How Much Decomposed Granite for a 3x20 Walkway?
A 3 by 20 foot walkway is 60 square feet. How much decomposed granite for a 3x20 walkway depends on depth: at 3 inches it is about 0.56 cubic yards or 0.8 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 3x20 walkway
- Area: 3 × 20 = 60 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 60 × 0.250 = 15.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.56 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 0.8 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Decomposed granite needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.37 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 3 in | 0.56 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 4 in | 0.74 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
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. Weight per yard is a planning number; the scale ticket at the yard is the real one.
Preparing the walkway
Dig the path a few inches below grade, compact the bottom, add fabric if needed and install edging on both sides so the material stays on the walk. Since the walkway carries foot traffic, a little extra depth is cheap insurance.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 0.8 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At about 0.8 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the walkway as firm ground allows.
When to choose decomposed granite
Best suited to:
- 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 8x16 area at 3 inches takes about 1.6 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Questions people ask
How many tons of decomposed granite for a 3x20 walkway?
About 0.8 tons at 3 inches deep, or 0.8 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 3x20 walkway at 3 inches?
About 0.56 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of decomposed granite weigh?
Usually around 1.25 to 1.45 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should decomposed granite be for a walkway?
The table above shows 2 to 4 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 3x20?
60 square feet.
Related guides
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Decomposed Granite for a 3x10 Walkway?
- How Much Decomposed Granite for a 3x15 Walkway?
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