River Rock Calculator
One ton of river rock covers about 70 to 80 square feet at 3 inches deep, depending on stone size.
River rock is priced by the ton at most stone yards. Larger stones stack with more air gaps, so bigger rock covers slightly less area per ton than the math suggests.
River rock calculator
Area 1
You need
0cubic yards
- Area covered
- 0 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 0
- Weight
- 0 tons
- 0.5 cu ft bags
- 0 bags
- Estimated cost
- $0
Density of 2,800 lb/yd³ is typical for 1–2 inch washed river stone. Estimates only — confirm with your supplier before ordering.
River rock coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Yards per 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | 1.54 yd³ |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | 4.63 yd³ |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | 9.26 yd³ |
River rock questions people actually ask
- How much area does a ton of river rock cover?
- Roughly 110 square feet at 2 inches, 75 square feet at 3 inches, and 55 square feet at 4 inches deep. Stone larger than 2 inches covers a bit less.
- How deep should river rock be?
- Two to three inches for decorative beds over fabric, three to four inches for dry creek beds and drainage swales.
- Do I need landscape fabric under river rock?
- Yes for decorative beds — fabric keeps the stone from sinking into the soil and slows weeds. Skip it in drainage applications where water needs to move freely into the ground.
Gear for a river rock job
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How this number is calculated
Density of 2,800 lb/yd³ is typical for 1–2 inch washed river stone. Volume is area × depth, converted to cubic yards by dividing cubic feet by 27. See all our assumptions.