River Rock Calculator

Get tons and cubic yards of river rock for a bed or border.

Inputs
ft ×
ft
in
Results update as you type — no submit
ResultsLIVE
Tons to order
0.53 tons
= 0.48 t (metric)
Cubic yards
0.4 cu yd
≈ 0.28 m³
Cubic yards0.4 cu yd
Approx. weight1,050 lb ≈ 0.53 tons
Formula
volume = 20 × 3 × (2÷12) = 10 cu ft = 0.4 cu yd
weight = 0.4 cu yd × 1.42 tons/yd³ = 0.53 tons
River rock is placed, not compacted — a 2–3″ decorative layer is typical. Sold by the ton over landscape fabric.
Diagram — area planNTS
20′ 0″3′ 0″DEPTH: 2″RIVER ROCK AREA · DASHED = EDGE
MeasureShedmeasureshed.com/calculator/river-rock-calculator
River rock — material listUNITS: FT · SCALE: NTS
Inputs
Area20 × 3 ft
Depth2″
Waste+0%
Results
Tons to order0.53 tons
Volume0.4 cu yd
Weight1,050 lb
Area planDEPTH: 2″ · NTS
20′ 0″3′ 0″DEPTH: 2″RIVER ROCK AREA · DASHED = EDGE
Shopping list
☐ 0.53 tons of river rock (0.4 cu yd)
Formula
volume = 20 × 3 × (2÷12) = 10 cu ft = 0.4 cu yd
weight = 0.4 cu yd × 1.42 tons/yd³ = 0.53 tons
Estimates for planning only — verify before purchaseSHEET 1 OF 1
How it works

River rock — smooth, rounded landscape stone — is sold by the ton and by the cubic yard. The calculator multiplies length by width for the area, multiplies by depth for the volume, and multiplies volume by weight per cubic yard to get tons. Depth entered in inches is divided by twelve to match the feet used for area.

The weight uses about 1.42 tons per cubic yard, the common figure for washed rounded stone. Because river rock is placed and raked rather than compacted, no waste allowance is needed for most decorative beds — order close to the calculated volume.

A two- to three-inch layer is typical over landscape fabric. Deeper looks richer but costs proportionally more, and because coverage changes directly with depth, the depth field is the one that moves the total.

Worked example
Border 20 ft × 3 ft · depth 2″
volume = 20 × 3 × (2 ÷ 12) = 10 cu ft = 0.37 cu yd
tons = 0.37 cu yd × 1.42 tons/yd³ = 0.53 tons
Questions from the yard
About 1.42 tons for washed rounded stone — near 2,800 lb per cubic yard. Larger cobble and wet stone weigh a little more, so the delivered ticket is the number that counts.
Estimates for planning only — verify before purchase
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