Landscape & Groundwork
Stone Calculator
Find the cubic yards, tons and material cost for your landscape stone project.
Enter your measurements
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
Works for landscape stone, decorative rock and gravel mixes. Enter dimensions, an area with depth, or a known volume; add an optional order allowance and the supplier's bulk density to see weight in US short tons, metric tonnes and kilograms.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the bed length, width and stone depth.
- Check the named dry-rock supplier example beside the density field, then replace it with the density for your actual material and volume basis.
- Add an order allowance for uneven ground and edging.
- Compare net and order volumes before ordering.
Formula
Net volume = length × width × depth (or area × depth, or entered volume)
Order volume = net volume × (1 + allowance ÷ 100)
Weight = order volume × supplier density — only when density is supplied
Assumptions
- Stone size and grading change bulk density; the default is editable and is not a specification.
- The allowance is additional order volume applied once, not a compaction model.
- Weight is only shown when a density is supplied.
- The editable density is a named supplier example. Grading, moisture and compaction can change the weight.
Volume for a 10 × 10 ft stone bed
| Depth | Volume before allowance |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.617 yd³ |
| 3 in | 0.926 yd³ |
| 4 in | 1.235 yd³ |
Calculated geometry; stone size and required depth are separate product decisions.
Common mistakes
- Mixing depth in inches with area in square feet before converting units.
- Using a loose or dry supplier density for a different compacted or wet material.
- Applying extra order volume twice, or treating it as a compaction model.
Worked example
Try it: press “Load example” above the form.
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Limitations
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one density for every landscape stone?
No. The preset is a dry-rock supplier example. Porosity, grading, stone size and moisture vary. Edit the density to the quoted product before converting cubic yards to tons.
Does the estimate include a base layer?
Only the layer dimensions you enter are counted. Estimate bedding, aggregate base and decorative stone separately so different depths and densities are not mixed.
What does the worked example show?
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Which assumptions should I check before using the result?
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Sources
Sources explain the methods and any named product presets. Check your product label where coverage, yield or density differs.
- Inch Calculator: Gravel
- NIST: Revised Unit Conversion Factors
- Triangle Landscape Supplies: dry bulk weights
Named supplier examples: rock 2,800 lb/yd³, sand 2,500 lb/yd³, soil 2,000–2,600 lb/yd³. These do not specify every material. Checked 8 November 2026.
Calculation documentation · Updated 2026-11-11 · Version 1.6.4. Estimates are planning aids. Confirm quantities, coverage and prices with your supplier before purchasing. Found an error? Report it.
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