How Much Do Landscaping River Rocks Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $250 - $1,600
Buying river rock costs an average of $700 between materials and installation. You'll pay $250 to $1,600 depending on rock size, type, and delivery fees.
The cost of river rocks ranges between $250 and $1,600 for materials, delivery, and installation. On average, expect to pay $700 for a 500-square-foot patch of land when laying the pile 3 inches thick. You could pay $8 to $220 per cubic yard, depending on the type of river rock.
Whether positioned on the outskirts of your yard or used to build a rock garden, river rocks have aesthetic value and functional benefits, such as soil protection and increased water drainage. Knowing how much the different sizes and types of river rock cost will help you build a budget.
- Average
- $700
- Low end
- $145
- high end
- $2,400
River Rock Cost Factors
You can estimate the cost of river rocks by taking the major factors below into consideration. In addition to the type of stone—the largest river rock cost factor—keep delivery, installation, size of the river rock, and even where you live at the front of your mind.
Type
Landscapers and garden supply companies measure river rocks by the ton or cubic yard. You'll find stone from $35 per ton and all the way up to $800 per ton—quite the wide range. Its rarity and availability drive up the cost, as well as how easy it is to spread. We'll break down each type in detail below.
Size
River rock is defined by its comparatively small size, though boulders sometimes fall into the same category. On average, river rocks range from a diameter of 1/2 inch and all the way up to 36 inches. Large river rocks count as anything larger than 10 inches in diameter.
Remember that the larger the rock, the fewer rocks you will get per ton, hence the price range. You may also pay more to install smaller rocks, as you may need to lay landscaping fabric to keep them from sinking.
You’ll see costs for river rock as per ton, per cubic yard, or per cubic foot (rather than per square foot) because river rock installation involves the space's length, width, and depth, and the depth depends on your needs.
| River Rock Size in Inches | Average Cost Range per Ton | Average Cost Range per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|---|
| >1 | $10–$60 | $3–$20 |
| 1 | $50–$100 | $15–$30 |
| 3 | $75–$100 | $20–$30 |
| 5 | $35–$100 | $10–$30 |
| 10 | $120–$320 | $35–$90 |
| 12 | $110–$390 | $30–$105 |
| 18 | $100–$350 | $30–$95 |
| 24 | $110–$360 | $30–$100 |
| 30 | $100–$360 | $30–$100 |
| 36 | $110–$350 | $30–$95 |
Delivery
The cost of river rock delivery falls between $200 and $600, but some companies attach their delivery price to the cost of the stones. For example, river rocks plus delivery will fall between $50 and $1,000 per ton, directly incorporating the cost of delivery based on the weight of the stones and the truck's size.
Labor
While spreading some river rocks is an easy DIY, it can be more complex than it looks. Distributing a heavy pile of stones evenly takes skill, so hiring a landscaper in addition to a river rock delivery pro near you is always a great bet. River rock installation costs between $50 and $150 per hour, or between an additional $25 to $100 per ton. Higher prices account for tricky installations, such as those along water hardscape elements or steep slopes.
Location
Location plays a role in the price of river rocks in several ways. First of all, if you're located in a state packed with limestone or large boulders, for example, they will be in more abundant supply. Sourcing lava rocks across the country to the East Coast will undoubtedly cost more.
Additionally, the location of the rocks in your garden can affect installation costs. Spreading rocks on a driveway costs less than intricately placing stones or boulders around your garden for decorative purposes.
Cost of Landscaping Rocks by Rock Type
Smooth river rocks aren't your only option for adding beautiful stone to your yard. Unique textures, gravel colors, and sizes from all around the world add beauty to your garden.
River Rock
Standard river rocks cost around $100 to $800 per ton, depending on the finish and style, but smaller, polished rocks will cost more. Expect to pay anywhere from $0.05 to $0.35 per pound.
Lava Rock
Lava rock ranges between $80 and $240 per ton. While they’re more expensive due to their unique look and rarity, they weigh much less than many other river rocks. Their porous quality makes them easier to transport, reducing delivery costs.
Bull Rock
True to its name, bull rock has more of a rough-and-tumble look to it and works well for serious drainage, including around French drains. Bull rock costs between $70 and $110 per ton, though smaller bull rock gravel requires additional installation costs since they tend to roll out of place.
Pebble
Crushed stone and decorative pebbles are also nice natural stone options some homeowners choose. You can expect to pay about $50 to $65 per ton and find many different options and colors in smaller bags. You can also order them in bulk, saving money on larger spaces and projects.
Boulder
Jumbo rocks and boulders make your yard's stone aesthetic unique. The smoother or more customized the shape of the stone you purchase, the more they will cost, around $100 to $600 per ton. A smooth 3-foot diameter boulder probably weighs a little over 2 tons.
Riprap
Riprap is an angular, cobbled stone that serves a great functional purpose for gardens, as it protects against erosion of soil and water pooling. Expect to pay $35 to $250 per ton for this option.
Crushed Limestone
Crushed limestone costs between $30 and $200 per ton and is a popular go-to for landscapers as it is budget-friendly, practical, and attractive. It comes in various pale colors and sizes, making it ideal for both areas that need drainage and when lining the edges of flower gardens.
Arizona Rock
Homeowners often love the smooth look and mix of colorful varieties of Arizona rock. It ranges from pale pink to deep tan and looks like it was picked off the riverbed. Arizona river rock costs between $150 and $210 per ton.
Delaware Rock
While similar to Arizona river rock in its variety, this option leans toward a gray and brown palette. You'll find a range of sizes, making it ideal for everything from flower beds to sitting at the base of ponds. Delaware river rock costs between $95 and $130 per ton.
Cherokee Rock
Cherokee river rock shares many similarities with Arizona and Delaware varieties, but leans toward red and deep brown hues. Many of the rocks come with multicolored veins throughout them as well. You'll pay between $95 and $180 per ton, though you may pay less if you live in Oklahoma, where the rocks originate.
| Type of River Rock | Average Cost Range per Ton | Average Cost Range per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|---|
| River Rock (General) | $100–$800 | $30–$220 |
| Lava Rock | $80–$240 | $25–$65 |
| Bull Rock | $70–$110 | $20–$30 |
| Pebble | $50–$65 | $14–$20 |
| Boulder | $100–$600 | $30–$165 |
| Riprap | $35–$250 | $10–$70 |
| Crush Limestone Rock | $30–$200 | $10–$60 |
| Arizona Rock | $150–$210 | $40–$60 |
| Delaware Rock | $95–$130 | $30–$35 |
| Cherokee Rock | $95–$180 | $30–$50 |
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Install River Rock
Most river rock installation companies charge between $45 and $75 for labor, so you may save up to $150 by installing river rocks DIY when covering a small area.
Generally speaking, it takes one to two hours to lay 1 ton of stone. Of course, the greater the area you plan to cover, the more money you stand to save.
Cost of Common Add-Ons
Hiring a landscaper with experience working with river rocks opens up a range of projects and rock garden ideas. Take a look at these related river rock costs in the scheme of larger landscape renovations.
| River Rock Add-Ons | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Water elements | $3,400 |
| Xeriscaping | $17,000 |
| Retaining walls | $6,000 |
| Rock removal | $40–$100 per cubic foot |
Water Elements
Dreaming of adding a pond, stream, or outdoor water fountain to your backyard? Installing a pond costs an average of $3,400. Stones often come into play when filling the bed of your pond as well as the edging around the perimeter.
Xeriscaping
One of the most popular rock landscaping ideas today involves the method of xeriscaping. The approach limits the amount of water, fertilizer, and overall maintenance necessary for your yard. In this case, rocks may replace grass, prevent erosion, and aid highly sloped lawns. Xeriscaping costs $17,000 on average but starts at $2,300 on the low end.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls can be the answer to supporting sloped properties while highlighting the beauty of natural stone. The average retaining wall costs about $6,000, but materials play a large role here. You may see river rock incorporated into the wall or edging the garden that sits alongside it.
Rock Removal
You may need to call a local excavator to remove large boulders and river rocks from your yard. You'll pay between $40 and $100 per cubic foot for rock removal, or about $200 to $1,200 for rocky soil removal.
How to Save Money on River Rock Costs
Since you'll stumble upon such a wide cost range for river rocks, don't rush into any decision if you need to stay under a strict budget. Here are some ways to lower the price of river rock installation no matter your next project.
Research locally sourced river rocks that require minimal travel.
Consider adding several types of landscaping rocks to your landscape that play different roles in your yard.
Buy river rocks in bulk or speak with a landscaper to access bulk prices.
Work with a landscaper off-season (in the winter or late fall) to avoid rush prices.
Consider DIYing river rock distribution or even delivery when available.
How Much River Rock Do You Need for Your Project?
Knowing how much river rock you’ll need will help you estimate your costs. For larger projects, you’re likely to order rock delivery via truck, so you’ll need to know how many tons of rocks you need ahead of time. You buy bags of river rock by cubic yards or cubic feet for smaller projects.
The following steps describe how to calculate how much river rock you need and how to convert cubic feet to cubic yards or tons.
Measure the length, width, and depth of the area where you plan to install your river rock. For example, let’s say it’s 10 feet wide, 20 feet long, and 2 inches deep.
Multiply the three numbers to determine how many cubic feet of rocks you need. For the example above, it comes out to 400 cubic feet (10 x 20 x 2).
Divide the total cubic feet by 27 to convert it to cubic yards. For example, 400 divided by 27 is 14.8 cubic yards.
To get the number in tons, multiply the number of cubic yards by 1.4, which comes out to 20.7 tons (14.8 x 1.4) in this example.
Ben Kissam and Ginny Bartolone contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most river rocks range between 1/2 and 3 inches in diameter, and any of these work well for landscaping. The range of sizes covers everything from decorative flower beds to drainage areas around retaining walls, drains, and your foundation. Landscapers may even intersperse smaller river rocks with large boulders for variety.
To prepare your yard for river rocks, smaller rocks may require laying landscape fabric to keep the stones from sinking into the ground while encouraging proper water drainage. You should also clear the land of weeds and larger boulders, and in some cases, test the density of the soil to ensure it can handle the weight.
Depending on the size of the river rock and the density of your soil, add woven landscape fabric or sand under river rock. The extra layer will ensure your river rock sits evenly and doesn't create puddles or uneven areas throughout the design. In some cases, nothing is necessary beneath river rock, but be sure to speak with a landscaper to keep your landscaping looking sharp.