Landscape Rock Calculator

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Landscape Rock & Gravel Calculator

Results:

Cubic Yards: 0 yd³

Total Tons: 0 Tons

0.5 Cu Ft Bags: 0

Estimated Cost: $0.00

function calculateLandscapeRock() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calc_length').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calc_width').value); var depth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calc_depth').value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calc_price').value) || 0; if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depth) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depth <= 0) { alert('Please enter valid positive numbers for length, width, and depth.'); return; } // Calculate cubic feet var depthInFeet = depth / 12; var cubicFeet = length * width * depthInFeet; // Calculate cubic yards (27 cubic feet in a cubic yard) var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; // Calculate Tons (Average rock density is roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard) var tons = cubicYards * 1.4; // Calculate Bags (assuming standard 0.5 cubic foot bags) var bags = Math.ceil(cubicFeet / 0.5); // Calculate Cost var totalCost = tons * price; document.getElementById('res_yards').innerText = cubicYards.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_tons').innerText = tons.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_bags').innerText = bags.toLocaleString(); document.getElementById('res_cost').innerText = '$' + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('landscape_results').style.display = 'block'; }

How Much Landscape Rock Do You Need?

Planning a landscaping project involves more than just choosing the right stone. Whether you are installing a gravel driveway, a decorative river rock bed, or a xeriscape garden, calculating the correct amount of material is crucial for budgeting and logistics. Ordering too little leads to extra delivery fees, while ordering too much leaves you with a heavy pile of waste.

The Landscape Rock Formula

Most bulk landscape suppliers sell rock by the cubic yard or by the ton. Here is the manual math behind the calculator:

  1. Calculate Square Footage: Multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft).
  2. Convert Depth to Feet: Divide your desired depth in inches by 12.
  3. Calculate Cubic Feet: Multiply Square Footage × Depth in Feet.
  4. Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide Cubic Feet by 27.
  5. Convert to Tons: Multiply Cubic Yards by 1.4 (this is the industry standard average density for crushed stone).

Recommended Depths for Common Projects

Depending on the size of the rock you choose, the depth of your coverage should vary:

  • Fine Gravel (1/4″ to 1/2″): 2 inches of depth is usually sufficient for coverage.
  • Standard Landscape Rock (1″ to 2″): 3 inches of depth is recommended to prevent the landscape fabric or soil from showing through.
  • Large River Rock (3″ to 5″): 4 to 6 inches of depth is often required to fill gaps between large stones.
  • Driveways: Typically require 4 to 6 inches of depth for structural stability.

Example Calculation

If you have a flower bed that is 20 feet long and 5 feet wide, and you want to fill it with 3 inches of Mexican Beach Pebbles:

  • Area: 20 × 5 = 100 square feet.
  • Depth: 3 / 12 = 0.25 feet.
  • Volume: 100 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet.
  • Yards: 25 / 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
  • Weight: 0.93 × 1.4 = 1.3 tons.

Ordering Tips

Always add a 10% "buffer" to your final calculation. This accounts for settling, variations in the grade of your soil, and rocks being pressed into the ground over time. If you are buying bagged rock from a home improvement store, remember that most bags are 0.5 cubic feet, meaning it takes 54 bags to equal one cubic yard!

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