How Much Does a Ton of River Rock Cover?
How much does a ton of river rock cover? It depends mostly on the rock size, because bigger rock needs a deeper layer to hide the ground. Small river rock around 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches covers about 80 to 120 square feet per ton at 2 to 3 inches deep. Medium rock around 1 1/2 to 3 inches covers about 50 to 75 square feet per ton at 3 to 4 inches. Large rock of 3 to 5 inches or more covers about 40 to 60 square feet per ton at 4 to 6 inches. River rock weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Coverage by rock size
| Rock size | Recommended depth | Approx. coverage per ton |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 to 1 1/2 in | 2 to 3 in | 80 to 120 sq ft |
| 1 1/2 to 3 in | 3 to 4 in | 50 to 75 sq ft |
| 3 to 5 in | 4 to 6 in | 40 to 60 sq ft |
| 6 in and larger | single layer | varies; often sold by the piece or ton |
A good rule is to make the layer at least about one and a half to two times the size of the largest stones so no soil shows through.
How to estimate
- Measure area in square feet.
- Choose depth based on rock size.
- Multiply area by depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Multiply by about 1.35 tons per yard.
Example: a 4x25-foot bed with 1 1/2 to 3 inch rock at 3 inches is 100 x 0.25 = 25 cubic feet, about 0.93 cubic yard, or roughly 1.25 tons. See how much does a yard of river rock weigh.
Landscape fabric
A layer of landscape fabric under river rock helps keep weeds down and stops rock from sinking into soil. Overlap seams by several inches and pin them. Fabric also makes it easier to remove the rock later.
River rock in drainage
River rock is popular in dry creek beds and around downspouts. For drainage, mix sizes so smaller stones fill gaps between larger ones, and plan extra depth. Large rock costs more per ton and is heavier to place by hand.
Driveways
Smooth river rock rolls and shifts under tires, so it is not ideal for driveways unless used as a decorative border or with stabilizing grids. See river rock driveway.
Bags vs bulk
Bagged river rock usually comes in 0.5 cubic foot bags, about 50 pounds each. A ton is roughly 40 bags. For anything over a few hundred square feet, bulk is usually much cheaper. Use the asphalt base calculator to convert area and depth to tons.
Bottom line
A ton of small river rock covers about 80 to 120 square feet at 2 to 3 inches, while larger rock needs more depth and covers only about 40 to 60 square feet per ton. Match depth to rock size, use landscape fabric, and order by multiplying cubic yards by about 1.35 tons.
Questions people ask
How many square feet does a ton of river rock cover?
About 80 to 120 square feet for small rock, and 40 to 60 for large rock.
How deep should river rock be?
About one and a half to two times the size of the largest stones.
How many bags of river rock are in a ton?
About 40 bags of 0.5 cubic feet.
How much does a yard of river rock weigh?
About 1.3 to 1.4 tons.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Yard of River Rock Weigh?
- River Rock Driveway: Why Round Stone Rolls, and How to Get the Look Without the Problems
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per Yard by Stone Type
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