River rock calculator for Oregon
Coverage changes with stone size: a ton of 3-inch rock covers half the area covered by a ton of 1-inch rock.
Enter your project dimensions
How much ground river rock covers comes down to stone size. For the ground to disappear, install it at about twice the stone diameter: 1-inch rock needs 2 inches, and 3-inch material calls for 4 inches or more. The tonnage does not change, but the coverage drops by half. Select the size and enter the bed in this calculator for tons based on river rock at 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Do not judge the order by the pile alone. A ton amounts to only three-quarters of a cubic yard. When fabric remains visible after spreading, the layer is too thin, not short on material.
Plan the order
- Record every border and bed in feet, then let multiple-areas mode add the separate spaces together.
- Use a layer twice the stone diameter: 2 inches for 3/4-1 inch rock, 3-4 inches for 1-3 inch rock, and 4-5 inches for larger material.
- For cubic yards, divide cubic feet by 27; calculate tons by multiplying yards × 1.35.
Per-ton coverage by size
| Stone size | Layer depth | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4–1" river rock | 2 inches | ≈ 120 sq ft |
| 1–3" river rock | 3 inches | ≈ 80 sq ft |
| Large river rock (2–4") | 4–5 inches | ≈ 53 sq ft |
| Oversize accents | single layer | 35–50 sq ft |
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation border | 40 x 3 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.5 tons |
| Dry creek bed | 25 x 4 ft | 4" | 1.2 yd³ | 1.7 tons |
| Accent beds | ≈ 150 sq ft | 2" | 0.9 yd³ | 1.3 tons |
| Downspout splash zones, x4 | 3 x 2 ft each | 3" | 0.2 yd³ | 0.3 tons |
| Front-yard xeriscape | ≈ 600 sq ft | 3" | 5.6 yd³ | 7.5 tons |
Install fabric before rock
Leave out landscape fabric and the soil will gradually take the rock. Bare ground lets stone settle each season and weeds push upward, leaving a bed that needs more material in three years. Put down non-woven fabric, fasten it with pins, and spread the rock over it. For drain rock carrying water, place the fabric around the stone rather than beneath it.
Natural-looking rock bed layout
- Combine sizes by starting with 1-2 inch rock, then grouping larger stones through it. One uniform size can resemble a parking lot median.
- For a dry creek bed, sink the largest anchor stones one third of their depth to give them a water-set appearance.
- After spreading the rock, hose it down. Dust from delivery can dull the color until it is washed off.
- At a foundation, install 3-4 inches over fabric and pitch it slightly away from the wall. This gives a finished look while carrying roof water along.
- Use a blower on low to remove leaves. A rake can toss stones into the grass, where mower blades may hit them later.
Example: a 200-square-foot bed
For 1-inch river rock installed 2 inches deep, 200 x 0.167 works out to 33 cubic feet, or 1.2 cubic yards and about 1.7 tons. Order two tons. Use the extra to build up the front border, where the rock is most noticeable and coverage thins out first.
Rock or mulch over five years
Mulch costs less per delivery and feeds the soil, but it needs renewing every year or two. River rock has a higher first cost, then generally keeps the same appearance into year five. Since rock heats surrounding soil in summer, mulch usually belongs in planted beds; rock is better suited to borders, drainage lines, and edges. Enter identical dimensions in both calculators, and the tonnage difference will show the price difference right away.
River rock coverage and pricing FAQs
How can I calculate the river rock I need?
What area does 1 ton of river rock cover?
What coverage comes from 50 lbs of river rock?
What is the cost of a ton of river rock?
What depth should river rock have?
Is landscape fabric needed under river rock?
Can river rock go over mulch?
What does a yard of river rock weigh?
More calculators
Rock beds need little replacement.
River rock, large river rock, and drain rock are available by the ton, with free delivery included.
