River rock calculator
Work out how much river rock you need in tons and cubic yards, with the coverage a ton gives at each depth.
River rock calculator
Use your supplier's density
You need
- Volume
- Weight
- Area
| Order by | Exact | Order, rounded up for anything sold in whole bags |
|---|
Enter your measurements to see what to order.
One cubic yard of river rock weighs about 1.28 US tons and covers about 130 square feet at 2.5 in.
How to work out how much river rock you need
- Measure the area in feet and multiply length by width.
- Pick a depth in inches and multiply it by the area to get a volume.
- Multiply the volume by the bulk density, 1513 kg per cubic metre for river rock, to get a weight.
- Divide the weight by your supplier's ton or cubic yard to get what to order, and round up. Suppliers do not sell part bags.
- Add 10 percent. Covers settlement, uneven ground and the material lost around the edges. A second delivery for half a yard costs more than the extra you did not use.
How many tons in a cubic yard of river rock?
About 1.28 US tons, at 1513 kg per cubic metre. Because published densities run from 1424 to 1602, the honest answer is a range: between 1.2 and 1.35 tons per cubic yard depending on grading and how wet the load is.
How many cubic yards in a ton of river rock?
About 0.78 cubic yards. One tonne is about 0.66 cubic metres.
How deep should river rock be laid?
| Use | Depth | What the supplier says |
|---|---|---|
| Path | 2 in to 3 in | Earth Stone Rock: 2 to 3 inches for paths and patios. |
| Patio surface | 1 in to 1.5 in | Earth Stone Rock: 1 to 1.5 inches as a surface layer over a base. |
| Base layer | 4 in to 6 in | Earth Stone Rock: 4 to 6 inches of base. |
How much does river rock weigh?
Between 1424 and 1602 kg per cubic metre, a spread of 13 percent. Loose. The verifier brought the top of this range down from 1,780 after finding the figure behind it came from an article quoting gradings that yard does not stock. The calculator above uses 1513, and you can replace it with your own supplier's figure.
3 published figures from 3 suppliers, read 2026-09-20.
| Supplier | Published figure | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Roseville Rock Supplyinternational | River Rock 2,400-2,600 lbs per cubic yard | Unstated (as-delivered yard figure) |
| Cedar River Garden Centerinternational | 1 yard = 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) | Unstated (loose, as loaded by the scoop) |
| Visions Supply and Designinternational | 2700 pounds per cubic yard on average (1.35 tons per yard) | Unstated (as delivered) |
What you can order river rock in
| Pack | Where | Size |
|---|---|---|
| cubic yard | US, CA | 0.765 m3 |
| US ton | US, CA | 907 kg |
| 0.5 cu ft bag | US, CA | 0.014 m3 |