How to use it
- Enter the length of the area in feet.
- Enter the width of the area in feet.
- Enter the depth in inches.
- Get your cubic yards, estimated tons, and cubic feet right away.
Ordering decorative rock usually comes down to volume, not weight. This calculator converts your length, width, and depth into the three numbers you'll need: cubic yards, estimated tons, and cubic feet. Cubic yards tell you how much rock to order from a landscape supplier. Tons matter because most deliveries are weighed, and this calculator uses a standard estimate of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard. Cubic feet help you compare bagged rock at a home center. To read the results, start with cubic yards for bulk ordering, then look at tons to confirm truckload weight. If you're buying bags, use cubic feet to match bag sizes. No guesswork, no math on a napkin. Enter your measurements, and you'll know exactly what to ask for before you call the supplier.
Pro tips
- Add 10% waste allowance to account for settling and irregular shapes.
- Round up to the nearest half cubic yard when ordering bulk rock.
- Order all at once to avoid color variation between batches.
- Don't confuse depth in inches with feet—enter inches as the calculator asks.
Real-life examples
- Planning a new flower bed border and need to order river rock.
- Filling a fire pit ring with pea gravel.
- Calculating how many bags of crushed stone to cover a garden path.
Case study
Mia measured her 12 ft by 8 ft planting bed, entered 3 inches for depth, and got about 0.89 cubic yard and 1.24 tons. She ordered 1 cubic yard with waste, the delivery matched her estimate, and she had just enough rock to finish without a second trip.