Stone calculator
Landscape Stone Calculator
One tool for every landscape rock job: beds, borders, paths and dry creek beds. Enter area and depth for tonnage and cost.
Your project
Ornamental beds 2", pathways 3", dry creek beds 4-6".
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Delivered landscape stone typically runs $35-$100 per ton.
Landscape stone needed
3.99
US tons · includes 5% waste
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 3.11 cubic yards
- Volume (cubic feet)
- 84 cu ft
- Total weight
- 7,980 lb
- 50 lb bags
- 160 bags
- Density used
- 95 lb per cu ft (1.28 tons/yd³)
- Truckloads (15-ton)
- 1
- Estimated delivered cost
- $271
Quarry densities vary by source and moisture. Confirm tons per cubic yard with your supplier before placing a bulk order — a 10% density difference is a whole extra load on a big job.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
What landscape stone is
Landscape stone is a catch-all for anything spread as a surface finish in a planting bed or path: 3/8" pea gravel, 3/4" river rock, 1-3" cobble, granite chip and crushed marble. The size you pick sets the depth — a 2 inch layer of 1-3 inch cobble is barely one stone deep and will show its base.
At 95 lb per cubic foot, one cubic yard weighs about 1.28 US tons, and one ton spread 2" deep covers roughly 126 square feet.
How to install it
Match the depth to the stone size: the layer should be at least twice the largest stone diameter. Edge every bed, because loose stone always migrates toward the lawn and a single stone in a mower is an expensive afternoon.
The mistake that costs the most
Ordering by the bag for a bed over about 80 square feet. At 2 inches deep, 80 sq ft is roughly half a cubic yard — about 27 bags — and bulk delivery beats that on price even after the haul fee.
The math behind the calculator
Square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) = cubic feet. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Cubic feet × 95 ÷ 2,000 = US tons. The waste allowance is applied to the volume before the weight conversion, which is how suppliers quote it.
Landscape stone needed per 100 square feet
At 95 lb per cubic foot, before waste.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.4 |
| 2" | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.79 |
| 3" | 25 | 0.93 | 1.19 |
| 4" | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.58 |
| 6" | 50 | 1.85 | 2.38 |
| 12" | 100 | 3.7 | 4.75 |
Recommended depth by application
| Application | Depth |
|---|---|
| Pea gravel / small chip beds | 2" |
| 1-3" river rock | 3-4" |
| Pathways | 3" |
| Dry creek beds | 4-6" |
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of landscape stone do I need?
Multiply square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then multiply by 95 and divide by 2,000. A 500 sq ft area at 2" needs about 3.96 tons before waste.
+How many tons of landscape stone are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.28 tons at 95 lb per cubic foot. Wet material weighs 5-10% more, which matters when you are buying by the ton and measuring by the yard.
+How deep should landscape stone be?
Pea gravel / small chip beds: 2". 1-3" river rock: 3-4". Pathways: 3". Dry creek beds: 4-6".
+What does landscape stone cost?
$35 – $100 per ton delivered in most US markets, before the haul fee. Short loads carry a minimum charge, so half a load often costs nearly as much as a full one.