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Landscape rock calculator: how many tons do I need?

Rock yards sell decorative rock and decomposed granite by the ton. Enter your yard's length, width and depth to see how many tons to order and roughly what the rock will cost.

or measure it
Yard area600 sq ft
Order about6 tons
Rock cost$360
Find a rock yard near you →Hire a licensed rock installer

About 1.4 tons per cubic yard plus 10% extra, rounded up to the nearest half ton. Delivery, tax and spreading are extra. Odd-shaped yard? Measure it as rectangles and add them up. See how to measure.

How to measure your yard for rock

Here's an example yard seen from above. Use the same 3 steps on your own yard.

STREETHOUSE1,804 sq ftGARAGE20 × 22DRIVEWAY20 × 16COVERED PATIO20 × 10WALK 4 × 38BACKYARDFRONT YARDROCK AREAROCK AREA55 ft110 ftEXAMPLE YARD, VIEWED FROM ABOVETrees & plantsRock areaConcrete
Example only. Not a real address.
1

Find your lot size

This example lot is 6,049 sq ft (about 55 × 110 ft). Width × depth gets you close.

Tip: your county assessor's website lists your exact lot size. Search your address there. You can also right-click in Google Maps and choose Measure distance.

2

Subtract what won't get rock

House (single story)1,804
Garage (20 × 22)440
Driveway (20 × 16)320
Patio (20 × 10)200
Walkway (4 × 38)150
Trees & plants (about 5%)300
Rock area6,049 − 3,214 = 2,835 sq ft
3

Divide by 100

2,835 ÷ 100 = about 28 tons of rock at 2 inches deep. That's the number to give the rock yard.

Redoing just the front yard? Measure only the front: length × width, minus the driveway and walk.

Weed tip: Got weeds coming up through your rock? Add 2 inches of new rock right on top of your old rock. The thicker layer blocks sunlight and helps cut down on weeds. Most Valley homes came with a pretty thin layer of rock when they were built. Builders, right? Wink, wink. 😉

How the rock calculator works

It multiplies length by width to get square feet, then by depth to get cubic yards. Most Arizona decorative rock weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. The calculator adds 10% for settling and uneven ground, then rounds up to the nearest half ton, since most rock yards sell in half-ton steps.

How deep should rock be?

  • 2 inches: most front and back yards with ½" or ¾" rock
  • 3 inches: paths, slopes and areas where you want heavier cover
  • 4 inches: larger rock like 1" and up, or for extra weed control

Before you order

  • Check your HOA's approved rock colors and sizes, and get approval in writing.
  • Ask the rock yard about delivery fees and minimums. Delivery is often a flat fee per load.
  • Lay weed barrier or pre-emergent before the rock goes down.

Next: compare Arizona rock colors and sizes, find rock yards near you, or hire a licensed rock installer.