Boulders are really hard to estimate since different types of rock from the same site can vary vastly. In my part of the country the rocks are very dense (granite, quartz). For example one rock the size of a bushel basket weighed 600 lb, while another type of the same size weighed 200 lb more. The rule of thumb I use is picture the volume of the rock compared to a bag of 60 or 90lb. redi-mix concrete, and you'll be close within 50 lb. or so (about 100 lb. cubic foot). Keep in mind that a cubic yard (3x3x3') of concrete, sand or rock or wet topsoil weighs about 2800-3200 lb. so that big rock you're eyeing could be about 130 cubic feet or over 3 cubic yards or 9,000-10,000 or more lb. (I got such a rock for a friend off a job and he paid $350 for delivery 2 miles away) If you're running short of rocks and are using them to make a ring or border on the ground (not stacking them), try cutting them in half with a 14-16" hand-held diamond bladed saw most of the way and break them in half. The normal practice in my area is to bury them halfway in the ground so they look like they are more natural. Splitting them in half doubles your stock and makes it easier to install them since you don't have to dig a hole for each of them. When I move rocks I use my big bobcat and pallet forks, or my backhoe with a thumb attachment.

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