Stone Calculator

Calculate stone for landscaping and hardscaping

Stone Needed

2.75 tons

Volume

1.85 yd³

Area

200.0 sq ft

Cost

$206.25

Units

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)

Stone Type

Density (lbs/ft³)

Auto-updated based on stone type

Waste Percentage

10%

Cost per Ton ($)

Weight

2.75 tons

Cubic Yards

1.85

Area

200.0 sq ft

Est. Cost

$206.25

Volume Breakdown

Area200.0 sq ft

Depth3 in

Volume1.85 yd³

Weight Breakdown

Base (no waste)2.50 tons

Waste (+10%)0.25 tons

Total Weight2.75 tons

Estimated Cost$206.25

What You'll Need

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate stone needed for landscaping?

Measure the area (Length × Width) and desired depth. Volume = L × W × Depth in feet. Convert to tons: Volume × density / 2000. Add 10% waste. For a 100 sq ft area at 3" deep with crushed stone: 25 cu ft × 100 / 2000 = 1.25 tons + 10% = 1.38 tons.

Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) / 12
Convert to tons: Volume (cu ft) × density (lbs/cu ft) / 2,000
1 cubic yard = 27 cu ft ≈ 1.35 tons of crushed stone
Add 10% waste for regular shapes, 15% for irregular or curved areas
Most suppliers sell by the ton; minimum delivery is typically 1–2 tons

How much does landscape stone cost per ton?

Landscape stone costs $50-200+ per ton depending on type. Crushed stone: $50-75/ton, River rock: $100-150/ton, Flagstone: $150-350/ton, Decorative granite: $100-200/ton. Delivery adds $50-150.

Crushed gravel (#57 stone): $50–75 per ton — most affordable
Pea gravel (3/8”): $60–85 per ton — popular for paths
River rock (1–3”): $100–150 per ton — decorative ground cover
Flagstone: $150–350 per ton — premium patio/walkway material
Delivery typically $50–150 flat fee; some charge $5–10 per loaded mile

Stone Type	Cost/Ton	Density (lbs/ft³)	Best Use
Crushed stone (#57)	$50–75	100	Driveways, base layer
Pea gravel	$60–85	95	Paths, drainage, fill
River rock	$100–150	110	Decorative beds, dry creeks
Flagstone	$150–350	150	Patios, walkways, stepping stones
Decomposed granite	$40–65	100	Paths, ground cover

How many square feet does a ton of stone cover?

A ton of stone covers roughly 80-120 sq ft at 2" depth depending on type. Crushed stone: ~100 sq ft/ton at 2", River rock: ~80 sq ft/ton at 2", Flagstone: ~70 sq ft/ton at 1.5" thickness.

Crushed stone: ≈100 sq ft per ton at 2” depth
Pea gravel: ≈90 sq ft per ton at 2” depth
River rock: ≈80 sq ft per ton at 2” depth
Flagstone: ≈70 sq ft per ton at 1.5” average thickness
At 4” depth, coverage is cut in half compared to 2” depth

Stone Type	Coverage at 2”	Coverage at 3”	Coverage at 4”
Crushed stone	100 sq ft/ton	67 sq ft/ton	50 sq ft/ton
Pea gravel	90 sq ft/ton	60 sq ft/ton	45 sq ft/ton
River rock	80 sq ft/ton	53 sq ft/ton	40 sq ft/ton
Flagstone	70 sq ft/ton	47 sq ft/ton	35 sq ft/ton

What depth of stone do I need for landscaping?

For landscaping ground cover, use 2-4 inches of stone. Walkways: 2-3 inches, Garden beds: 2-3 inches, Driveways: 4-6 inches, Drainage areas: 4-6 inches.

Garden bed ground cover: 2–3” over landscape fabric
Walkways and paths: 2–3” compacted depth
Driveways: 4–6” total depth (4” base + 2” surface)
Drainage and French drains: 4–6” of 3/4” crushed stone
Under pavers: 4” compacted base + 1” leveling sand

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Example Calculations

1Garden Path with Flagstone (20 × 3 ft, 2 inches deep)

Inputs

Length20 ft

Width3 ft

Depth2 inches

Stone TypeFlagstone (150 lbs/ft³)

Waste10%

Cost per Ton$200

Result

Stone Needed0.83 tons

Area60.0 sq ft

Cubic Yards0.37

Base (no waste)0.75 tons

Estimated Cost$165

Volume = 20 × 3 × (2/12) = 10 cu ft. Base tons = (10 × 150) / 2000 = 0.75. With 10% waste = 0.75 × 1.1 = 0.83 tons. Cost = 0.83 × $200 = $165.

2Driveway with Crushed Stone (30 × 12 ft, 4 inches deep)

Inputs

Length30 ft

Width12 ft

Depth4 inches

Stone TypeCrushed Stone (100 lbs/ft³)

Waste10%

Cost per Ton$60

Result

Stone Needed6.60 tons

Area360.0 sq ft

Cubic Yards4.44

Base (no waste)6.00 tons

Estimated Cost$396

Volume = 30 × 12 × (4/12) = 120 cu ft. Base tons = (120 × 100) / 2000 = 6.00. With 10% waste = 6.00 × 1.1 = 6.60 tons. Cost = 6.60 × $60 = $396.

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Formulas Used

Volume

Volume (cu ft) = Length × Width × (Depth / 12)

Calculates volume in cubic feet from area dimensions and depth in inches.

Where:

Length= Area length in feet

Width= Area width in feet

Depth= Stone depth in inches

Tons with Waste

Tons = (Volume × Density / 2000) × (1 + Waste% / 100)

Converts volume to tons and adds waste factor.

Where:

Density= Stone density in lbs/cu ft (varies by type)

Waste%= Extra material for waste (typically 10-15%)

Show all formulas

Complete Guide to Estimating Landscape Stone

How Stone Density Drives Material Calculations

One cubic yard of crushed stone weighs approximately 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons), while the same volume of river rock weighs 2,950 lbs (1.48 tons) due to its higher density at 110 lbs/ft³. Flagstone is denser still at 150 lbs/ft³, meaning a cubic yard tops 4,000 lbs. These differences make density — not just volume — the key variable in ordering the right tonnage.

The base calculation is straightforward: Volume (cu ft) = Length × Width × (Depth in inches ÷ 12). Then convert to tons: Volume × Density / 2,000. A 100 sq ft patio at 3” depth with crushed stone (100 lbs/ft³): 100 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft, then 25 × 100 / 2,000 = 1.25 tons before waste.

Suppliers typically sell by the ton with a 1–2 ton minimum delivery. Delivery fees range from $50–$150 per load. Ordering 10–15% extra prevents a costly second delivery — leftover stone works for future fill or drainage projects.

Tip: Ask your supplier for the exact density of their specific product. Quarry sources vary, and regional stone can differ by 10–15% from published averages.

Stone Types, Costs, and Best Uses

Crushed stone (#57) at $50–$75 per ton is the workhorse of hardscaping — it compacts well for driveways, serves as a base layer under pavers, and provides drainage in French drains. Pea gravel ($60–$85/ton) is preferred for paths and ground cover because its smooth, rounded shape is comfortable underfoot.

River rock at $100–$150 per ton creates decorative dry creek beds and accent borders. It does not compact, so it is not suitable for driveways. Flagstone ($150–$350/ton) is the premium choice for patios and walkways, offering a natural, flat surface that can be dry-laid or mortared. Decomposed granite ($40–$65/ton) compacts to a firm, permeable surface ideal for pathways and xeriscaping.

*Coverage assumes 2” depth; halve coverage for 4” depth
Stone Type	Cost/Ton	Density (lbs/ft³)	Coverage at 2” Depth
Crushed stone (#57)	$50–$75	100	≈100 sq ft/ton
Pea gravel	$60–$85	95	≈90 sq ft/ton
River rock	$100–$150	110	≈80 sq ft/ton
Flagstone	$150–$350	150	≈70 sq ft/ton
Decomposed granite	$40–$65	100	≈100 sq ft/ton

Choosing the Right Depth for Your Project

Depth requirements vary dramatically by application. Garden bed ground cover needs just 2–3” of stone over landscape fabric, while a gravel driveway requires 4–6” total (4” compacted base + 2” surface layer). Drainage applications such as French drains call for 4–6” of 3/4” crushed stone to allow water flow.

Doubling the depth doubles the tonnage. A 200 sq ft area at 2” depth with crushed stone requires about 1.67 tons; the same area at 4” requires 3.33 tons. Under-paver base layers should be 4” of compacted #57 stone plus 1” of leveling sand — calculate both separately for an accurate material order.

Garden bed ground cover — 2–3” over landscape fabric, ≈90 sq ft/ton
Walkways and paths — 2–3” compacted, pea gravel or decomposed granite
Driveways — 4–6” total depth, crushed stone compacted in 2” lifts
French drains — 4–6” of 3/4” crushed stone around perforated pipe
Paver base — 4” compacted #57 stone + 1” leveling sand

Step-by-Step Stone Ordering Process

Accurate measurement prevents costly overbuying (unused stone is heavy and expensive to remove) or underbuying (a second delivery fee of $100+ for half a ton). Follow these steps to get it right the first time, whether you are covering a 60 sq ft garden path or a 360 sq ft driveway.

For irregularly shaped areas, break the space into rectangles and triangles, calculate each separately, and sum the totals. A kidney-shaped planting bed might be approximated as an ellipse: π × (length/2) × (width/2). Add 15% waste instead of 10% for curved or irregular layouts.

1
Measure the area
Use a tape measure to get length and width in feet. For irregular shapes, break into rectangles and triangles.
2
Determine depth
2–3” for ground cover, 4–6” for driveways. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12.
3
Calculate volume
Length × Width × Depth (ft) = cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
4
Convert to tons
Volume (cu ft) × density (lbs/ft³) ÷ 2,000 = tons needed. Add 10–15% waste factor.
5
Get delivery quotes
Call 2–3 local suppliers for per-ton pricing plus delivery fees. Most require 1–2 ton minimum.

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Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026

This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.

UseCalcPro

Stone Calculator

Calculate stone for landscaping and hardscaping

Stone Needed

2.75 tons

Volume

1.85 yd³

Area

200.0 sq ft

Cost

$206.25

Units

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)

Stone Type

Density (lbs/ft³)

Auto-updated based on stone type

Waste Percentage

10%

Cost per Ton ($)

Weight

2.75 tons

Cubic Yards

1.85

Area

200.0 sq ft

Est. Cost

$206.25