The robustness of the obtained calibration curve remains to be tested. Based on 25 experiments on 14 rivers, the cross‐section‐averaged acoustic power was related to the specific bedload flux and showed a good agreement (60% of bedload flux estimated within a factor of 2). Bedload flux was observed to be the most consistent variable explaining the monitored acoustic power. Field experiments were done in 14 different sites, exploring a diversity of rivers. The measured acoustic signals are interpreted with bedload samplings and with hydraulic and river bed parameters. This paper proposes an innovative deployment of hydrophones to record bedload sounds at the scale of a cross section. Passive acoustic measurements are made with hydrophones, measuring the underwater sounds naturally generated by bedload impacts in rivers. Alternative techniques are being developed to complement the use of traditional bedload measurements and to provide continuous monitoring. Consequently, bedload measurements are rarely executed. Performing bedload measurements to document bedload transport rates is a challenge, as the deployment of traditional bedload samplers is time consuming and risky in floods. Bedload transport is recognized as a key process in the development of river channel forms however, most rivers suffer from an absence of data.