Construction Gravel vs Decomposed Granite: Size, Cost, and Which to Use

Construction Gravel

Construction gravel is a broad category of mixed-size stone used for general building and site work. It typically includes a combination of crushed stone sizes suitable for base preparation and structural fill.

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite, or DG, is granite that weathered in the ground into a mix of sand, silt, and small chips, then was dug and screened to 1/4 or 3/8 inch minus. It costs $43 to $152 per ton in 2026, weighs 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and compacts into a firm, natural-looking path or patio surface in gold, tan, gray, or rose. It is the standard path material in California, Arizona, Texas, and most of the drought-tolerant West.

Construction Gravel

• ✓ Construction sites
• ✓ Base layers
• ✓ Backfill
• ✓ Temporary roads

Decomposed Granite

• ✓ Walkways
• ✓ Patios
• ✓ Landscaping
• ✓ Driveways
• ✓ Dog runs
• ✓ Bocce courts

Construction Gravel

• + Versatile material
• + Readily available
• + Cost-effective
• + Suitable for many applications

• − Inconsistent sizing
• − Not decorative
• − Varies by supplier

Decomposed Granite

• + Natural gold and tan look that fits Western landscapes
• + Compacts into a firm, walkable surface
• + $43 to $152 per ton loose, cheap where granite is local
• + Permeable, counts as pervious surface in many codes
• + Easy to install with a plate compactor

• − Loose DG tracks into the house and erodes in rain
• − Stabilizer adds $10 to $30 per ton
• − Needs edging or it spreads
• − Poor in freeze-thaw climates
• − Muddy when saturated

Construction Gravel

Mixed crushed stone sizes ranging from fines to 1" or larger. Color varies by quarry source.

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite is a mix of sand-sized particles and small granite chips, usually 1/4 inch minus, sometimes 3/8 inch minus. Colors run gold, tan, buff, gray, brown, and rose depending on the quarry. Gold and tan are the standard California and Arizona look. Sold loose, or stabilized with a binder that is mixed in dry or applied as a liquid.