Gravel Calc ProLandscape Rock Calculator
Enter your bed shape and depth, then pick a rock type. See yards, tons and bags of decorative rock.
Bags, weight, waste and cost
Use the weight your supplier gives for the exact stone. The material list sets a starting value.
You need
0 cubic yards
0 sq ft at 0 in deep
- Tons
- 0
- Cubic feet
- 0
- Bags
- 0
- Pounds
- 0
- Cubic meters
- 0
- Metric tonnes
- 0
- Cost
- 0
- 1 ton covers
- 0
By the Gravel Calc Pro team · Weights from producer data sheets · Math covered by unit tests · Last updated October 22, 2026 · How we calculate
How much landscape rock do I need?
Measure the bed in feet and get the square feet. Multiply by the depth in inches and divide by 324. That is cubic yards. Multiply yards by the weight per yard to get tons. A 5 by 30 foot bed at 3 inches needs 1.39 cubic yards, about 1.9 tons of river pebbles.
tons = cubic yards × weight (tons per yd³)
weight from a bag = (pounds ÷ cubic feet) × 0.0135
Beds rarely have straight sides. Break a curved bed into a few rectangles and half circles. Find each area, add them, and type the total into Any shape.
Types of decorative rock
QUIKRETE Hardscapes sells marble chips, pea pebbles, pond pebbles, red lava rock, river pebbles and all purpose stone, all in 0.5 cubic foot bags. Each one weighs a different amount per bag, so the number of tons changes even when the yards stay the same.
| Rock | Shape | Tons per yd³ | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| River pebbles | Round | 1.35 | Vigoro bag: 50 lb per 0.5 cu ft |
| Pea pebbles | Round, small | 1.35 | QUIKRETE bag: 50 lb per 0.5 cu ft |
| General gravel | Mixed | 1.4 | Gorham Sand & Gravel |
| Stone | Angular | 1.5 | Gorham Sand & Gravel |
| #57 crushed stone | Angular | 1.65 | Kokosing |
| Lava rock, marble chips | Varies | Read the bag | Use the bag formula above |
Landscape rock coverage
A cubic yard of rock covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep and 162 square feet at 2 inches. How far a ton goes depends on the rock. At 1.35 tons per yard, one ton covers 80 square feet at 3 inches. At 1.5 tons per yard, it covers 72.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton at 1.35 t/yd³ covers | 1 ton at 1.5 t/yd³ covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft | 72 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 40 sq ft | 36 sq ft |
How to put in a rock bed
The QUIKRETE rock bed sheet gives four steps:
- Stake out the area and measure the square feet.
- Dig the area out 2 to 3 inches deep.
- Lay landscape fabric over the whole area to block weeds.
- Spread the rock, pebbles or stone.
Add an edge so stone stays in the bed. The UC Master Gardener article lists bender board, rock, pavers, bricks or lumber.
Picking a color
The same UC article says white gravel makes glare and very dark colors show every bit of litter. Natural browns and grays fit most yards.
Other rock calculators
For one rock type with more detail, use the river rock, pea gravel or crushed stone pages. For a driveway, start with the main gravel calculator.
Common questions
How much decorative rock should I order?
Multiply the bed area in square feet by the depth in inches, then divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 200 square foot bed at 2 inches needs 1.23 cubic yards. For tons, multiply by the weight per yard of your rock, often 1.35 to 1.5.
How deep should decorative rock be?
QUIKRETE tells you to dig the bed 2 to 3 inches deep before you spread rock. A UC Master Gardener article calls 2 inches a practical minimum for gravel paths. Large rock needs a deeper layer to hide the soil.
How do I find the weight of a rock from the bag?
Divide the bag weight in pounds by its size in cubic feet. Multiply by 0.0135 to get tons per cubic yard. A 50 pound bag of 0.5 cubic feet is 100 pounds per cubic foot, or 1.35 tons per yard.
Why does lava rock cover more per ton?
Lava rock is full of air pockets, so a yard weighs much less than dense stone. If you buy it by the ton, you get more yards. Use the weight from the bag or the supplier in the tool, not the gravel default.
Is rock better than mulch?
Rock does not rot, so you do not need to replace it each year the way you do with wood mulch. Pick the color with care. The UC article notes that white stone causes glare and very dark stone shows litter.
References
- Hardscapes stones and pebbles, QUIKRETE
- Landscape Rock instructions (Item 6931-22), QUIKRETE
- Vigoro 0.5 cu. ft. Bagged River Pebble specifications, The Home Depot
- QUIKRETE Hardscapes Pea Pebbles specifications (Ritter Lumber listing)
- Calculating Cubic Yards vs. Tons, Gorham Sand & Gravel
- Tonnage Calculator conversion factors, Kokosing Materials
- Gravel Pathways in the Garden, UC Master Gardeners, University of California ANR