River Rock Cost Calculator
Decorative rock costs several times what base stone does, and delivery is per load, so buy the whole bed at once. Enter your supplier’s per-ton quote to replace the range.
Order 1.75 t — sold by the ton bulk; decorative rock often comes in 1-ton super sacks.
- Area
- 120 ft²
- Volume (30.0 ft³)
- 1.11 yd³
- Net weight @ 1.35 t/yd³
- 3,000 lb · 1.50 t
- Waste / settling 5%
- + 0.08 t
- Order quantity
- 1.58 tons
- Truckloads
- 1 × tri-axle dump (≈20 t)
- Metric
- 0.85 m³ · 1.43 tonnes
- 50 lb bag (0.5 ft³)
- 63 bags
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
Get 3 quotes for this river rock job
The estimate above is a national range. A local aggregate & stone contractor who sees your site can give you a firm price, and comparing 3 bids is the single biggest lever on what you pay. Tell us where the job is and we will match you with up to 3 contractors who serve your ZIP.
- Your quantities and this estimate go with the request, so you are not starting over.
- No account, no app. Contractors call or text you directly.
- One request. We do not resell your details beyond the matched contractors.
How to calculate river rock by hand
Tons = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.35 t/yd³
Worked example
- Area: 20 ft × 4 ft = 80 ft².
- Volume: 80 ft² × (3 in ÷ 12) = 20 ft³ = 0.74 yd³.
- Weight: 0.74 yd³ × 1.35 t/yd³ = 1.0 ton.
- Waste 5%: 1.0 × 1.05 = 1.05 tons → order 1.25 tons.
- Bagged: 21 ft³ ÷ 0.5 ft³ = 42 × 50 lb bags.
- 1 ton of 1–3″ rock at 3″
- ≈ 80 ft²
- 1 ton of ¾–1″ rock at 2″
- ≈ 115 ft²
- 1 yd³ river rock
- ≈ 2,700 lb · 1.35 t
- Depth rule
- 1.5 × largest stone
How we price this
The low, typical and high columns are the 20th, 50th and 80th percentile of published us national averages for river rock, bulk, delivery and labor. They are estimates for budgeting, not quotes — enter your own supplier and crew prices above to replace them. Ranges are re-checked monthly; see the methodology page for how every number on this site is derived.
- HomeAdvisor cost guides — river rock per ton, per yard and installed landscaping costs
- Home Depot / Lowe’s bagged pricing — 50 lb bag prices
Questions crews ask
How much does river rock cost per ton?
$80–$200 per ton bulk ($100–$260 per cubic yard) depending on size and colour; Mexican beach pebble and polished stone run $300–$600 per ton. Delivery adds $60–$150 per load. Bagged is $5–$10 per 50 lb bag.
How much does river rock landscaping cost installed?
$4–$10 per square foot at 3″ deep including fabric, delivery and labor — $500–$1,200 for a 30 × 4 ft border. Dry creek beds with mixed cobbles and boulders run $10–$20 per ft².
Is river rock cheaper than mulch?
No up front — 3–6 times the price per square foot — but it does not decompose, so over ten years of annual mulch top-ups it usually comes out even or ahead.