Granite is harder than limestone, so it tends to resist grinding into dust under tires. Limestone fines, on the other hand, bind well and pack into a firm surface. Many driveways use whichever stone is local, sized for the layer.
What depth of crushed granite should I use for a path or driveway?
About 2 to 3 inches over fabric for a garden path or decorative bed, and 4 to 6 inches compacted for a driveway surface over a firm base, placed in lifts of about 3 to 4 inches. Soft soil needs a thicker base.
How much area does 1 ton of crushed granite cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 19.3 cu ft. That covers roughly 116 sq ft at 2 in, 77 sq ft at 3 in, and 58 sq ft at 4 in before the optional 10% extra.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.