What are river rocks?

River rocks are stunning, they are different types of rock that have been smoothed over time by rivers and streams. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors and are formed from other stones, such as cooled lava or layers of mud that have been pulverized over time.

It is used for various purposes, including garden and home decoration. Their smooth, polished appearance helps make a room look more natural. 

In addition, other stones that look beautiful retain heat and are ideal for massages, such as heavy black stones.

How many rivers do you need?

Now, let me explain briefly. You must know how much stone you need to decorate your garden or any other space with river stones. It’s quite simple:

• Measure the area where you want to place the stones. The length and width are sufficient.
• Determine the depth at which you want to lay the paving stones. This is usually a few centimeters, depending on how you want it to look.
• Do a little math: multiply the length by the width to get the area and then by the depth to get the required volume.

River stones are heavy, so there are standard densities you can use to estimate their weight. But don’t worry. You can use our online river calculator, which will do your job. Just enter the numbers, and you will know how much you need without overbuying or making multiple trips to the store.

Different Types of River Rocks

River stones are a variety of rocks that have been shaped and smoothed by flowing water. Here are some of the most common types found in riverbeds:

• Pebbles: Small stones, often round in shape, generally less than 5 cm in diameter.
• Cobbles: Larger than pebbles, they can range in size from 2 to 10 inches and are rounded.
• Boulders: large rocks that have been polished by river currents and are too heavy to lift.
• Granite: a common type of intrusive igneous rock, very hard and granular.
• Quartzite: originally pure quartz sandstone.
• Limestone: A sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcite and often containing fossils.
• Sandstone: Another sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of minerals or rocks.
• Shale: a fine-grained, layered metamorphic rock consisting of shale or mudstone that has been metamorphosed by low-grade regional metamorphism.

How to use our river rock calculator

Our River Rock Calculator is easy to use and intuitive. Enter the dimensions of the area you want to cover, specify the depth you need, and select the rock size. Our calculator instantly calculates the amount of river rock required for your project.

How do you calculate river rock volume and weight?

Calculating the size and weight of a river stone is very easy. Let me explain step by step thoroughly.

To calculate the volume, you’ll need to know the length, width, and depth of the area you want to cover with river rocks. Measure these in feet and inches. Then, multiply the length by the width to get the area in square feet. Multiply that by the depth in feet to get the total volume in cubic feet.

For example, if your area is 10 feet by 15 feet, and you want a 4-inch deep layer of rocks, the volume would be 10 x 15 x 0.33 (4 inches converted to feet) = 49.5 cubic feet.

To calculate the weight, you’ll need to know the density of the river rocks. This varies depending on the type of rock, but a typical density is around 100 pounds per cubic foot. Multiply the volume in cubic feet by the density to get the total weight in pounds.

Continuing our example, if the density is 100 pounds per cubic foot, the weight would be 49.5 cubic feet x 100 pounds per cubic foot = 4,950 pounds or about 2.5 tons.

It’s always a good idea to add a little extra, 10-20 % more, to account for any irregularities or settling of the rocks. That way, you’ll have enough to cover the area nicely.

Don’t worry if the math seems confusing at first. Our handy calculator does all the hard work for you. Just enter the dimensions to give you the volume and weight you need. 

Sample calculation of the amount of needed river rock

Let’s say you have a 10ft x 15ft area and want 3 inches of river rock coverage. Enter these dimensions into the calculator, and it will show you need approximately 1.39 cubic yards of river rock for your project.

Real-World Calculation Example

Imagine you’re creating a dry creek bed feature in your backyard, measuring 20ft x 4ft. If you want 6 inches of river rock depth, input these values into the calculator, and it will tell you that you need approximately 1.48 cubic yards of river rock.

Calculate 3-5″ Multi Colored River Rock

You can also use multi-colored river stones ranging from 3-5 inches for a more decorative look. Select this stone size in the calculator, along with the desired area and depth, and you’ll have the exact size you need for your unique project.

Frequently Asked Questions About River Rock Calculator