Landscape Boulders: Cost per Ton, Weight and Placement Tips
Updated · By the Roof to Footing editors
Landscape boulders are large natural stones set into a yard as accents, borders, steps or low walls. They're usually sold by the ton: Angi puts the average around $250 per ton, with a range of about $100 to $600 depending on the stone type and shape, and HomeGuide lists $120 to $350 per ton. Delivery and placement are extra and can cost as much as the stone, because moving a boulder takes real equipment.
Estimating a boulder's weight
Most stone weighs about 150 to 175 pounds per cubic foot. Granite is around 165 to 170; sandstone is lighter, around 145. Boulders aren't boxes, so a practical estimate is:
weight (lb) ≈ length × width × height (in feet) × 0.6 × 165
The 0.6 accounts for the rounded shape.
| Boulder size (L x W x H) | Approx. weight |
|---|---|
| 1.5 x 1.5 x 1 ft | about 220 lb |
| 2 x 2 x 1.5 ft | about 600 lb |
| 3 x 2 x 2 ft | about 1,200 lb |
| 4 x 3 x 2.5 ft | about 3,000 lb (1.5 tons) |
Anything over about 200 pounds is a two-person job with a dolly or bar; over about 500 pounds, you need a skid steer, tractor or a supplier's boom truck.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Typical range (national, October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Boulders | about $100 to $600 per ton (Angi); $120 to $350 per ton (HomeGuide) |
| Delivery | about $50 to $400+ per load (HomeGuide), more for large or multiple boulders |
| Placement labor | often $50 to $150 per hour, plus equipment |
Local stone is cheaper because hauling is a big share of the price. Weathered or "mossy" surface boulders cost more than quarried ones with fresh broken faces.
Placing boulders so they look natural
- Bury them. Set each boulder a third to half into the ground. A boulder sitting on top of the soil looks like it was dropped there.
- Find its face. Turn it until the most weathered, interesting side faces the main view, and the widest part is down.
- Group in odd numbers (three or five), in different sizes, rather than spacing identical rocks evenly.
- Use one kind of stone. Mixing colors and types looks random.
- Repeat the grain. If the stone has layers or veins, keep them running the same direction across the group.
- Plant around them with groundcover and grasses to soften the base.
Practical uses
- Edging driveways to keep cars off the lawn (pick boulders at least knee high)
- Natural steps on a slope, set on compacted gravel
- Seating walls, using flat-topped stones
- Holding a gentle slope. For anything that retains soil more than a couple of feet, see natural stone retaining wall.
Before delivery day
- Call 811 to mark utilities where you'll dig.
- Plan the truck's route. A loaded truck can crack driveways, sidewalks and septic lids.
- Mark each boulder's spot with flags or paint, and dig the bed before it arrives.
- Ask whether the supplier's truck has a boom that can set stones in place.
For big, uniform blocks instead of natural stone, see mafia blocks.