Bags of Decomposed Granite for a 14x20 Patio
How many bags of decomposed granite for a 14x20 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 70.0 cubic feet, which is 140 bags of the common 0.5 cubic foot size. If your store sells decomposed granite in 50-pound bags instead, figure about 140 bags, since decomposed granite weighs roughly 100 pounds per cubic foot.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Bag count by depth
| Depth | Cubic feet | 0.5 cu ft bags | 50 lb bags (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 23.3 | 47 | 47 |
| 2 in | 46.7 | 94 | 94 |
| 3 in | 70.0 | 140 | 140 |
| 4 in | 93.3 | 187 | 187 |
How to figure it
- Area: 14 × 20 = 280 sq ft.
- Volume: 280 × (3 ÷ 12) = 70.0 cu ft.
- Bags: 70.0 ÷ 0.5 = 140 bags (round up).
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 70.0 cubic feet is 2.59 yards, about 3.5 tons. Past about a yard, bulk is usually less work and often less money. Compare the bag price × 140 against a bulk quote for 3.9 tons delivered.
About decomposed granite
DG should be laid in thin lifts, wetted and compacted. Loose DG at a deep depth stays soft and tracks onto shoes.
Install tips for a patio
- Dig and level. Remove sod and set the base slightly below the surrounding grade.
- Edge it. Steel, plastic or stone edging keeps material in place.
- Spread in layers. Rake to depth, then tamp or wet and compact.
- Buy a few extra. Grab 5 to 10 percent more bags for settling and touch-ups.
The volume and tonnage calculator handles other sizes and depths.
Good and poor uses for decomposed granite
Works well for:
- Garden paths and patios with a natural look
- Around trees and in xeriscape designs
- Stabilized DG for accessible paths
Think twice for:
- Steep grades without a stabilizer
- Areas right outside doors, since fines track in
- Driveways with heavy turning traffic
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.42 tons of decomposed granite (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.2 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 14x28 area at 2 inches takes about 3.3 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Questions people ask
How many bags of decomposed granite for a 14x20 patio?
About 140 bags of 0.5 cubic feet at 3 inches deep.
How many 50 lb bags of decomposed granite for 14x20?
About 140 bags at 3 inches.
How many 0.5 cubic foot bags are in a cubic yard?
54 bags.
How many cubic feet is a 14x20 patio at 3 inches?
About 70.0 cubic feet.
When does bulk make more sense?
Usually once the job passes about a cubic yard, or when you would need more than a few car trips.
Related guides
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Bags of Decomposed Granite for a 14x16 Patio
- Bags of Decomposed Granite for a 14x18 Patio
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