The stones are one of the most important elements in the stone bed. You should therefore look at various options online and in specialist shops in advance in order to be able to make the right decision. In the following you will find out which types of stone are available in which colors and what stones for the stone bed cost.

Stone is not just stone

Stone is not just stone

In general, three different stone categories can be used for the stone bed:

  • grit,(46.95€)
  • gravel
  • or gravel.

How are the three different? Gravel differs from grit and crushed stone in that it is rounded, meaning it has no natural edges or corners. This has both a visual effect and practical: you need more gravel than grit or crushed stone to cover an area. In addition, weeds are more likely to grow between gravel than grit or crushed stone, as the stones leave more space.
In principle, grit and gravel are the same: they consist of natural, non-rounded rubble or rock. Crushed stone is usually larger than grit.

The rock types for the stone bed

Stone beds are often laid out with white gravel or crushed stone, which looks classy and shines in the sun. If you like it colorful, you can also use stones of a different color or combine different shades. Artificial stones are available in all imaginable colors. But natural shades look more harmonious. Common rock types and their hues:

rock shades
basalt black
granite Grey, grey-white mottled, grey-black mottled, red, green-grey
limestone Orange, cream, yellowish, grey-white, black
marble White, white-pink, white-grey, white-red
mine chippings Red, brownish
quartzite black
sandstone (e.g. greywacke) Gray, green, yellow, reddish, cream
slate Violet, grey, terracotta, green, black

tips

Another alternative is to use crushed glass for your rock garden. Glass grit is slightly transparent and available in many different colors.

How many stones do I need?

How many stones you need for your stone bed depends first and foremost on the size of the stone bed, but also on the grain size of the stones. For a 10 square meter stone bed you need:

  • 0.88cbm gravel if the grain size is 16 to 32mm
  • 1.10cbm gravel with a grain size of 20 to 40mm
  • 1.54cbm gravel if the grain size is 32 to 56mm
  • or 1.65cbm gravel with a grain size of 30 to 60mm.

You can find an online calculator for the required amount of stones for your stone bed on the website of the Natural Stone Park Ruhr.

How much do stones for the stone bed cost

stone name color grit costs
basalt chippings Gray 2 - 5mm €0.22 / kg
granite chippings Gray 16 - 32mm €0.23 / kg
greywacke chippings Brown beige 16 - 32mm €0.40 / kg
mine chippings Brownish, colorful 16 - 25mm €0.36 / kg
marble gravel White 15 - 25mm €0.31 / kg
marble chippings Red 16 - 25mm €0.36 / kg
quartz gravel White, beige, brownish 20 to 40mm €0.24 / kg
Rhine gravel grey-beige 20 to 40mm €0.22 / kg
slate chippings violet 15 - 30mm €0.47 / kg

Status: August 2022

Category:

Garden design