Granite Cobblestones, Pavers & Kerbs: Sourcing Guide from China

Why China Dominates Hardscape Stone Supply

Granite cobblestones, cube setts, pavers and curbs are the highest-volume category in the stone trade. Driveways, pedestrian plazas, garden paths, pool surrounds and road edges consume them by the container. Chinese granite from Fujian, Shandong and Hebei quarries is dense, frost-resistant and cheap to cut, which is why importers in Europe, North America and the Middle East routinely buy from China even after freight.

Granite Grades & Common Codes

Buyers specify granite by the familiar G-codes used across Chinese exports. Knowing the codes makes quoting and QC far faster:

• G603 (Sesame White): light gray with black specks, the most popular paving granite, suits walkways and plazas

• G654 (Sesame Gray): dark gray, tighter grain, great for heavy-traffic driveways and road paving

• G682 (Rusty Yellow): warm yellow-brown, popular for garden paths and Mediterranean-style projects

• G684/G686 (Black Galaxy / Black): black with or without sparkle, used for curbs, steps and premium accents

All these grades are quarried in volume, so prices stay stable and large orders are easy to fill. For colored stone, basalt and porphyry from northern China are also common for cube setts.

Cobblestone Sizes & Formats

The classic cobblestone or cube sett is cut to near-cube dimensions and tumbled or split. Standard formats:

• Cube setts: 10x10x10cm, 12x12x12cm, 15x15x15cm, 20x20x20cm — used for roads, plazas and edging

• Cobbles / pebbles: irregular 5-15cm splits for rustic paths and borders

• Pavers: 30x30x3cm, 40x40x3cm, 60x60x3cm, 60x30x3cm cut slabs for patios and terraces

• Kerbs / curbing: 50-100cm long, 10-25cm wide, bullnose or chamfered tops for road edges and garden borders

• Parasol bases: 40x40x5cm to 60x60x8cm with center hole, a steady repeat-order item for patio furniture

Finishes: Split, Tumbled, Flamed, Honed

Surface finish decides both look and slip resistance. Split (natural cleft) gives the traditional rugged cobble; tumbling rounds the edges for a worn, antique feel; flamed surfaces resist slipping on wet driveways; honed or polished is reserved for indoor pavers and steps. Most buyers combine split tops with sawn or tumbled sides — state the finish for all six faces when ordering.

Packing, Weight & Container Loading

Granite weighs about 2.6-2.7 tonnes per cubic meter, so weight — not volume — fills the container. A 20ft container holds roughly 24-26 tonnes of setts; a 40ft container around 26-28 tonnes. Cube setts pack tightly in wooden crates or on pallets with shrink wrap, each layer separated to avoid chipping. Always confirm the exact net weight before booking, because overweight containers cause port surcharges and delays.

QC Checklist Before Dispatch

• Color consistency: one quarry batch per order, samples matched against the master sample

• Size tolerance: +/-2-3mm on sawn faces, consistent height on setts

• Chipped edges and corners: reject heavily damaged pieces at the yard, not at destination

• Finish consistency: all pieces same treatment, no mixed split and tumbled in one pallet

Ask the supplier for loading photos and a tally sheet per pallet so you can verify counts and grades on arrival.

HS Codes & Shipping Notes

Granite setts, cubes and similar articles fall under HS 6801 (setts, curbstones and flagstones of natural stone) and 6802 (worked monumental or building stone). Your freight forwarder can confirm the exact code for your destination; duties differ by country, so check the import duty before quoting landed cost.

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