Pebbles
Smooth, river-tumbled pebbles for pathways, dry creek beds, container tops, and decorative ground cover. Available in bulk and bags with yard pickup or delivery anywhere in the United States.
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Trusted by contractors across California
Polished, beach & river pebbles
Bulk delivery or yard pickup
Common Uses for Pebbles
From dry creek beds to zen gardens and potted plants, see where smooth, rounded pebbles earn their place in a landscape.
Dry Creek Beds
Smooth, rounded pebbles fill the bed of a dry creek and read like a stream that has run there for years. Use larger beach pebbles in the channel and finer pebbles along the edges. The rounded shape carries real runoff during heavy rain without looking industrial.
Ground Cover & Borders
A 2" to 3" layer of pebbles around shrubs, trees, and beds replaces mulch with a clean stone surface that never decomposes. Run a tidy pebble border along walkways and bed edges for a finished, low-maintenance look that stays put in wind.
Water Features & Ponds
Smooth pebbles belong where water lives. Line the bottom of a pondless waterfall, edge a fountain, or fill the basin of a bubbler with polished or beach pebbles. The rounded shape feels natural underwater and stays bright when wet.
Potted Plants & Succulents
A top dressing of polished pebbles finishes a pot, holds moisture in the soil, and keeps splashing dirt off leaves. White and mixed-color polished pebbles dress up succulent arrangements and indoor planters. A small bag covers a lot of containers.
Zen & Meditation Gardens
Black and white zen pebbles and smooth mixed tones are the classic ground plane for a Japanese-style garden. Rake fine pebbles into ripple patterns, set a few accent boulders, and frame the space with a clean border. Calm, low-water, and timeless.
Pathways & Patios
Smaller pebbles make a soft, walkable surface for garden paths, side yards, and casual seating areas. Set them over a compacted base with steel or stone edging to hold the line. Pleasant underfoot and quick to drain after rain.
Materials That Pair Well With Pebbles
Round out your design with the river rock, beach pebbles, glass, and sand that frame a pebble installation.
River Rock
Bigger, chunkier cousins of pebbles. Use river rock for dry creek beds, drainage, and slope work where you want more visual weight and larger stone.
Beach Pebbles
Naturally tumbled Mexican beach and tropical pebbles with a soft sheen when wet. The go-to for water features, modern beds, and decorative accent strips.
Landscape Glass
Tumbled glass that catches the light, made for fire pits, water features, and bold modern accents. A colorful counterpoint to natural pebbles in the same project.
Sand
The fine setting bed under pebble paths and patios, and a clean base for zen gardens. Levels easily and lets pebbles seat evenly so the surface stays put.
Pebbles Buying Guide
Pick the right type and size, learn placement and edging tips, and find the look that works for your landscape.
Pebbles are smooth, rounded stones that finish a landscape with clean, low-maintenance color. We carry natural pebbles for paths and ground cover, beach pebbles for modern beds and water features, and polished pebbles for pots, containers, and decorative accents. Unlike mulch, pebbles never decompose.
Browse the full pebbles collection across every type and size. Not sure which to use? The table below pairs each type with the projects it does best.
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Pebble Types & Sizes vs Use Cases
| Material | Best For | Compaction | Drainage | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea-Sized (3/8"–3/4") | Pathways, ground cover, pot top-dressing, zen gardens | Light (decorative) | Excellent | $$ |
| Medium (1"–2") | Decorative beds, borders, dry creek beds | None (decorative) | Excellent | $$ |
| Cobble (2"–3") | Water feature edging, dry creek channels, accents | None | Excellent | $$$ |
| Polished Pebbles | Pots, containers, water features, indoor decor | None (decorative) | Excellent | $$$ |
Lay landscape fabric underneath and edge with steel, stone, or boulders to keep pebbles in place.
What Landscapers Know
- Lay landscape fabric underneath. Commercial-grade weed barrier keeps soil from migrating up into the pebbles and stops weeds from finding daylight through them.
- 2" to 3" is the right depth for ground cover. Less and the soil shows through, more and the pebbles start to spread underfoot. A consistent depth reads clean and stays put.
- Edge with steel, stone, or boulders. Pebbles roll and spread if they have nowhere to stop. Steel landscape edging, concrete bands, or placed boulders all hold the line clean.
- Pebbles darken and brighten when wet. Natural and beach pebbles deepen in color, polished pebbles take on a sheen. Mist a sample after delivery to preview the wet look.
- Match the pebble to the job. Use polished pebbles for pots and water features, beach pebbles for modern beds, and natural pebbles for paths and broad ground cover. The size table above is your guide.
- Buy by the right unit. Pebbles come in samples, 1/2 cubic foot bags, and 1,000 to 2,000 lb bulk. Small accent jobs and pots want bags, while beds and paths are cheaper by the ton. Use the calculator at the top to size your order.
FAQ
Natural pebbles are smooth, rounded stones in earthy tones, great for paths and ground cover. Beach pebbles are naturally tumbled smooth with a soft sheen when wet, popular for modern beds and water features. Polished pebbles are machine-tumbled to a glossy finish, ideal for pots, containers, and decorative accents. Browse the full pebbles collection to compare.
Use the coverage calculator at the top of this page. As a quick rule, 1 cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. For pots and small accents, a 1/2 cubic foot bag goes a long way. Pebbles weigh about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Pebbles are the smaller, smoother, more decorative stones, used for paths, pots, water features, and zen gardens. River rock is larger and chunkier, used for dry creek beds, drainage, and slopes where you want more visual weight. Both are rounded and smooth.
No. Unlike bark or mulch, pebbles do not decompose, blow away, or break down. With landscape fabric underneath, a properly installed pebble bed can last decades with just an occasional rake or top-up if it shifts or thins.
Yes. Pots, small beds, paths, and zen gardens are all DIY-friendly with a wheelbarrow, rake, edging, and landscape fabric. For larger areas or projects that need boulder placement, you may want a landscape contractor or our delivery team. Call (800) 215-7372 with your zip and project size for guidance.
Find the Right Pebbles for Your Project
Natural, beach, and polished pebbles in every size. Pick at the yard or have it delivered by the bag, supersack, or by the ton. Project consultation available. Send us photos and we'll suggest what works.
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