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Stone & Gravel Near Me
Decorative stone, river rock, pea gravel, crushed stone and boulders — bought by the ton, delivered local.
Stone is the material that makes a landscape feel permanent — and the one where a wrong order is the most expensive to fix, because you can't exactly return three tons of river rock. Stone yards sell by the ton, not the yard, and the same-sounding product can vary wildly between suppliers. Here's how I order stone after decades of walking those yards, and how to find one near you.
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How to buy stone and gravel like a pro
Know the difference: decorative vs. structural
River rock, pea gravel and decorative stone are for looks — beds, dry creek beds, edging. Crushed stone (¾-inch clean, QP/dense-grade) is structural — the base under patios, paths and walls. Never swap one for the other: round stone rolls and never compacts.
Order by the ton, and know your coverage
One ton of ¾-inch stone covers roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep. Bigger stone covers less; river rock at 3–5 inches deep covers about 50–60 square feet per ton. The yard will convert your measurements — bring them.
See the actual pile
"Tan gravel" at one yard is grey at another. Color, size and how clean it is (how much dust) vary by quarry. Visit, or ask for a photo of the pile you'll actually get, before a delivery truck backs into your driveway.
Put fabric under decorative stone
A layer of landscape fabric under river rock or pea gravel keeps it from sinking into the soil and weeds from coming up through it. Skip the fabric and you'll be re-buying stone in five years.
Base first, always
For any patio or path: excavate, add 4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone, then an inch of sand or stone dust, then the surface. Skimping on base is why patios heave and paths puddle. Budget more for base than you think.
Linda's Tip 🌿
Order 10% extra on any stone — settling, compaction and the odd low spot always eat it, and matching a color later from a different lot rarely works.
Written by
Landscape Designer & Contractor · 38+ years of hands-on landscape construction in the Northeast. Every article here comes from real jobs, real soil and real mistakes — not a content farm.
Common questions
Where can I buy landscape stone and gravel near me?+
Stone yards, landscape supply yards and masonry suppliers sell decorative stone, gravel and boulders by the ton and deliver. Backyard Buddy's Local Marketplace searches stone and gravel suppliers near your zip code.
How much does gravel cost per ton?+
Crushed stone and pea gravel usually run $30–$60 per ton; decorative river rock and specialty stone $80–$200+ per ton; boulders are priced individually. Delivery is typically a flat fee.
What gravel goes under a paver patio?+
Dense-graded crushed stone (often called QP, DGA or ¾-inch minus) compacted in 2-inch layers to a total of 4–6 inches, topped with 1 inch of bedding sand. Ask the supplier for 'paver base.'
How much stone do I need?+
Measure length × width × depth. Backyard Buddy's free Material Calculator converts your dimensions into tons for gravel and decorative stone so you can call the yard with a number.
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