MyYardCalc
Landscaping · Material planning

River Rock Calculator

Calculate river rock coverage in cubic yards and bags. Add supplier density for tons and your own prices to compare bagged and bulk orders.

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Your project

US & metric

Example values are filled in. Replace them with your measurements.

ft
ft
sq ft

Add other measured sections without counting overlaps twice.

sq ft
in
%

An editable purchasing margin, not a measured compaction rate.

cu ft

Use the labeled volume of the product you plan to buy.

lb / cu yd

Optional. Enter the density of this product to estimate weight.

$
$ / cu yd
$

Enter 0 if included. Bulk cost remains blank until delivery is specified.

Enter your measurements

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The calculation

Volume = net area × depth × (1 + extra ÷ 100). Weight = volume × supplier density.

  • Enter your supplier’s bulk density to show weight. Volume alone cannot determine tons.
  • 10% extra is included once. Confirm supplier minimums and delivery increments.

Saved on this device

Only estimates you choose to save are stored here.

    Measure with a little context

    How to use this river rock calculator

    Choose a depth that suits the actual stone size and desired coverage. Large rounded stones do not form the same layer as fine aggregate.

    Break winding borders into smaller areas and subtract planting spaces. Ask for the density of the selected product when ordering by weight.

    Volume = net area × depth × (1 + extra ÷ 100). Weight = volume × supplier density.

    A worked example

    With the example values shown below, the calculated result is 0.978 cu yd. These are demonstration inputs, not installation specifications.

    View the example measurements
    • Length / circle diameter: 12 ft
    • Width: 8 ft
    • Material depth: 3 in
    • Extra allowance: 10 %
    • Volume per bag: 0.5 cu ft

    From estimate to order

    Whole packages and pieces round up; measured lengths, areas and volumes keep full precision during calculation. Match the product dimensions and units to your quote, and check cuts, minimum orders and delivery before purchasing.

    Read our formulas, rounding rules and limitations →

    River rock planning questions

    How much river rock do I need for a landscape bed?

    Measure the covered area and multiply it by the planned layer depth. A 12 × 8 ft bed at 3 inches contains 24 cubic feet before allowance. With a selected 10% allowance, 26.4 cubic feet requires 53 whole 0.5-cubic-foot bags.

    How do I use the calculator for 2-inch or 1–3-inch river rock?

    Those names normally describe stone diameter, not the layer depth. Choose the installed depth for that product with your supplier, then enter that depth here. Larger stones may need a different layer for the desired coverage; the calculator does not automatically select it.

    How much does a ton of river rock cover?

    Coverage needs both bulk density and installed depth. If a supplier gives an illustrative 2,800 lb per cubic yard, one US short ton is 2,000 ÷ 2,800 = 0.7143 cubic yards. At 3 inches deep that is about 77.14 square feet before allowance. Use your actual product density and distinguish stone diameter from layer depth.

    River rock volume for 100 square feet
    Example layer depthCubic feetCubic yards
    2 inches16.6670.617
    3 inches250.926
    4 inches33.3331.235
    6 inches501.852
    12 inches1003.704

    Geometric volumes before allowance, rounded for display. These depths illustrate the formula; they are not installation recommendations. Stone size and installed layer depth are different measurements.

    Calculation notes updated . Formulas, sources and limitations.

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