Bagged route
37 bags
0.5 cu ft river rock bags
Best for small beds, tree rings, borders, and pickup trips where matching color and stone size matters.
River rock calculator
River rock calculator for beds, borders, and drainage strips.
Estimate decorative river rock by cubic yard, ton, and 0.5 cubic foot bag count before comparing bagged pickup against bulk delivery.
Quick reference
River rock for common areas at 2 inches deep
Cubic yards, tons, and 0.5 cu ft bags including the default 10% extra, at about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
| Area | Cubic yards | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.34 yd³ | 0.5 tons | 19 |
| 100 sq ft | 0.68 yd³ | 1.0 tons | 37 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.36 yd³ | 2.0 tons | 74 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.40 yd³ | 5.1 tons | 184 |
Depth should be about twice the stone size so the fabric underneath stays covered.
Quick river rock answers
Common bed and border checks
10 x 10 bed at 2 in
0.68 yd³
1.02 tons
37 half-cu-ft bags
150 sq ft border at 2 in
1.02 yd³
1.53 tons
55 half-cu-ft bags
20 x 3 strip at 3 in
0.61 yd³
0.92 tons
33 half-cu-ft bags
Shopping list
Compare bagged and bulk river rock
Bulk route
37
Bulk river rock
For larger beds and long borders, compare the calculated cubic yards and tons with local landscape-yard delivery.
Bed prep
Landscape fabric and edging
Rock beds usually need clean edges and weed control planning before the stone is delivered or poured from bags.
Optional tools
Rake, shovel, and wheelbarrow
River rock is heavy. Plan the hauling path and spread tools before buying a pallet or bulk delivery.
Formula shown
How river rock estimates work
Volume
length ft x width ft x depth in / 12
Cubic yards and tons
cubic yards = ft³ / 27; tons = yd³ x density
Bag counts
bags = ceil(cubic feet with allowance / 0.5)
Sources
- Omni Calculator River Rock Calculator — river rock area, depth, volume, weight, and cost planning model
- HomeAdvisor River Rock Calculator — worked example for 10 x 10 x 3 in river rock volume and weight
- The Home Depot Vigoro River Pebbles — 0.5 cu ft bag size and coverage context for bagged river pebbles
- Lowe's River Rock — retail river rock product context and common landscaping uses
Sources checked
Checked against
Bulk densities, bag sizes, and coverage depths checked against supplier and retail product specs.
How we check our numbersLast updated: June 21, 2026
Estimate only.
This calculator is not a quote. Verify product yield, price, delivery minimums, and local conditions with your supplier or contractor before buying materials.
FAQ
River rock calculator questions
Quick answers for decorative rock depth, cubic yards, tons, bags, and bulk delivery.
How much river rock do I need? + -
Measure the bed length and width, choose the rock depth in inches, then convert the volume to cubic yards. The calculator also estimates tons and 0.5 cubic foot bags.
How deep should river rock be? + -
Many decorative beds use about 2 inches for smaller stones. Larger river rock, drainage strips, and areas where you want fewer bare spots may need closer to 3 inches.
How many bags of river rock are in a cubic yard? + -
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. With 0.5 cubic foot bags, one cubic yard is about 54 bags before any extra allowance.
Should I buy river rock by bag, yard, or ton? + -
Bags are convenient for small beds and color matching. Bulk delivery usually makes more sense for larger beds, but suppliers may quote by cubic yard or ton.
Can this replace a gravel base calculator? + -
Use this page for decorative river rock or drainage rock coverage. For compacted patio base with leveling sand, use the paver base calculator.