How much do landscaping river rocks and stones cost?
How much do landscaping river rocks and stones cost?
$45 – $130 cost per ton
$50 – $160 cost per yard
$250 – $1,500 average rock landscaping project cost
Landscaping rock prices
Landscaping rock projects cost $250 to $1,500 on average. River rock prices are $45 to $130 per ton or $50 to $160 per yard. Bulk river rock prices are $350 to $980 to buy a 7-ton truckload delivered. Large landscaping rocks cost $100 to $350 per ton.
Rip rap rock costs $20 to $60 per ton.
Decorative lava rock costs $80 to $240 per ton.
The labor cost to install landscape rock adds $25 to $100 per ton.
One ton of river rock covers 55 to 135 square feet.
| Option | Cost per ton | Cost per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Rocks only | $45 – $130 | $50 – $160 |
| Rocks + delivery | $50 – $140 | $55 – $175 |
| Rocks + delivery + installation | $75 – $240 | $85 – $310 |
*Prices based on average 1” to 4” river rock.
Landscape rocks are useful for driveways, walkways, gardens, drainage, retaining walls, water features, fire pits, and decorative filler.
Homeowners buy river rocks at home improvement stores, garden centers, or rock quarries.
River rock sizes range from 3/8” to 5”. Large landscaping rocks average 10” to 36”.
Average river rock prices
The following table shows the average landscaping project covering 250 to 800 square feet with 3 to 6 cubic yards of river rock.
| National average cost | $725 |
| Minimum cost | $100 |
| Maximum cost | $2,000 |
| Average range | $250 to $1,500 |
*Based on 117 project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
River rock cost calculator
Use the following calculator to estimate the rock cost and cubic yards needed.
Landscaping river rock and stone prices
Decorative rock prices are $45 to $130 per ton on average. Large landscaping rocks cost $100 to $350 per ton. Rock costs depend on the type, size, shape, color, location, and finish (polished or not).
| Rock type | Average price |
|---|---|
| River rocks |
|
| Lava rock |
|
| Large boulders |
|
| Bull rock |
|
| Crushed stone & gravel |
|
| Crushed shells |
|
| White stones & pebbles |
|
| Mexican beach pebbles |
|
| Crushed or decomposed granite |
|
*Prices decrease per unit as the quantity increases.
Cost of river rock per ton
River rock costs $45 to $130 per ton on average, depending on the type, location, and size. One ton of river rock covers 55 to 135 square feet at a depth of 2" to 4".
| Tons | Price range |
|---|---|
| 1 | $45 – $130 |
| 2 | $90 – $260 |
| 4 | $180 – $520 |
| 6 | $270 – $780 |
| 10 | $450 – $1,300 |
*Material prices only.
River rock prices per cubic yard
River rock costs $50 to $160 per cubic yard on average.
A cubic yard of river rock:
Covers 75 to 170 square feet in a layer of 2” to 4”
Weighs 2,400 to 2,700 lbs. on average, depending on the rock size
| Cubic yards | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $50 – $160 |
| 2 | $100 – $320 |
| 3 | $150 – $480 |
*Material prices only.
Lava rock prices
Lava rock costs $80 to $240 per ton or $50 to $180 per cubic yard, depending on the location and color. Lava rock prices are $20 to $50 per 10- to 50-lb. bag. Lava rock is known as “scoria” and comes in red, black, and grey colors.
Lava rock pros and cons:
Lightweight mulch alternative
Retains heat and moisture like pea gravel
Prevents soil erosion
Long-lasting and low maintenance
Porous in nature for better drainage
Additive for soil that improves drainage for plants
Blows away in heavy wind
Bull rock cost
Bull rock costs $65 to $130 per ton or $80 to $150 per cubic yard, excluding delivery. Bull rock is 2" to 5" in diameter.
Use bull rock for:
Yard drainage
French drains
Landscape edging
Rock gardens
Driveway & foundation borders
Xeriscaping
Mexican beach pebbles cost
Mexican beach pebbles cost $475 to $800 per ton or $25 to $60 per bag, without delivery. Mexican beach pebbles are 0.5" to 2.0" with a smooth surface.
Use Mexican beach pebbles for:
Backyard ground covering
Driveways
Walkways
Dry river beds & ponds
Planters
Water features
Cost of large landscaping rocks
Large landscaping rocks and boulders cost $120 to $350 per ton, depending on the size. For 18" stones, there are 8 to 10 stones per ton.
| Stone size | Stones per ton | Single stone cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10" | 40 – 45 | $3 – $7 |
| 12" | 22 – 26 | $5 – $15 |
| 18" | 10 – 12 | $12 – $35 |
| 24" | 3 – 8 | $35 – $90 |
| 30" | 2 – 4 | $50 – $180 |
| 36" | 1 – 3 | $100 – $350 |
*Not including installation.
Bulk river rock prices
Bulk river rock prices are $350 to $980 for a 7-ton truckload delivered. A 1.0- to 1.5-ton pallet of rocks costs $200 to $320 unbagged or $550 to $1,000 bagged. Bulk landscape rock prices depend on the rock type, size, supply location, and total weight.
| Pallet type | Average bulk prices |
|---|---|
| River rock (unbagged) | $200 – $320 |
| Flagstone (unbagged) | $200 – $600 |
| Landscaping rocks (20 – 55 bags) | $550 – $1,000 |
*Pallets weigh 1.0 to 1.5 tons on average.
| Truck size (tons) | River rock cost | Material + delivery cost |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | $315 – $910 | $350 – $980 |
| 14 | $630 – $1,820 | $700 – $1,960 |
| 25 | $1,125 – $3,250 | $1,250 – $3,500 |
Rip rap cost
Rip rap rock costs $20 to $60 per ton or $25 to $75 per cubic yard, depending on the rock size and location. Riprap installation costs $4 to $10 per square foot for materials and delivery, depending on site accessibility.
| Metric | Material cost only | Material + delivery cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per ton | $20 – $60 | $25 – $70 |
| Per cubic yard | $25 – $75 | $30 – $90 |
*Delivery costs per one full truckload.
Landscapers stack or cement rip rap rock together to build retaining walls, fire pits, stone fences, and waterfall features in ponds or pools.
A gabion wall costs $10 to $40 per square foot with rip rap.
Rip rap also protects shorelines, rivers, creeks, and ditches from eroding.
A rip rap seawall costs $50 to $200 per linear foot installed.
One ton of rip rap covers 20 to 90 square feet, depending on material size.
Landscaping stone prices
Landscape stepping stones cost $1 to $10 per square foot on average or up to $30 per square foot for custom shapes and decorative designs. Landscaping stone installation costs an additional $2 to $8 per square foot.
| Stone type | Cost per square foot | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Regular pavers | $1 – $8 |
|
| Decorative pavers | $7 – $30 |
|
| Flagstone | $3 – $15 |
|
| Rock steps | $135 – $300 each |
|
*Material prices only.
Paver installation costs $10 to $17 per square foot for materials and labor.
Permeable stone pavers cost $10 to $30 per square foot for stone materials and installation.
Cost to install landscape rock
The average cost to install landscape rock is $25 to $100 per ton for labor only or $75 to $240 per ton with materials and delivery. Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour to install river rock. Hard-to-access sites and difficult terrain increase labor costs.
| Factor | Install cost per ton |
|---|---|
| Rock material | $45 – $130 |
| Delivery | $5 – $10 |
| Installation | $25 – $100 |
| Total cost to install | $75 – $240 |
Landscaping site preparation may require fill dirt costs of $5 to $25 per cubic yard plus labor before installing rock.
Landscape or river rock delivery costs
River rock delivery costs $5 to $10 per ton for distances up to 25 miles and $2 to $8 per mile extra for longer distances. Landscape rock delivery costs $30 to $100 total on average.
Minimum orders for rock delivery are 1 to 3 cubic yards or 1 to 4 tons.
Some companies charge $85 to $100 hourly for delivery.
Landscape rock removal cost
Landscape rock removal costs $50 to $200 per cubic yard on average if you're relocating the rocks on the same property or $220 to $250 per cubic yard to remove the rocks and haul them away, not including local disposal fees. Landscapers charge $50 to $150 per hour for removal and excavation. Extra disposal and dumping fees may apply.
Extra-large boulder removal costs $425 to $1,200 per day plus hauling fees. These prices include backhoe excavation or hammering apart rocks larger than 1 cubic yard.
How much river rock do I need?
One ton of river rock covers 55 to 135 square feet when spread 2" to 4" deep. One cubic yard of river rock covers 75 to 170 square feet at a layer 2" to 4" thick.
| Metric | 2” deep | 3” deep | 4” deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ton | 115 SF – 135 SF | 80 SF – 90 SF | 55 SF – 65 SF |
| Cubic yard | 160 SF – 170 SF | 100 SF – 110 SF | 75 SF – 85 SF |
| Bag (40 lbs.) | 2.5 SF – 3.0 SF | 1.5 SF – 2.0 SF | 1.0 SF – 1.5 SF |
*Coverage based on 1” to 4” size river rocks.
How to measure for landscape rock
To calculate the cubic yards of landscape or river rock needed:
Divide the rock-layer thickness in inches by 12 to convert into feet.
Multiply the square feet of coverage by the rock-layer thickness in feet.
The result is the amount of cubic feet necessary. Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
| Rock bed size (feet) | Square feet | Cubic yards | Rock cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2’x10’ | 20 | 0.10 – 0.25 | $10 – $25 |
| 5’x5’ | 30 | 0.15 – 0.30 | $15 – $30 |
| 5’x10’ | 50 | 0.30 – 0.60 | $30 – $60 |
| 10’x10’ | 100 | 0.60 – 1.20 | $60 – $120 |
| 10’x20’ | 200 | 1.20 – 2.50 | $120 – $250 |
| 15’x15’ | 225 | 1.40 – 2.80 | $140 – $280 |
*Based on a rock depth of 2” to 4”. Prices are materials only.
How deep should landscape rock be?
Landscape rock depth depends on the stone size:
| Rock or stone size | Suggested depth |
|---|---|
| 1/2" or less | 2" |
| 1/2" to 1" | 3" |
| 1" or larger | 4" |
River rock sizes
River rock sizes range from 3/8” to 5” or larger. The most common size for home landscaping projects is 1" to 4" river rock.
| Rock size | Benefits and usage |
|---|---|
| 3/8-to-3/4-inch river rock |
|
| 1-inch river rock |
|
| 1-to-3-inch river rock |
|
| 3-to-5-inch river rock |
|
Where to buy landscaping river rocks?
River rocks for landscaping are for sale at home improvement stores, garden centers, hardware stores, rock quarries, or through landscapers.
| Store | Rock selection |
|---|---|
| Home Depot |
|
| Menards |
|
| Lowe’s |
|
| Ace Hardware |
|
| Pioneer |
|
| Walmart |
|
What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?
Gravel is the cheapest rock for landscaping. Costs of gravel depend on the type, volume, and travel distance.
Average gravel prices are:
$10 to $50 per ton
$15 to $75 per cubic yard
$1 to $3 per square foot
$1,350 per truckload
How to landscape with river rocks?
Popular river rock uses:
Pathways and walkways – Pebbles with smooth textures feel better underfoot and add visual appeal between planting beds.
River rock gardens – In dry climates, colorful rocks substitute grass or flower beds.
Mulch substitute – Garden stones prevent weed growth and soil moisture evaporation while withstanding heavy winds. Place rocks around each tree base.
Erosion control – Stones stabilize soil in areas with heavy runoff, creek shores, or at the bottom of sloping hills.
Drainage – Rocks in the bottom of flowerpots drain soil better. Plus, river rocks above French drains or under gutter downspouts prevent water pooling.
Driveway – River rock mixed into concrete adds traction for parking pads. Concrete prices are $119 to $147 per yard, while installing a complete gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
Water features and borders – Stones decorate pond bottoms, water fountains, pool borders, pond borders, or borders around a house foundation or shed.
Decorative filler – River rock pebbles between large stepping stones or brick pavers create colorful accents for permeable paving.
Edging or retaining wall – Stones prevent soil overflow at the edges of gardens, walkways, or flower beds.
Play areas – Polished garden stones are a safe and clean alternative to sand or mulch for children’s play areas.
Fire pits – River rocks both inside and surrounding the base of a backyard fire pit will fireproof the area.
Types of river rocks for landscaping
| Rock type / origin | Price per ton | Price per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona river rock | $120 – $220 | $160 – $300 |
| Colorado river rock | $50 – $300 | $65 – $360 |
| Delaware river rock | $95 – $130 | $115 – $180 |
| Tennessee river rock | $110 – $130 | $130 – $160 |
| Multicolored / Rainbow river rock | $70 – $165 | $85 – $225 |
| Flat river rock | $190 – $500 | $230 – $675 |
| Mississippi river stone | $60 – $95 | $75 – $125 |
| Missouri river rock | $95 – $225 | $115 – $300 |
| Indian river rock | $130 – $290 | $155 – $390 |
| Blue Montana river rock | $70 – $90 | $85 – $120 |
| Cherokee river rock | $95 – $125 | $115 – $170 |
| Carolina river rock | $75 – $95 | $90 – $130 |
| White river rock | $85 – $140 | $100 – $190 |
*Material prices only.
Other subtypes of river rocks include smooth river rocks, unpolished river rocks, and washed river rocks.
Pros and cons of landscaping with rocks and stones
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
How much does river rock weigh?
River rock weighs 2,400 to 2,700 lbs. or 1.20 to 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Five cubic feet of river rock weighs 450 to 500 lbs.
Half a cubic foot of river rock weighs 45 to 50 lbs.
| Measurement | Weight |
|---|---|
| Cubic foot | 90 – 100 lbs. |
| Cubic yard | 2,400 – 2,700 lbs. |
| Typical bag | 20 – 50 lbs. |
| Pallet | 800 – 3,000 lbs. |
DIY vs. hiring a landscaper to deliver and install rock
Small river rock landscaping projects are DIY-friendly, but grading and excavation require professional help. Hire a landscaping company to assist with design, delivery, installation, moving boulders, and rock removal.
DIY rock landscaping requires:
A truck to haul the rocks from the quarry or store
Edging to keep the stones in place
Weed-blocking landscape fabric to spread under the rocks
Light digging and ground-leveling tools to form an even surface below the rocks
A layer 2" to 3" deep of river rocks
A garden rake to evenly spread the rock layer
Hand-tamp tool for leveling walkways
Hiring landscapers
Before hiring a landscaper, be sure to:
Compare at least 3 bids from various contractors.
Beware of the cheapest quotes that often signal low-quality work.
Check company reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Pick licensed, insured, and bonded companies with years of experience.
Don’t pay in full upfront. Use a payment schedule.
Keep an itemized bid listing all costs.
Questions to ask quarries or landscaping companies
Is most of your experience in hardscaping or landscape gardening?
Can I see photos and reference contacts from your past landscaping projects?
What’s your minimum-size order for deliveries?
Do you offer discounts on larger river rock orders?
Is there an extra charge to spread the river rock on my property as well?
Are some river rocks on sale due to overstocking?
What stone size and color options are available?
Do you provide landscape design services or rock delivery and installation only?
Can you show me diagrams of the yard-design plans along with a detailed estimate?
Does this estimate include cleanup fees?
Do you offer long-term yard maintenance contracts?
How long will this landscape project take, and how do I contact the supervisor?