How Much Do River Rocks And Landscaping Stones Cost?

You can expect to pay between 50 and $140 per ton for river rocks. However, landscaping stones can cost over $800 per ton. Cost factors include shape, size and finish.

Additionally, the overall size of your project will also affect the cost of materials. Usually, you will pay less per unit as the quantity increases, which is why many contractors recommend purchasing all the stones you need at once to help you save money.

Your landscaping stone project cost will vary depending on the type of rock you choose.

Boulders

Bull rock costs about $10 to $110 per ton. You may find these rocks in sizes from 2-to-5 inches and in brown, tan and beige colors. These rocks are usually used in retaining walls and drainage ditches. If you’re only looking to fill some gaps in your backyard, you can also find bull rock stones in small bags, averaging $13 per bag.

One downside of choosing landscape boulders is that the cost of delivering the material can be high. Expect to pay up to $2,500 for large or multiple boulders deliveries.

Bull Rock

The price of bull rock is about $10 to $110 per ton. You may find these rocks in sizes from 2 to 5 inches and in brown, tan and beige colors. These rocks are usually used in retaining walls and drainage ditches. If you’re only looking to fill some gaps in your backyard, you can also find bull rock stones in small bags, averaging $13 per bag.

Crushed Granite

Crushed granite is a budget-friendly, durable and beautiful stone to use instead of mulch. It averages 50 to $10 per ton and is also DIY-friendly, saving you money on installation. However, crushed granite can also slip away with erosion, so it’s not recommended for locations with heavy rain.

Crushed Limestone

Limestone is beautiful, practical and budget-friendly, costing between $15 to $200 per ton. Crushed limestone helps reduce soil acidity levels and provides a nutrient-rich cover compared to mulch. However, crushed limestone can sink into soft ground, requiring a landscape fabric layer to prevent this.

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite is an affordable material that’s often used to create pathways in the landscape. It comes in various colors, including black, gray, red and green, making it ideal for multiple uses. Decomposite granite costs between $30 to $70 per ton, but you may also find small bags around $7 per bag.

Lava Rock

Lava rocks offer a low-maintenance option for your landscape. The stone is often used for filing borders, flowerbeds, planters and pathways. Lava rock comes at a wide range of prices, depending on its color and size, but the average cost is about $120 to $215 per ton. You may also find a small bag for around $25 in most home improvement stores.

Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is river rock that’s been broken into small pebbles. Because of its size, pea gravel best fills play areas, flowerbeds, firepits, and sometimes walkways. Pea gravel is easy to find in bulk, averaging between $20 to $60 per ton.

You may also find pea gravel in various colors to match your landscaping theme.

River Rock

River rocks cost anywhere from $80 to $450 per ton. The wide gap is mostly because river rocks are available in various sizes and colors, which can affect the final cost. Polished river rocks will be on the higher end of the price range, while unpolished natural rocks cost closer to the lower price range.

They are widely used in areas that need water drainage to prevent flooding.

Mexican Beach Pebbles

Among the pricier landscaping stones, Mexican beach pebbles cost between $650 to $900 per ton. These pebbles are handpicked from beaches and are smoother than other rocks. Mexican beach pebbles are usually used as accents around water features to form rock gardens or dry stream beds.

They do come in various sizes, shades and colors. While more expensive than most rocks, Mexican beach pebbles can last a lifetime.

Decorative

The cost of decorative landscaping stones varies widely depending on the style. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $300 per ton. However, these stones are usually left to create decorative accents like rock features in gardens and yards.

White

White landscaping stones can be a popular choice among homeowners looking for a polished look. One of the advantages of white rocks is that you can usually find them in bags averaging $10 to $20 per bag. They’re usually used as decorative accents or to fill in walkways.

While they’re low-maintenance and durable, buying them in bulk can be more expensive than other landscaping stones.

Concrete or Polymer

Concrete or polymer slabs are a long-lasting, affordable landscaping stone choice. They’re extremely versatile, coming in various shapes, sizes and colors to fit your landscape design. The cost for concrete or polymer rocks is between $200 to $600 per ton. However, they’re easy to install, cutting down installation costs.

The following table shows the average costs for river rock landscaping projects covering between 250 to 800 square feet with about 3 to 6 cubic yards of river rocks (including materials and installation).

If you have settled on using river rock, you should know the prices for river rocks depend on the type you choose. Rarest colors are more expensive, while more popular and abundant colors are cheaper. The table below shows the average prices for the most common types of river rocks.

Depending on the contractor, they may charge you based on the type of project you want to take on. Many projects involve river rocks and landscaping stones.

Retaining Wall

A retaining wall helps prevent topsoil erosion while upgrading the aesthetics of your yard.l they’re a great way to have a practical and decorative solution in your landscaping design.

Xeriscaping

This type of landscaping uses less water and thus requires less maintenance. It’s a popular landscaping project in areas with limited water supply or the climate is too harsh to maintain a lush garden.

Water Feature

Adding a water feature like a pond or fountain is an excellent way to enhance the look and feel of your yard. River rocks add texture, color and style to these projects.

Fire Pit

A fire pit is a great way to get cozy on chilly summer nights or to use your yard during winter better.

TIP: The costs of such projects can also vary depending on the location and availability of materials and services. It’s best to get quotes from multiple contractors and suppliers to compare prices and ensure you get the best price for your project.

The labor cost to install river rocks can vary tremendously depending on project size, the type and size of the rocks or landscaping stones used, the installation’s complexity and more.

By Hour

On average, labor costs to install river rocks ranges from $50 to $150 per hour, plus $200 to $400 for delivery. It usually takes about two hours to place a ton of river rocks. These costs may vary by location and availability. It’s important to note that some contractors may offer a flat rate for project-specific jobs.

By Project Size

One of the biggest factors affecting labor costs is the project size. If you have a big garden, you will need more stones, which will take more time and will cost more. Your average project needs between 3 to 6 yards of river rocks to cover 250 to 800 square feet.

Most contractors charge between $365 to $1,500 for a river rock landscaping project. The national average is $655.

The total cost of a river rock project is based on various factors, including the quantity, type, size and location of the project. The labor involved and whether or not contractors have to remove existing rocks will also be a factor in determining the cost.

Installation Costs

If you are hiring someone to install the river rocks, expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour. It takes about two hours to install a ton of river rocks. The larger the area or the more detailed the design, the longer it will take.

The average-size project needs 3 to 6 tons of river rocks, so expect to pay between $150 to $300 on the lower end or $450 to $900 on the upper end.

Delivery Costs

Most contractors and suppliers will include the cost of delivering river rock in their quotes. However, these costs can significantly vary depending on where you live, the number of rocks and even the type of rock you chose.

If you’re using large, decorative rocks, expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $600 for delivery. For other, smaller rock types, contractors charge between $5 to $10 per ton to deliver.

Conversely, if the supplier delivers the rocks to the project site, add $65 to $100 per hour for delivery costs.

In addition to the cost of river rocks or landscaping stones, there are several additional costs to consider:

Rock Removal

If you need to remove old rocks to install new ones, you’ll also have to add that to the budget. A professional will charge about $100 per hour to excavate and remove your old rocks. Expect to pay more for projects requiring more machinery to remove larger rocks.

Site Preparation

Depending on the condition of your yard, additional site preparation may be needed. This could include grading, excavation and removing old landscaping. These services will typically come at an additional cost.

Maintenance

While river rocks require low maintenance, some costs may be associated with upkeep. This could include repositioning the stones, occasional removal of debris and cleaning.

Permits

Depending on the location and type of project, some municipalities may require permits.

For the most part, river rock installation is a DIY-friendly project. This is particularly true for smaller landscaping projects that don’t require heavy machinery to excavate or move large rocks. It’s important to note that attempting to move large boulders or large rocks by yourself might be dangerous.

Installing river rocks on your own can still cost between $300 and $500 if you don’t have the necessary tools and materials already. And that’s not including transportation or delivery costs.

If you will use large river rocks for your project, consider hiring a landscaper contractor to ensure the installation is done safely and correctly.

Landscaping stones are a great way to add a natural, rustic look to your house. While installation prices vary widely, here are some ways to save money on river rock installation:

1. Shop around: Always get multiple quotes from suppliers and contractors to ensure you get the best service price.
2. Buy in bulk: Buy all the rocks you’ll need for your project whenever possible. Most suppliers will offer better deals when you purchase in bulk.
3. Choose affordable rocks: While Mexican beach pebbles can give you a distinct look, they also have a hefty price tag. Consider using pea gravel or crushed limestone for a river rock landscape design on the affordable side.
4. Mix materials: Consider mixing river rocks or landscaping stones with other materials, such as mulch or gravel, to create a more unique and cost-effective look. This can also help to reduce the amount of river rocks or landscaping stones needed for the project.
5. Shop from local suppliers: Delivery costs can greatly affect the total cost of your project. Buy from local suppliers to reduce transportation costs.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, two providers and six cost databases were surveyed on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.