StoneStone Calculator

Stone Calculator

Calculate exactly how much landscape stone you need for driveways, pathways, and garden beds. Get cubic yards, tons, and cost estimates with coverage rates pros actually use.

Project Dimensions

Recommended: 10-15% for compaction and settling

Ready to calculate

Enter your project dimensions

Expert Review byHawkin, CCP, CEP

Stone Types & Density

Crushed Stone/Gravel

1.4 t/yd³

$40/ton avg

River Rock (1-3")

1.35 t/yd³

$80/ton avg

River Rock (3-6")

1.25 t/yd³

$120/ton avg

Pea Gravel

1.35 t/yd³

$50/ton avg

Decomposed Granite

1.4 t/yd³

$55/ton avg

Lava Rock

0.55 t/yd³

$110/ton avg

Limestone

1.5 t/yd³

$65/ton avg

Marble Chips

1.45 t/yd³

$150/ton avg

Expert Contributors

Why expert review matters

Every calculator is reviewed by certified professionals to ensure accuracy.Hawkin's CCP, CEP certification ensures professional-grade precision.

Coverage by Depth (sq ft per ton)

1" deep

Crushed: 240 ft²

River: 250 ft²

Lava: 610 ft²

2" deep

Crushed: 120 ft²

River: 125 ft²

Lava: 305 ft²

3" deep

Crushed: 80 ft²

River: 83 ft²

Lava: 200 ft²

4" deep

Crushed: 60 ft²

River: 62 ft²

Lava: 150 ft²

6" deep

Crushed: 40 ft²

River: 42 ft²

Lava: 100 ft²

Pro Tips

  • Order 10-15% extra material to account for settling, compaction, and slight measurement variations
  • Compact your base in 2-inch lifts rather than all at once to achieve 95% compaction density
  • Call 811 at least 3 days before digging to have underground utilities marked for free
  • Request a split load delivery if you need two stone types to save $75-150 in delivery fees

Common Questions

How much stone do I need?

Multiply L × W × depth (ft), divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by density (1.4 for crushed stone) for tons.

How deep should stone be?

2-3" for decorative beds, 4" for driveways, 6-8" for drainage applications.

How much does a ton cover?

One ton of crushed stone covers ~80-100 sq ft at 2" deep.

Crushed stone vs river rock?

Crushed stone for stability (driveways), river rock for aesthetics and drainage.

How the Calculator Works

The calculator multiplies your project's length, width, and desired depth to determine total cubic yards needed. It then converts cubic yards to tons using standard density values for your selected stone type (since suppliers sell by weight, not volume). We automatically add your selected overage percentage to ensure you have enough material for natural variations in coverage and compaction.

Formula

Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 324

Tons = Cubic Yards × Stone Density × (1 + Waste %)

Quick Reference

Crushed stone density
1.4 t/yd³
River rock density
1.25-1.35 t/yd³
Coverage at 2"
~120 sq ft/ton
Delivery minimum
1-3 tons typical
Dump truck load
10-15 tons