River Rock

River rock is a naturally tumbled, smooth-edged stone used for dry creek beds, drainage features, and decorative ground cover. Commonly installed for water features, garden borders, swales, and erosion control areas, river rock manages runoff, suppresses weeds, and creates a soft, organic look that complements any landscape style. Earth Stone Rock supplies bulk river rock in a wide range of natural colors and sizes, available for yard pickup or delivery anywhere in the United States. Browse our selection of river rock below to find the right stone for your project.

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Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (in)

Area —

Cubic Yards —

Approx. Tons —

* ~1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Trusted by contractors across California Decorative river rock in every size Bulk delivery or yard pickup

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Need help choosing? Browse project ideas, see size and use guidance, or read our buying guide.

Projects Sizes Guide

Common Uses for River Rock

From dry creek beds to drainage layers — see where smooth, rounded stone earns its place in a landscape.

Dry Creek Beds

Layer mixed-size river rock (3/4" up to 6" cobble) along a meandering channel to mimic a seasonal stream. Use larger stones along the banks and smaller pebbles in the bed. Looks like landscape that's always been there, and channels real runoff during heavy rain.

Shop River Rock Dry Creek Layout Tips

Decorative Ground Cover

A 2" to 3" layer of river rock around shrubs, trees, and planting beds replaces mulch with a stone surface that never breaks down. Drains freely, stays put in wind, and reflects light back into the canopy of nearby plants.

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Drainage Swales & French Drains

Smaller river rock (3/8" to 3/4") packs around perforated drain pipe to move water away from foundations, retaining walls, and low spots in the yard. Drains fast, holds shape, and stays visually neutral when surface-exposed.

Shop River Rock Drainage Sizing

Pond & Water Feature Edging

Mid-sized river rock (1.5" to 3") edges ponds, fountains, and pondless waterfalls. The smooth, rounded shape feels right where water lives. Pairs naturally with accent boulders set into the banks.

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Erosion Control on Slopes

Larger river rock (3" to 6") layered over landscape fabric holds slopes that would otherwise wash out in heavy rain. Heavy enough to stay put, rounded enough to look intentional rather than industrial like rip rap.

Shop River Rock Slope Tips

Low-Water & Xeriscape Landscapes

River rock pairs naturally with succulents, agave, ornamental grasses, and California natives. Use it as the ground plane in a drought-tolerant design that needs no mowing or irrigation. Stays clean year-round with no decomposition.

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River Rock Buying Guide

Pick the right size, learn placement and drainage tips, and find the look that works for your landscape.

River rock is rounded by water, naturally polished, and one of the most versatile landscape materials we carry. It works as decorative ground cover, drainage fill, dry creek bed structure, pond edging, and slope erosion control — and unlike mulch, it never decomposes.

Browse the full river rock collection across every size from pea-sized through 6" cobble. Not sure which size? The table below pairs each size with the projects it does best.

Quick Links

Shop All River Rock Boulders Beach Pebbles Pea Gravel

River Rock Sizes vs Use Cases

Material	Best For	Compaction	Drainage	Cost
Pea-Sized (3/8"–3/4")	Drainage layers, French drains, fine ground cover	Light (decorative)	Excellent	$$
Medium (3/4"–1.5")	Ground cover around plants, pathway borders	Light	Excellent	$$
Large (1.5"–3")	Decorative beds, dry creek bed accents, pond edging	None (decorative)	Excellent	$$
Cobble (3"–6"+)	Water features, dry creek banks, slope erosion control	None	Excellent	$$$

Most installations use a mix of sizes for a natural look. See drainage rock and landscape fabric for what goes underneath.

What Landscapers Know

Lay landscape fabric underneath. Commercial-grade weed barrier keeps soil from migrating up into the rock and stops weeds from finding daylight through it.
2" to 3" is the right depth for ground cover. Less and the soil shows through, more and the rock starts to spread underfoot. For drainage layers, go 4" or deeper.
Mix sizes for natural dry creeks. Use cobble (3" and up) along the banks, medium river rock (1.5" to 3") in the bed, and pea-sized fines (3/8" to 3/4") in the lowest spots. Pure single-size beds look manufactured.
River rock darkens when wet. The color you see dry is the lighter end of the range. Mist a sample after delivery to preview the rainy-season look.
Edge with steel, stone, or boulders. River rock spreads if it has nowhere to stop. Steel landscape edging, concrete bands, or placed boulders all hold the line.
Plan for delivery access. Most river rock comes in 1-ton supersacks or loose by the yard. Confirm gate widths and where the truck can stage before order day.

Need Help?

(800) 215-7372

FAQ

What sizes of river rock do you carry?

From pea-sized (3/8" to 3/4") up through cobble (3" to 6" and larger). Most projects use a mix — see the size table above for which size works best for each use case. Browse the full river rock collection for what's currently in stock.

How much river rock do I need?

Use the coverage calculator at the top of this page. As a quick rule: 1 cubic yard of river rock covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. For drainage layers (4"+) you'll need proportionally more. River rock weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

What's the difference between river rock and pea gravel?

River rock is rounded by water, larger (typically 3/8" and up), and used decoratively or for drainage. Pea gravel is also rounded but smaller (typically 3/8" or less) and used for pathways, patios, and as a packed fine layer. Both are smooth and walkable; river rock reads chunkier.

Does river rock need to be replaced over time?

No. Unlike bark or mulch, river rock does not decompose, blow away, or break down. With landscape fabric underneath, a properly installed bed can last decades with just an occasional refresh of the top layer if it shifts or thins.

Can I install river rock myself?

Yes — small to mid-size projects (a planting bed, a French drain, a small dry creek) are DIY-friendly with a wheelbarrow, rake, and landscape fabric. For larger areas, slope work, 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 River Rock for Your Project

Every size from pea-sized to cobble. Pick at the yard or have it delivered by the supersack or loose by the yard. Project consultation available — send us photos and we'll suggest sizes that work.

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