River Rock Calculator
Beds, borders, and dry creeks — decorative stone priced by the ton, so figure in tons.
Common questions
How deep should river rock be?
Rule: twice the stone diameter, minimum. 1" rock wants 2" depth; 3" rock wants 4–5" so the ground never shows through. Always over landscape fabric, or the rock sinks into the soil within a few seasons.
How much does a ton of river rock cover?
At 2" deep, roughly 75–100 sq ft depending on stone size — larger stones leave more voids and cover slightly more area per ton.
River rock vs pea gravel?
Same family, different scale: pea gravel is ¼–½" and walkable; river rock runs ¾" to 5"+ and is decorative. Walk on pea gravel; look at river rock.