6 Types of Landscaping Stone to Use Outside Your Home

Landscaping stones can add both depth and structure to your home’s exterior spaces. Not only can hardscaping stones turn open spaces into outdoor living areas — giving you an opportunity to take advantage of your yard by adding outdoor seating for relaxing on the patio or a table and chairs for enjoying meals al fresco — but they can also help you to edge your garden and beds and build retaining walls.

Whether you’re going with the weekend warrior option and installing some DIY landscaping yourself, or hiring a pro to save you time (and your back), you’ll want to have an idea of how you plan to use them. Rocks can be heavy, and the last thing you want to do is have to make multiple trips to the store to return excess or exchange pavers that don’t work for your needs.

Flint

Good for a wide variety of landscaping projects, flintstones are often used in stone walls or as filler in walkways, paths, and patios. The fact that this type of rock can be cut to fit different spaces combined with its natural coloring black, blue, gray, and green all appear naturally within flint stones make it a popular choice for a variety of hardscaping projects. You can purchase flint by the ton, or the yard, and pricing starts around $125 per ton.

Granite

If you’re looking for a stone with a little visual depth to it, granite is a perfect option. Granite is a popular choice for countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, thanks to its hard and durable surface, which is why it’s great for projects where you need to cover a lot of surface area like patios and walkways.

Polished granite has a high sheen like what you often see inside your home, but many opt for the unpolished version when using it outdoors to keep surfaces from becoming slippery when wet. 

Available in several colors black, pink, and brown are among the most popular granite is a great choice for large hardscaping projects and can run around $18 to 50 per square foot. However, granite is mainly used for outdoor landscaping features like kitchens

Marble

Often seen in big architectural jobs or in lavish settings, marble is a luxe choice for creating formal looking hardscaped spaces. Available in colors like pink, purple, gray, and brown, marble can practically be designed to fit in any design scheme. The heavy material can average between $10 and $20 per square foot. However, granite is mainly used for outdoor landscaping features like kitchens.

Sandstone

Popular because of the ease with which it can be cut or chiseled into a variety of shapes, sandstone is made from ground quartz and sand that has hardened over the years to become solid.

Purple, white, pink, orange, blue, and yellow are all naturally occurring shades within sandstone, which can change depending on how the sunlight hits them. These pavers can cost between $11 and $30 per square foot. 

Travertine

A type of limestone, travertine forms over long periods out of minerals that naturally appear near hot springs. Used in areas where a more rustic or natural appearance is desired, this type of hardscaping can be a great choice for those looking to expand their outdoor living spaces while keeping the feel of being in the great outdoors. Available in gray, pink, and orange, this stone normally costs between $13–30 per square foot. 

If you want to use slate in your yard, you’ll want to be sure to double check that you’re using paving stones and not tiles. While similar in appearance, slate tiles don’t have the necessary composition for outdoor use. These slate colored stones are great for creating walkways and patio spaces. You can reinforce them by laying them in concrete, or placing them directly on your grass for a more natural appearance. Expect to pay between $15–40 per square foot.