Shear characteristics of quarry blasted rocks were compared using large scale direct shear tests and triaxial tests. For comparison purpose, similar test conditions were simulated as much as possible and three types of relative density (50%, 70%, 90%) were employed for the test. Results indicate that stress-strain behavior shows the same trend for two tests, but the measured shear strengths differ for the different test ms and depends on the relative density. At low relative density, the internal friction angles from direct shear test are smaller than those from triaxial tests. However, at high relative density, this phenomenon is reversed.