🪨 River Rock Calculator
Calculate exactly how much river rock you need by area, depth & material type
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
lbs / cu yd
| Depth | Sq Ft per Cu Yd | Sq M per Cu M | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch (2.5 cm) | 324 sq ft | ~30 sq m | Very thin; decorative only |
| 2 inches (5 cm) | 162 sq ft | ~15 sq m | Pathways, borders |
| 3 inches (7.5 cm) | 108 sq ft | ~10 sq m | Standard landscape use |
| 4 inches (10 cm) | 81 sq ft | ~7.5 sq m | Dry creek beds |
| 6 inches (15 cm) | 54 sq ft | ~5 sq m | Drainage & play areas |
| 8 inches (20 cm) | 40.5 sq ft | ~3.75 sq m | Heavy-duty drainage |
| Bag Size | Cu Ft / Bag | Bags per Cu Yd | Coverage @ 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bag | 0.5 cu ft | 54 bags | 2 sq ft |
| Standard bag | 2 cu ft | 13.5 bags | 8 sq ft |
| Large bag | 3 cu ft | 9 bags | 12 sq ft |
| Half-yard bag | 13.5 cu ft | 2 bags | 54 sq ft |
| 1 cubic yard bulk | 27 cu ft | 1 unit | 108 sq ft |
| Project | Area (sq ft) | Cu Yds @ 3 in | Bags (2 cu ft) @ 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small flower bed (10x10) | 100 sq ft | 0.93 cu yd | ~13 bags |
| Tree ring (6 ft dia.) | 28.3 sq ft | 0.26 cu yd | ~4 bags |
| Garden path (4x20) | 80 sq ft | 0.74 cu yd | ~10 bags |
| Playground (15x15) | 225 sq ft | 2.08 cu yd | ~28 bags |
| Driveway border (5x60) | 300 sq ft | 2.78 cu yd | ~38 bags |
| Dry creek bed (4x30) | 120 sq ft | 1.11 cu yd | ~15 bags |
| Landscape bed (20x30) | 600 sq ft | 5.56 cu yd | ~75 bags |
| Full yard (50x50) | 2,500 sq ft | 23.1 cu yd | ~312 bags |
river rock is a popular choice for landscaping, and for fair reasons, they are strong, offer great colour and require little attention. One commonly finds them in flower beds along walkways or around water features. About the cost, for usual types one pays around 60 to 170 dollars per ton.
Additional landscaping works usually cost home owners 365 to 1500 dollars entirely. Even so, if one searches carefully, it is possible to find cheaper options for instance some types at 35 dollars per ton. Rather, rare types can arrive at 800 dollars per ton.
River rock costs, sizes and how much you need
The rarity and the local access really affects the price to higher levels.
The most many suppliers measure river rock by tons or cubic yards, what matters to note during comparison of bids. Golden river rock costs 50 to 125 dollars per ton, or if one prefers cubic yards, 45 to 130 dollars per cubic yard. Bigger bits for building or for more fancy displays are a bit more expensive, one considers 50 to 150 dollars per cubic yard or 100 to 300 dollars per ton.
One store, that I observed, offered two sizes: 3/4 inches and 1 to 3 inches, both at 260 dollars per yard. Another buisness in the area charged only 70 dollars per yard. The geographic place plays a big role here, where one lives, that decides the final price.
Bagged river rock opens new chances for little projects. Individual bags usually cost 8 to 11 dollars. Stores for home gardening commonly price them more highly, around 28 to 35 dollars each bag.
For large amounts, big bags carrying a whole ton exist, although one pays extra 20 dollars for a bag with rocks of 2 to 5 inches. Bits bigger then 6 to 12 inches are not sold in bags, what logically sounds.
The covering depends strongly on the stone size. One ton spreads over around 55 to 135 square feet. More or less.
Based on the chosen size. That same ton fills about 70 to 75 percent of a cubic yard. For rocks of 1.5 to 3 inches, expect that one ton will cover only 30 to 40 square feet.
About the cost per area, it ranges from 1.24 to 8.64 dollars per square foot.
river rock does not shrink or compact during time, so expert advisers suggest to order 10 to 20 percent more to ensure good supply, especially in decorative beds or dry brooks. They work surprisingly well on patios, in flower beds or dry river beds, under walkways and for cut tracks.
The labor costs add a new part to the setup expenses, they range from 25 to 100 dollars per ton above the material price. The whole installed cost starts at around 315 to 553 dollars per ton. The final amount for shipping and setup usually sits between 300 and 1600 dollars, with average expense of about 700 dollars.
It is possible to reach a good deal at 150 dollars, or it can rise to 2400 dollars. Only the shipping costs around 150 dollars, when the rocks are dropped on the driveway. Some tasks mean shoveling the stones from the truck, while others require carrying by means of buckets.
The prep of the place and thespatial access also moves the final price.
