Introduction
The River Rock Calculator helps you figure out how much river rock you need for your project. River rock is a smooth stone used for gardens, paths, and driveways. It comes in different sizes and adds beauty to outdoor spaces.
This tool makes it easy to plan your project. Just pick your area shape, enter the size, and choose how deep you want the rocks. The calculator tells you how many tons or cubic yards to buy. It also shows the total cost based on current prices. For similar projects, you might also need our Pea Gravel Calculator for smaller stone sizes or our Concrete Calculator if you're creating a solid base.
Whether you're making a garden bed, building a walkway, or covering a large area, this calculator saves you time and money. It adds extra amounts for waste and settling, so you don't run short. You can even calculate multiple areas at once for bigger projects.
How to use our River Rock Calculator
Enter your project area size and depth to find out how much river rock you need. The calculator will show you the amount in cubic yards, tons, and total cost.
Select Area Shape: Pick the shape that matches your project area - rectangle, circle, triangle, or custom for multiple zones.
Length: Enter how long your area is in feet, meters, or inches (shows for rectangle shapes).
Width: Enter how wide your area is in feet, meters, or inches (shows for rectangle shapes).
Radius: Enter the distance from the center to the edge for circular areas (shows for circle shapes).
Base: Enter the bottom edge length for triangle areas (shows for triangle shapes).
Height: Enter the vertical height for triangle areas (shows for triangle shapes).
Depth: Enter how thick you want the river rock layer to be, usually 2-4 inches for most projects.
River Rock Size: Choose the size of rock you want, from small pea gravel to large 3-5 inch rocks.
Material Density: Set the weight of rock per cubic yard - most river rock is about 1.3 tons per cubic yard.
Waste Factor: Add extra percentage for spillage and uneven ground - usually 10% is enough.
Compression Factor: Add extra for settling over time - typically 15% for river rock.
Price per Ton: Enter what your supplier charges for each ton of river rock.
Price per Cubic Yard: Enter the cost if buying by volume instead of weight.
Price per Bag: Enter the cost for bagged river rock from stores.
Delivery Fee: Add any delivery charges from your supplier to get the full project cost.
What is River Rock?
River rock is a type of smooth stone that comes from riverbeds and beaches. These rocks get their round shape from water moving over them for many years. River rocks come in different sizes, from tiny pea gravel that is less than half an inch wide to large stones that are 5 inches across. People use river rock for many outdoor projects because it looks nice and lasts a long time.
Common Uses for River Rock
River rock works great for many home and garden projects. You can use it to make pathways and walkways that drain water well. It helps stop weeds when you put it in flower beds. Many people use river rock around trees and plants to keep the soil moist. It also works well for drainage areas where water needs to flow away from your house. Driveways can use larger river rocks for a strong surface that lets water through. If you're planning a driveway project, check our Asphalt Calculator to compare material options.