How to Measure for Landscaping Stones
Updated September 2026.
To work out how much stone you need, multiply the length of your area by its width to get square feet, then divide by 150 to get the number of 1.5 ton pallets. Round up. A 300 square foot bed needs two pallets.
Step 1: Measure length and width in feet
Use a tape measure along the longest and widest points of the area. For a bed that is 20 feet long and 15 feet wide, that is your two numbers.
Step 2: Multiply to get square feet
Length times width equals square footage. A 20 by 15 foot bed is 300 square feet.
Step 3: Divide by the coverage per pallet
One 1.5 ton pallet covers approximately 150 square feet at a 2 inch depth. One 1.4 ton pallet covers approximately 140 square feet. Divide your square footage by that number and round up to the next whole pallet.
300 square feet divided by 150 equals 2 pallets.
Measuring irregular or curved areas
Break the space into rectangles, measure each one separately, then add the square footage together. For a circular bed, measure the radius in feet, multiply it by itself, then multiply by 3.14. A bed with a 10 foot radius is 314 square feet.
How deep should the stone be?
Two inches is the landscape standard for beach pebbles. Going shallower lets the ground or fabric show through, particularly with larger stone sizes. If you want a 3 inch depth, multiply your pallet count by 1.5.
Quick reference
| Area size | Pallets needed at 2 inch depth |
|---|---|
| Up to 150 sq ft | 1 pallet |
| 151 to 300 sq ft | 2 pallets |
| 301 to 450 sq ft | 3 pallets |
| 451 to 600 sq ft | 4 pallets |
| 601 to 750 sq ft | 5 pallets |
Volume pricing is available on orders over three pallets.
Not sure? We will run the numbers for you
Call 904-685-9550 with your measurements and we will tell you exactly how many pallets your project needs, along with a delivered price. Next day delivery in Florida in most cases.