Are you curious about “How Much Is River Rock Per Yard” for your upcoming landscaping project? River rock is an excellent choice to enhance your outdoor spaces. This comprehensive guide from rockscapes.net breaks down the costs, factors influencing pricing, and how to make the most of river rock in your landscape, so you can beautify your landscape with confidence. You will also find information about stone installation costs.
1. Understanding River Rock Costs in 2025
What can you expect to pay for river rock in 2025? The price typically ranges from $45 to $140 per cubic yard, or $60 to $170 per ton. Landscape projects can range from $145 to $2,375, depending on the amount of rock, area covered, and installation costs.
| Price Range/Ton | $60 – $170 |
| Price Range/Yard | $45 – $140 |
| Low-End Cost | $145 |
| High-End Cost | $2,375 |
To save money, consider using less expensive alternatives like pea gravel or decomposed granite or installing the rocks yourself. More polished stones like Mexican beach pebbles are more expensive.
2. River Rock Cost Estimator by Project Size
How does project size affect river rock costs? The more area you need to cover, the more river rock you will need, increasing the total cost. Delivery and installation will also be more expensive for larger projects.
A project covering 250 to 800 square feet typically requires 3 to 6 cubic yards of river rocks. Here’s a breakdown of costs:
| River Rock | Price/Ton | Price/Yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton/Yard | $60 – $170 | $45 – $140 |
| 2 Tons/Yards | $120 – $340 | $90 – $280 |
| 3 Tons/Yards | $180 – $510 | $135 – $420 |
| 4 Tons/Yards | $240 – $680 | $180 – $560 |
2.1. Calculating River Rock Needs
How do you calculate how much river rock you need? Follow these steps:
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
- Determine the desired rock depth (usually 2-3 inches).
- Convert the depth to feet (inches ÷ 12).
- Multiply length x width x depth to get cubic feet.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
- Multiply cubic yards by 1.4 to get tons.
For instance, if you want to cover an area 10 feet long and 10 feet wide with a depth of 3 inches:
- 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet
- 10 feet x 10 feet x 0.25 feet = 25 cubic feet
- 25 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards
-
- 93 cubic yards x 1.4 = 1.3 tons
Remember to add an extra 10% to your total to account for loss during transportation or installation.
3. Factors Influencing River Rock Costs
What factors can impact the final cost of your river rock project? The size, labor, rock type, and delivery can all impact cost.
3.1. Installation Costs
How do installation costs factor into your river rock project? If you hire a professional, labor can cost $40 to $90 per hour. Placing a ton of river rocks takes about two hours. Removing existing concrete driveways or sidewalks before installation can further increase labor costs.
3.2. Delivery Costs
How do delivery costs affect the overall price? Delivery can range from $200 to $600 for large decorative rocks, $5 to $10 per ton, or $65 to $100 per hour. Confirm delivery costs with your supplier to avoid surprises.
3.3. River Rock Types
How do different river rock types influence the cost? Prices vary based on type, with rarer colors being more expensive. Common types and their average costs per ton include:
| River Rock Type | Average Cost/Ton |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $140 – $205 |
| Cherokee | $130 – $175 |
| Colorado | $70 – $285 |
| Delaware | $95 – $130 |
| Flat River Rock | $190 – $500 |
| Rainbow | $90 – $190 |
| Salt and Pepper | $175 – $280 |
| Tennessee | $110 – $130 |
| White River Rock | $115 – $170 |
3.4. Rock Size
How does rock size impact the price? Larger rocks are more expensive to transport and install. While 1-3 inch rocks are common, large landscaping boulders can cost up to $600 per ton.
4. Exploring Related Landscaping Services with Rocks
What other landscaping options complement river rock? Rocks can be used in retaining walls, xeriscaping, water features, and fire pits.
4.1. Other Rock Types
What other types of rocks can you use in your landscape? Consider these options with varying shapes, sizes, and colors:
| Rock Type | Average Cost/Ton |
|---|---|
| Boulders | $100 – $385 |
| Bull Rock | $70 – $110 |
| Crushed Granite | $50 – $100 |
| Crushed Stone | $30 – $55 |
| Decomposed Granite | $35 – $70 |
| Lava Rock | $115 – $215 |
| Mexican Beach Pebbles | $690 – $865 |
| Pea Gravel | $10 – $60 |
| Rip Rap | $40 – $80 |
4.2. Retaining Wall
How can retaining walls enhance your landscape? Retaining walls can be built using stacked stone, natural stones, or stone veneers. Costs range from $15 to $95 per square foot, depending on the stone type. These walls prevent erosion and add visual interest to your yard.
4.3. Xeriscaping
What is xeriscaping and how does it incorporate rocks? Xeriscaping minimizes water use and maintenance, ideal for dry climates. Landscaping rocks are a key hardscaping element in xeriscaping designs. Xeriscaping costs about $17,000 on average, with homeowners typically spending between $10,000 and $19,000.
4.4. Water Feature or Pond
How do river rocks enhance water features? River rocks add texture and complement the natural beauty of ponds and waterfalls. Pond installation costs range from $1,900 to $6,500.
4.5. Fire Pit
How can you use rocks to create a fire pit? Fire pits can be made from natural stone or concrete. Stone fire pits range from $350 to $3,000, with the national average cost around $830.
4.6. Rock Removal
What if you want to remove existing rocks? Professionals charge $85 to $125 per hour for rock vacuuming and excavation. Large boulder removal may be charged per cubic yard, around $50 to $200.
5. Professional vs. DIY River Rock Installation Costs
Is it more cost-effective to DIY or hire a professional? River rock installation is generally DIY-friendly. However, hiring a professional is better if you’re working with tons of rocks or large boulders.
A 100-square-foot DIY installation can cost between $290 and $455 if you need to purchase all the necessary tools.
| DIY Equipment | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| River Rock (1.5 tons) | $90 – $255 |
| Tape Measure | $15 |
| Wheelbarrow | $60 |
| Weed-Blocking Fabric | $24 ($0.24 per square foot) |
| Shovel | $20 |
| Rake | $25 |
| Rubber Edging | $56 ($1.40 per linear foot) |
| Total | $290 – $455 |
If you already own most of the tools, costs can drop to around $170, mainly for the rocks, fabric, and edging. If you lack tools or have a large project, hiring a professional might be worth it.
6. River Rock Costs by Location
How does your location affect river rock prices? Prices vary based on shipping costs and regulations. Suppliers may charge more for rural or distant locations. Getting rocks from the supplier closest to your home can help reduce costs.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
7.1. What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?
Pea gravel is the cheapest, costing as little as $10 per ton, followed by decomposed and crushed granite.
7.2. What size of river rock is best for landscaping?
River rocks that are 1 to 2 inches are the best for landscaping. The kind of rock you choose, like Arizona, Cherokee, or Salt and Pepper, depends on what you like.
7.3. How deep should I lay river rocks?
It’s best to put river rocks 2 to 3 inches deep for most landscaping projects.
8. Transform Your Landscape with Rockscapes.net
Ready to start your river rock project? River rock is an affordable way to upgrade your landscape. Costs start as low as $60 per ton.
At rockscapes.net, we offer a wide range of river rock options and expert advice to help you create the perfect outdoor space. Explore our selection of high-quality stones, get inspired by our design ideas, and discover helpful installation tips. Let us help you bring your vision to life.
Ready to enhance your landscape? Contact us today!
Address: 1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
Phone: +1 (480) 965-9011
Website: rockscapes.net
9. Conclusion
While river rock project costs depend on material and size, it remains a budget-friendly option for landscape upgrades. You can pay as little as $60 for a ton of river rocks. Contact a local professional or visit rockscapes.net for a quote tailored to your specific project. Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
