How to use it
- Enter the length in feet.
- Enter the width in feet.
- Enter the depth in inches.
- Get your estimated tons and cubic yards instantly.
This rock calculator turns your project measurements into exactly what you need to order. Enter length, width, and depth, and it instantly shows cubic yards, cubic feet, and approximate tons based on the standard 1.4 US tons per cubic yard. Why does that matter? Because rock is sold by the cubic yard or ton, not by the square foot. Knowing both helps you talk to suppliers, plan pickup or delivery, and avoid running short mid-project. Read it this way: cubic yards is what most quarries and landscape yards quote; tons tells you the weight for trucking and safe loading; cubic feet helps when buying bagged rock at a home center. The depth is entered in inches because that's how you'll measure it — the calculator handles the conversion to feet automatically. Whether you're spreading 2 inches of mulch or 6 inches of drainage rock, this gives you a solid, consistent estimate in seconds.
Pro tips
- Add 5–10% waste allowance for compaction, spillage, and irregular ground — especially for crushed rock.
- Round up to the nearest half ton when ordering; it's cheaper to have a little extra than to pay for a second delivery.
- Call your supplier with both cubic yards and tons so they can confirm coverage and truck capacity for your area.
- Avoid mixing units — always measure in feet and inches, and double-check that the depth is inches, not feet.
Real-life examples
- Planning a gravel walkway and need to know how much rock to order before the delivery truck arrives.
- Filling a raised garden bed with drainage rock and comparing cost between bags and bulk delivery.
- Estimating tons for a drainage trench behind a retaining wall so you don't overorder and get stuck with a pile.
Case study
Before, Maria ordered 3 tons for her path and ran out halfway. After using the calculator, she entered 20 ft x 4 ft x 3 in, got 0.74 cubic yards and 1.04 tons, ordered 1.5 tons with waste, and finished with extra.