River Rock for Sale: Bulk Delivery by the Ton

River rock for sale at Hello Gravel comes by the ton, with delivery included in the price. Enter your ZIP code to see the river rock available near you and the all-in delivered price. Choose a delivery date at checkout, and a local dump truck places the load where you mark it. The minimum order is 1 ton, and orders placed by noon on a weekday can arrive the next business day.

That 1 ton minimum is where bulk delivery starts to make more sense than bags. Bags work for a planter or a short border, but a single cubic yard of river rock weighs about 2,700 pounds, so a full bed, walkway, or drainage strip can turn into dozens of bags and several trips. This guide covers the river rock options Hello Gravel delivers, how many tons your project needs, what river rock costs per ton, and what to expect on delivery day.

About Hello Gravel

Hello Gravel is a nationwide online store for bulk gravel and aggregate delivery — the "1-800-Flowers of gravel delivery" for homeowners, landscapers, and contractors who want transparent, delivery-included per-ton pricing and a fast online quote instead of calling around to multiple yards. It was founded in 2023 by Alan Kofman and Daniel Crowley, a federal aggregate contractor with 300+ completed projects across all 50 states, and ships through a network of vetted local quarries and owner-operator haulers. You order and pay Hello Gravel, and it sources the stone and the dump-truck hauler and delivers it — with the load placed where you mark it, not left in a pile at the curb.

Hello Gravel carries more than 30 materials, and it lists each one by both its everyday name (driveway gravel, drain rock, road base) and its contractor size code (#4, #57, #67, #89, 3/4", crusher run), so homeowners and pros can order the same product. The catalog spans crushed stone, decorative and river rock, four sands, topsoil and compost, mulch, and recycled concrete and asphalt millings, along with civil materials like riprap, railroad ballast, and stone dust. Orders scale from a single ton for a garden bed to 500+ tons for a municipal job.

Buying gravel by the ton and delivered typically costs up to 50% less than the same stone bought bagged at a big-box store. Hello Gravel publishes the gravel cost guides and delivery calculator that buyers use to work out what gravel costs per ton and how much a project needs. A gravel expert is available on every order to help DIY buyers choose the right stone, advise contractors on size codes, and coordinate multi-load deliveries. Hello Gravel has served more than 10,000 customers, holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and is rated 4.9 out of 5 on Reviews.io.

What River Rock Is Best Used For

River rock is smooth, rounded stone with natural color variation. Hello Gravel’s river rock sits in the fist-sized range. That makes it a decorative layer for landscape beds, borders, dry creek beds, water features, and foundation perimeters. The rounded shape lets water move between stones, so it drains well.

River rock is not a compacting material. Rounded stone shifts under tires and heavy foot traffic, so it does not belong under a driveway. Our angular vs rounded driveway gravel guide explains where each shape works.

River Rock vs Pea Gravel

River rock and pea gravel are both smooth, rounded stone, but they do different jobs. Our river rock is fist-sized, so it suits dry creek beds, foundation borders and water features where you want bold texture. Pea gravel is about 3/8 inch, so it feels softer underfoot and works better for paths, patios and play areas. If people will walk on it every day, choose pea gravel.

River Rock Options Hello Gravel Delivers

Material

What it is

Best used for

River Rock

Naturally tumbled, fist-sized rounded stone with color variation

Landscape beds, dry creek beds, water features, ground cover

River Gravel 3/4” to 1 1/2”

Medium to large rounded river gravel

Dry creek beds, drainage swales, bold decorative features

#57 River Gravel 3/4”

Rounded 3/4 inch river gravel at a #57 aggregate size

Landscaping, drainage, decorative ground cover, dry creek beds

#89 River Gravel 3/8” (Pea Gravel)

Smooth, rounded 3/8 inch river pea gravel in warm natural colors

Pathways, garden beds, decorative landscaping

3/8” Natural Pea Gravel

Smooth, pea-sized stones in natural earth tones

Walkways, garden beds, pet runs

Walkway Gravel

Smaller decorative rounded gravel that stays in place better than pea gravel

Garden paths, walkways, borders

Size and color vary by quarry and location, and batches differ slightly from the product photos. Enter your ZIP code to see which options are stocked near your address. Our river rock sizes guide helps you match stone size to the job.

How to Order River Rock Online

Hello Gravel runs an online store, so ordering takes about a minute:

1. Enter your ZIP code. You see the river rock available near your address and the delivered price for it.
2. Choose your material and tonnage. River rock is sold by the ton, and the price updates as you adjust the load.
3. Pick your delivery date. You choose the date at checkout, so the load arrives when your project starts.
4. Check out at the all-in price. Stone and dump truck delivery come in one number.

Order river rock online at hellogravel.com.

How Many Tons of River Rock You Need

River rock is ordered by the ton, but projects are measured in feet. Start with volume, then convert:

Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (in) / 324 = cubic yards

Cubic yards x 1.35 = tons of river rock (approximate)

A 20 by 10 foot bed at 3 inches deep covers 200 square feet. That works out to about 1.85 cubic yards, or roughly 2.5 tons. Add 10 percent for settling and uneven ground, and the order is 3 tons.

For a quick check, one ton covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches deep. Plan on 2 to 3 inches for beds and borders, and 3 to 4 inches for foundation perimeters and drainage strips. The river rock calculator turns your measurements into tons so you order the right amount the first time.

What River Rock Costs Per Ton Delivered

River rock is priced by the ton, and the cost changes by location. Stone size, color, order size, and distance from the quarry all affect the final number. Trucking is a large share of the cost of any aggregate, so distance matters as much as the stone itself.

Hello Gravel prices by ZIP code, so a figure from a blog post in another state tells you little about your address. Enter your ZIP code on the river rock page to see the delivered price, which includes both the stone and the delivery. Our river rock price guide explains what drives cost by size and type.

Bulk River Rock vs Bags and Pickup

Bagged

Pickup from a yard

Hello Gravel bulk delivery

Best for

Pots, a short border, a color test

Small amounts if you own a truck and live near a yard

Beds, walkways, drainage strips, pool surrounds, side yards

Cost

Typically costs more per ton than bulk

Stone price plus fuel, time, and trips

One all-in delivered price per ton

Effort

Lift and carry every bag

Load, haul, and unload yourself

The truck places the load at your drop spot

Minimum

None

Varies by yard

1 ton

Buying by the ton and delivered typically costs up to 50% less than the same stone bought bagged at a big-box store. For a closer comparison, read our guide to bulk delivery vs renting a pickup.

What Delivery Day Looks Like

River rock arrives loose in a dump truck. Standard delivery is drop-off only, so the driver dumps the load in one spot you choose. You get a pile where you asked, not a raked-out layer.

• Mark your drop spot before the truck arrives. A cone, bucket, or spray painted X all work.
• Check access. A loaded dump truck needs roughly 10 to 12 feet of width and overhead clearance, so check for low branches and power lines.
• Plan the spreading. Tailgate spread is available on some materials, and Hello Gravel can connect you with a local contractor for full spreading.
• Expect multiple loads on large orders, which is normal for a big project.

More detail is in our guides to how bulk gravel delivery works and delivery scheduling.

Why Buyers Order River Rock from Hello Gravel

Hello Gravel is an online store for bulk landscaping and construction materials. You order and pay Hello Gravel, and the team sources the stone, books a local hauler, and schedules the drop.

• ZIP code pricing. The delivered price appears before checkout, and you pick the date yourself.
• Help on every order. A gravel expert can match the stone to your project and confirm the quantity.
• A track record. Hello Gravel has served more than 10,000 customers. Verified reviews rate it 4.9 out of 5, and river rock buyers often mention clear communication, easy ordering, and on-time delivery.

Order River Rock for Your Project

Measure the area, run the numbers in the river rock calculator, and enter your ZIP code to see your delivered price. Order river rock by the ton and pick the delivery date that fits your schedule. If you want help choosing a size or confirming a quantity, contact our team or call 855-241-8884.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size river rock should I use for landscaping?

For beds, borders and dry creek beds, fist-sized river rock gives the bold, natural look most people want. For paths or areas you walk on, go smaller: #57 River Gravel is 3/4 inch and #89 River Gravel is 3/8 inch. Size varies by location, so enter your ZIP code to see what is stocked near you.

Where can I buy river rock in bulk?

Hello Gravel sells river rock in bulk online at hellogravel.com. Enter your ZIP code to see the river rock available near your address and the delivered price. Choose a delivery date, and a local dump truck hauler drops the load where you mark it.

How much does a ton of river rock cover?

One ton of river rock covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches deep. That drops to roughly 67 square feet at 3 inches and 50 square feet at 4 inches. Add 10 percent for settling, or use the Hello Gravel calculator to get an exact tonnage.

How much does river rock cost per ton?

River rock is sold by the ton, and the price depends on your location, the stone size and color, how many tons you order, and distance from the quarry. Enter your ZIP code on the River Rock page to see an all-in delivered price that includes both stone and delivery.

Will the driver spread the river rock?

No. Standard delivery is drop-off only, and the driver dumps the load in the spot you choose. Tailgate spread is available on some materials. For full spreading, Hello Gravel can connect you with a local contractor.

Is there a minimum order, and how fast can it arrive?

The minimum order is 1 ton, which covers a single garden bed or a short border. Orders placed by noon on a weekday can arrive the next business day. You choose your delivery date at checkout, and Hello Gravel confirms availability for your location.