Stone Tonnage & Depth Calculator
Convert area and depth to tons or cubic yards of decorative stone, crushed gravel, riprap, paver base, or sand. Density presets for the most common landscape materials.
Area
200 sq ft
Volume
50.0 ft³ · 1.85 yd³
Weight
5,500 lbs
Estimated tons
2.75
Density used: 100 lb/ft³. Moisture, gradation, void space, and actual material density affect final weight.
Your inputs are saved in the URL — send it to buyers, sellers, or contractors.
About the formula
tons = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) × density × (1 + waste) ÷ 2000
Densities shown are typical loose values. If your quarry or supplier publishes a density, override the value above.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should the material be?
Decorative gravel and mulch stone: 2–3″. Driveway base or heavy traffic: 4–6″. Paver base compacted: 4–6″. Riprap and drainage: 6–12″. Enter the intended finished depth, not the loose dumped depth.
Which density should I use?
Decorative landscape stone averages ~100 lb/ft³ loose, 3/4″ crushed limestone ~135, pea gravel ~105, river rock ~110, and sand ~110. If your supplier publishes a density, use theirs — regional stone varies.
How much waste should I add?
Add 10% for typical residential jobs, 5% for pre-measured areas with hard edges, and 15% for irregular shapes, sloped grades, or areas that need to fill low spots. Compacted bases need extra to reach final depth.
How does this compare to bagged material?
A standard 0.5 cubic foot bag weighs ~50 lbs of decorative stone. One ton is roughly 40 bags — bulk is dramatically cheaper for anything above ~1/2 ton.
Common use cases
Sizing driveway aggregate, decorative gravel beds, drainage / French drain fill, paver base course, and riprap for erosion control.
Results are estimates. Actual quantities, weights, and costs vary with material variability, installation method, freight conditions, waste, and site-specific factors.