🪨River Rock Calculator
Work out cubic yards, tons and bags of river rock for beds, paths and dry creek beds.
Your area
You'll need about
0.41 cubic yards
0.55 tons · 22 bags (incl. 10% waste)
cubic yards
0.41
tons
0.55
bags
22
suggested depth
2 in
🛒 Shopping list
- River rock, small (¾–1½ in) (0.5 cu ft bags)22 bags
- …or bulk river rock0.6 tons
- Landscape fabric40 sq ft
For small (¾–1½ in) rock, a depth of about 2 inches hides the fabric underneath.
How it works
Volume = length × width × depth, plus waste. Tons = cubic yards × density (about 1.25–1.35 tons per cubic yard depending on rock size). Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size (0.5 cu ft is common).
Worked example
A 10 × 4 ft bed, 3 inches deep, with 10% waste = 11 cu ft = 0.41 cubic yards, about 0.55 tons, or 22 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
Questions people ask
About 2 in for small rock, 3 in for medium and 4 in for large.
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Last updated October 8, 2026. These results are friendly estimates to help you plan — always double-check before buying or making big decisions.