Decorative gravel is a versatile material used as mulch or as a paving material for paths and driveways. But getting it delivered is often a messy, backbreaking experience.
Not only do you have to find a place for the truck to make a drop-off, but you’ll be raking and shoveling stone for hours after delivery. The last thing you want is to order too much or too little of the stuff. With the former, you’ll walk away with a lighter wallet and a mountain of useless stone. End up a couple of inches short, however, you’ll be coughing up the cash for another delivery fee.
If math and rulers aren’t your things, skip this article and check out Riverbend Rock and Mulch’s online gravel calculator!
What You’ll Need
Figuring out how much rock you need is a mostly mental process. But, you’ll still need the following:
- Measuring tape
- Calculator
- Notepad
- A nail
Step One – Measure Your Area
You can’t calculate anything if you don’t have an area mapped out and ready to go! Start by sketching a diagram of your future gravel bed.
Then, grab your measuring tape and determine how wide you want that area to be. To ensure the bed is straight, take numbers at a few different points.
Once you’ve got the width down, calculate the length. Repeat the process outlined above and jot down your findings.
For a square or rectangular area, figuring out what corresponds to what is easy. If you’re building something more intricate, meanwhile, it’s best to start with a simple shape and work out from there. An oval, for instance, is just a rectangle with circles at either end.
Step Two – Calculate the Square Footage
Now, the math starts! Grab the length of your space and multiply it by the width to figure out how much total space you’ll be covering. If your area is 3 feet by 4 feet, for instance, you’ll end up with 12 square feet to cover. For a space that isn’t a square or a rectangle, you’ll need to adjust the formula. Here’s a reference list:
- Square: Length X Width
- Rectangle: Length x Width
- Circle: 3.14 (π) x Radius (center of the circle to outside) squared
- Triangle: ½ (Base (width at widest point) x Height)
Once you’ve got an estimate, you can move on. For ease of calculation, make sure all measurements were done in one unit. We recommend using feet.
Step Three – Figure Out How Deep Your Decorative Stone Bed Needs to Be
It wouldn’t be much of a gravel bed if it was just a layer of stone scattered on the ground. That’s where the depth comes in! How far down you go depends on the type of decorative rock chosen. Below is a quick cheat sheet correlating stone diameter to proper bed depth:
| Width of Decorative Gravel | Depth Needed (In.) | Depth Needed (Ft.) |
| 1-1.5 Inches | 2 | 0.17 |
| 1.5-2 inches | 3 | 0.25 |
Step Four – Calculate How Many Cubic Feet of Decorative Gravel You Need
Now that you have all the numbers you need, it’s time to take your total from Step Two and pull it into the third dimension. To do so, grab your total square footage and multiply it by the value listed in the third column of the table above.
say your 3 foot by 4-foot garden is going to be filled with decorative gravel 1.75 inches in diameter. That means you’ll need to dig a bed three inches deep. The formula for cubic area would look something like this:
3 (W) x 4 (L) x 0.25 (D) = 3 Cubic Feet (CU FT)
Step Five – Convert Into Your Stone Yard’s Measurement
Decorative gravel is priced in two ways in the Kansas City area. First is by volume—a number represented by cubic yards. Alternatively, particularly for larger projects, you might be asked to place an order in tons. The formula needed to convert from the result of Step Four depends on the units you’re looking for.
- Cubic Yards: Divide what you calculated in Step Four by 324.
- Tons: Take the solution from Step 4 and divide it by 21.6. This is the number of cubic feet in a ton.
With that done, it’s time to call the best landscaping supply store in Kansas City—Riverbend Rock and Mulch.
Now That You Know What You Need, It’s Time to Call Kansas City’s Number One Decorative Gravel supplier
Riverbend Rock and Mulch is one of the largest suppliers of bulk gravel in Independence, Buckner, Odessa, and the surrounding areas. Our products include everything from lava rocks to crushed granite, river rock, Mexican beach pebbles, retaining wall stone, landscaping stone, and sand! By prioritizing affordability and customer service above all else, we make sure everyone has a chance at a beautiful yard. To learn more about the types of decorative gravel we offer, browse our product catalog.
If you’re someone who prefers to do your shopping in person, stop by our landscape supply yard in Independence, Missouri. One of our bulk mulch and gravel experts will be happy to find a stone that fits your needs! For stock levels on a particular type of gravel, or to schedule a delivery, call (816) 257-ROCK.
