Measure total bed area.
Plan ground cover for planting beds, borders, dry creek areas, and low-maintenance landscapes.
Verified formulaEditable presetsUS + metric
Purpose-built estimator
Project measurements
Total surface area to cover with decorative rock.
Adjusts the starting depth for coverage by rock size.
Average finished rock depth.
Bulk density of the decorative rock.
Percent added for cuts, spillage, edge cleanup, and small estimating errors.
Optional supplier price used to estimate material cost before delivery fees and taxes.
Landscape-bed coverage
- 1Rock layer
- 2Specified depth
- 3Landscape fabric
- 4Measured bed area
How to use this calculator
Read full measuring guide Measure, verify, and order
Convert planting bed square footage and coverage depth into yards, tons, bags, and cost.
Choose rock-size coverage preset.
Confirm depth and supplier density.
What each input means
Measured bed area
Total surface area to cover with decorative rock.
Unit: sq ft or m2. Measure or sketch the bed and add simple shapes.Rock-size preset
Adjusts the starting depth for coverage by rock size.
Choose larger rock when pieces need a deeper layer to cover soil.Coverage depth
Average finished rock depth.
Unit: in or cm. Measure from soil or fabric up to the finished rock surface.Rock density
Bulk density of the decorative rock.
Unit: lb/ft3 or kg/m3. Use supplier tons per yard for the chosen product.Extra / waste
Percent added for cuts, spillage, edge cleanup, and small estimating errors.
Unit: percent. Use 5 percent for simple square work and 10 percent or more for irregular work.Price per ton
Optional supplier price used to estimate material cost before delivery fees and taxes.
Unit: USD per US ton. Enter the quoted material price per US short ton. Leave 0 if you only need quantity.Check the calculation
Example: a 200 sq ft bed at 2 inches deep needs about 1.23 cubic yards before waste.
A 200 sq ft landscape bed at 2 inches deep contains 1.23 compacted cubic yards before allowances.
Total loose order 1.36 cu yd Total weight 1.93 US tons
Volume = bed area x coverage depth.
Assumptions to check
- Use the irregular-area mode for measured bed square footage.
- Larger rock generally needs a deeper layer for full coverage.
- Landscape fabric does not reduce the required rock depth.
- Does not account for boulders or edging displacement.
- Very large rock may need hand placement.
- Plants and mulch openings can reduce actual coverage.
Read our formulas, sources, image credits, and review policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this landscape rock calculator calculate?
It uses project-specific inputs and the formula shown below. Volume = bed area x coverage depth.
Are the presets exact specifications?
No. Presets are editable planning starting points. Confirm depths, materials, and densities with the supplier, manufacturer, or project designer.
Why can delivered weight differ?
Bulk density varies by supplier and moisture level. Moisture, gradation, compaction, and scale accuracy can change the delivered weight.