Rock
River Rock Calculator
Calculate river rock coverage in cubic yards, tons, and truckloads for landscaping and drainage projects.
Inputs
1–2-inch river rock is commonly used for landscape beds, borders, and low-flow drainage areas.
Live estimate
Material needed
4.63 cu yd
- Cubic yards
- 4.63 cu yd
- Tons
- 6.94 tons
- Truckloads
- 0.39
- Area
- 500 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 125
You will likely need
- •4.63 cu yd — material needed
- •Schedule 1 truck load
- •Approximate delivered weight: 6.94 tons
Supplier tip
Most suppliers sell river rock by either the cubic yard or by weight. Confirm your supplier's preferred ordering unit before purchasing.
Weight estimates are based on industry-standard average material densities. Actual delivered weights may vary by supplier and moisture content.
Diagram
Live estimate
- Mathematical quantity
- 5 cu yd
- Voids are already priced into bulk cubic-yard river rock
- Informational
- Field conditions
- Not applied
- Adjusted requirement
- 5 cu yd
- Ordering rule
- Round up to whole ton
- Suggested order
- 5 cu yd
River rock is sold by bulk CY. Size range matters for target depth (roughly 2× the largest stone) but does not justify a blanket voids percentage.
What you actually need in the field, before rounding to a supplier-friendly ordering unit.
Estimator confidence
HighCrushed and rounded rock has void space between particles, but bulk-yard cubic yards already reflect that packing. No automatic order allowance is added; consider a user-selectable edge-migration condition where borders are open.
Improve confidence: Depth should be at least 2× the largest stone dimension; edge migration on open borders is a separate consideration.
Why this behavior applies: The geometric cubic-yard requirement is what the yard sells. Void space is a physical property, not evidence to add a percentage.
- Stone size range — River rock sizes vary widely — the top of the range drives depth.
- Layer depth vs largest stone — Depth should exceed 2× the largest stone.
- Use 1–2 inch river rock for pathways; 3–5 inch for decorative accents.
- Landscape fabric is essential — fines migrate up through river rock quickly.
- Confirm color and size from a bulk sample, not the yard photo.
- Ordering by tons when the supplier meant yards.
- Using river rock on driveways — it moves under traffic.
- Skipping fabric and watching mud rise through in one season.
Smart tips
- Ordering 5–10% extra is standard on irregular layouts. Running short costs more than the excess.
- Enter your dimensions to see live material estimates.
How it's calculated
Area is derived from your shape inputs and converted to sq ft.
Depth is converted to feet; cubic feet = area × depth.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, then × (1 + waste %) × (1 + compaction %).
Estimated tons = cubic yards (with waste) × 1.5.
Truckloads = cubic yards (with waste) ÷ truck capacity.
Total cost = cubic yards (with waste) × price per cubic yard + delivery.
Professional guidance
When to use river rock
Low-maintenance beds, dry creek beds, French drains, and around downspouts.
Recommended depth
2–3 inches over landscape fabric for beds; 4–6 inches for drainage swales.
Pro tip
Larger 3–5 inch stone stays in place on slopes better than pea-sized stone.
Common mistakes
Skipping edging — round stone migrates fast into lawns and mulch beds without a firm border.
Material assumptions
- River rock density: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
- Common sizes: 1–3 inch and 3–5 inch smooth stone.
- Recommended depth: 2–3 inches for coverage, 4–6 inches for dry creeks.
Frequently asked questions
Related calculators
Related articles
Deeper guidance from the Learn library — sizing, depth, waste, and ordering for this material.
- River Rock Size GuideRiver rock comes in sizes from pea-sized to fist-sized. Each has a specific use. Here's the full breakdown.
- Decorative Rock Size GuideFrom granite screenings to fist-sized boulders — a professional's size chart with matched use cases and coverage rates.
- How Deep Should Decorative Rock Be?Two inches for ground cover, three for weed suppression, four to six for driveways. Depth is a durability decision, not just an aesthetic one.
These results are estimates only. Confirm quantities, compaction, waste, and delivery requirements with your supplier or project professional before ordering materials.