Professional landscaping contractors typically charge $50 to $75 per hour for ground preparation and installation. On average, expect it to take two hours to place 1 ton of stone, for a total cost of $100 to $150 for labor (not including delivery).Â
The cost to deliver and install rocks ranges from $350 to $1,200, or an average of $700. Exact costs vary depending on the size of the stones and the type of terrain. You may see prices as low as $120 or as much as $2,500.
Removal Costs
Once installed, the cost to excavate or remove large landscaping stones from your property ranges from $50 to $200 per cubic yard. Most companies will charge between $120 and $150 per hour. The price depends on the job's complexity, as some projects are more labor-intensive than others and require larger vehicles, excavators, dumpsters, and removal fees than other projects.
How to Calculate Your Landscape Rock Needs
To calculate how much landscape rock you’ll need, you can either use a landscaping rock calculator or do the math by hand. If you’re doing it manually, you can calculate the amount of rock you’ll need in cubic yards and tons.
Calculating Rock Needs in Cubic Yards
Selling by cubic yard or by volume is one of the standard methods for calculating the price of landscaping rocks. This option paints the most accurate picture of how much rock you’ll need to fill the entire space, but it doesn’t account for weight. Calculate how many cubic yards you need by following these steps:
Measure the length and the width of your landscaping area in feet.Â
Determine the depth you’d like in inches, then convert it to feet by dividing 12 inches.
Multiply these three numbers (length, width, and depth) to get the number of cubic feet.
Convert the cubic feet into cubic yards by dividing by 27, giving you the volume in cubic yards.
Example: The area of your yard space is 10 feet long by 10 feet wide, and the depth is 2 inches. Divide the depth by 12 inches to get roughly 0.17 feet. Multiply them together (10 x 10 x 0.17) to get 17 cubic feet. Divide that by 27, and you’ll have 0.63 cubic yards.
Calculating Rock Needs in Tons
Some companies determine the price of stone by tons or weight rather than volume. It’s a good idea to calculate the tons and cubic yards to know if the material is within your vehicle’s weight limits. Calculate the tons by following the same steps for calculating the cubic yards, then multiply the number (total cubic yards) by 1.4.Â
Example: Multiply the 0.63 cubic yards by 1.4 to get 0.882 tons.
Keep in mind that wet material will weigh more than dry material. Lava rock, decomposed granite, and crushed stone hold onto moisture the most, so you’ll get the most for your dollar if you buy during a dry season. Also, add an extra 10% to your cubic yards and tons calculations to account for any materials that spill out in transportation.
Note that most landscaping materials should be at a depth of 3 inches or a 1/4 foot. The following chart accounts for the standard 3-inch depth.Â
Sample Landscape Rock Calculations