Measure the area and depth to get cubic yards and an estimate in tons, since many yards sell rock by weight.
This Old House’s coverage for 1 ton of rock spread 3 inches deep. Lighter stone covers far more ground per ton.
| Rock | 1 ton covers at 3 inches |
|---|---|
| Crushed rock | 65 to 75 sq ft |
| Landscape rock, 0.75 to 1.5 inches | 75 to 85 sq ft |
| Landscape rock, 1.5 to 3 inches | 45 to 60 sq ft |
| Lava rock | 200 to 210 sq ft |
Lawn Love multiplies cubic yards by 1.4 to get tons of river rock, which is what this calculator uses. Stone varies, so ask your supplier for its own weight per yard.
At 3 inches deep, This Old House puts a ton of crushed rock at about 65 to 75 sq ft and a ton of lava rock at about 200 to 210 sq ft. The chart above has the other sizes.
Lawn Love suggests adding 10% for rock lost in transport and installation. The calculator adds it unless you untick the box.
Multiply the square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324. A 10 by 10 foot area at 3 inches deep is 100 × 3 ÷ 324, or 0.93 cubic yards.
In This Old House’s gravel path project, the path is dug 4 inches deep, lined with about 2½ inches of packed crushed stone, covered with landscape fabric, then filled with gravel to about ½ inch below the top of the edging.
This Old House lays fabric over the compacted base to block weeds and keep soil from mixing into the gravel, pinned taut so it doesn’t bunch up through the top layer. Edging keeps the gravel from spilling into the lawn.
Free to cite or embed. The embed shows the full calculator, with a link back to this page.
Results are estimates. Suppliers’ bag sizes, pallet sizes and stone weights vary, so check theirs before you order.
Common landscape rock like pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock and lava rock runs about $10 to $220 per ton in 2026 cost guides. It works best on paths, dry creek beds and in desert or wildfire-prone yards, and less well in most planting beds.
October 11, 2026
Xeriscaping is landscaping built to need little water beyond rainfall, using seven principles: planning, soil prep, practical turf, adapted plants, efficient irrigation, mulch and maintenance. It doesn't have to mean gravel and cactus.
October 7, 2026
