By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Rock beds are usually specified in cubic yards, but bags, trailers and delivery fees are quoted in pounds or tons. Enter the bed area and the depth of the stone layer to see all three, plus the cost at your supplier's price.
Landscaping rock quantity, weight and cost for beds and borders.
V = L × W × D W = V × ρ Cost = V × price
Depth is entered in inches. Bulk density is taken as 1,600 kg/m³ (mixed decorative stone); real material varies with moisture and compaction, so treat the total as an estimate and add 5–10% for settling.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L, W | Length and width of the area being covered. |
| D | Spread depth of the material. |
| V | Volume in cubic yards (and cubic metres). |
| ρ | Bulk density of the material. |
| W | Total weight, shown in pounds and US tons. |
120 sq ft × 2 in is 20 cu ft, or 0.74 cu yd — about 2,650 lb (1.3 tons) of rock. Bags of 0.5 cu ft would need about 40.
Continue with the Gravel Calculator, Sand Calculator, River Rock Calculator, or the Limestone Calculator — or browse more materials & quantities and all construction calculators.
Two inches hides soil and suppresses weeds when over fabric. Three inches suits larger 2–3 inch stone; dry creek beds need 4–6 inches.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026