How to Estimate Landscaping Stone

Landscaping stone doesn't follow a single formula the way gravel or dirt does, because coverage depends heavily on the stone type. Flagstone is sold and estimated by square footage of coverage (with a typical thickness), while river rock and rip rap are usually estimated by volume and converted to tons, similar to gravel.

A good rule of thumb for flagstone: order 10–15% more than your bare square footage to account for irregular shapes and cutting waste around edges and borders.

The Stone Calculator and Limestone Calculator both handle the volume-to-weight conversion for loose stone; for flagstone coverage, use the area mode directly.