Stone Calculator

Free stone calculator for decorative and crushed stone. Instant cubic yards, tons, and square-foot coverage at any depth. River rock, pea gravel, crushed #57. No sign-up.

"Stone" is the umbrella term for any decorative aggregate — river rock, crushed stone, lava rock, Mexican beach pebble, and so on. Density varies by stone type but the typical decorative stone is about 2,700 lb/yd³ (1.35 tons). Coverage is the same as mulch: 162 ft² per yard at 2 in deep.

For river rock and pea gravel specifically, see the pea gravel calculator — same material family, but slightly different density and common applications. For crushed stone used as a base material, see the gravel calculator — those stones compact and are usually ordered with a 25% compaction factor.

Common uses for decorative stone

• Landscaping beds where you want a low-maintenance, weed-suppressing ground cover
• Drainage around foundations, French drains, and downspout extensions
• Pathways and walkways where you want a hard surface that doesn't need edging
• Dry creek beds as a feature or as actual drainage

How deep should decorative stone be?

For weed suppression in a bed, 2–3 inches is enough. The landscape fabric underneath matters more than the depth — without fabric, the stone migrates into the soil and you end up re-stoning every couple of years. For drainage (French drains, foundation drains), the trench is usually 6–12 inches wide and 6–18 inches deep depending on the runoff you're catching.

Why decorative stone doesn't compact

Unlike crushed stone used as a base, decorative stone is rounded or irregular in shape and doesn't lock together under pressure. Don't apply a compaction factor to decorative stone — it stays where you put it, and "compaction" just means it settles an inch or two under its own weight.

Frequently asked questions