Stone Coverage Calculator
Enter cubic yards and depth to see coverage area.
Stone Coverage Formula
Understanding Stone Coverage
Stone Coverage by Size and Depth
| Stone Size | Coverage at 2 in | Coverage at 3 in | Coverage at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in Crushed (dust) | 162 sq ft/CY | 108 sq ft/CY | 81 sq ft/CY |
| 3/4 in Crushed (#57) | 162 sq ft/CY | 108 sq ft/CY | 81 sq ft/CY |
| 1-2 in River Stone | 130 sq ft/CY | 90 sq ft/CY | 65 sq ft/CY |
| 3-5 in Cobblestone | 100 sq ft/CY | 70 sq ft/CY | 50 sq ft/CY |
| 6-12 in Boulders | 65 sq ft/CY | 45 sq ft/CY | 35 sq ft/CY |
Choosing the Right Depth
- Crushed stone (under 1 in): Minimum 2 inches for ground cover, 4+ inches for driveways.
- Medium stone (1-3 in): Minimum 3 inches for landscape beds.
- Large stone (3-6 in): Minimum 4 inches, single-layer placement.
- Boulders (6+ in): Placed individually, ordered by piece or ton.
Calculating Stone for Retaining Walls
Drainage backfill behind retaining walls: wall length x depth of stone zone (typically 12 inches) x wall height. A 50-foot wall, 4 feet high, 12-inch drainage zone = 50 x 1 x 4 / 27 = 7.4 cubic yards.
Stone Coverage Calculator FAQ
Calculate: Area (sq ft) x Depth (ft) / 27 = cubic yards. For 300 sq ft at 3 inches: 300 x 0.25 / 27 = 2.78 CY. Add 10-15% for waste.
Fine crushed stone covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches per CY. Medium river stone covers about 90 sq ft. Large cobblestones only 70 sq ft due to void space.
Use 2-3 inches for small crushed stone, 3-4 inches for medium river rock. Depth should be at least 1.5x the largest stone diameter.
Break the area into rectangles, triangles, and circles. Calculate each section separately and add results. For curved beds, average the width at 3-4 measurement points.
Calculate cubic yards first, then multiply by stone density (1.3-1.55 tons per CY). For 5 CY of crushed stone at 1.4 tons/CY = 7 tons.
Pea gravel and small crushed stone (3/4 inch) are most popular. Affordable, easy to install, and good weed suppression with landscape fabric.