Erosion Control - Material Guide
Picking the right gravel for a erosion control project? This guide covers the materials that fit best, how much you need, and what it costs delivered.
A solid erosion control job comes down to three things: the right stone size, the right depth, and a base that drains. Get those right and the surface lasts 15 years before it needs a real top-up. Cut corners on any of them and you will be back out there with a rake inside two seasons. The numbers below come from real delivered jobs across our service area, not catalog specs.
Best materials for erosion control
What erosion control needs in a material
- Size and shape: 1.5 to 3 inch angular rip-rap and #4 stone.
- Drainage: high, lets water through, holds soil.
- Compaction: placed by hand or bucket, keyed into slope.
The three specs above drive every other choice on a erosion control job. Order the wrong size and the surface fails fast. Pick a material that drains the wrong way and you fight standing water or washouts. Get these right and the install steps below take care of the rest.
How to install erosion control
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1
Cut the slope
Grade the slope to a stable angle, no steeper than 2:1.
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2
Key in the toe
Dig a toe trench at the bottom and pack with the largest stone.
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3
Lay non-woven fabric
Cover the soil with heavy non-woven, overlap seams 12 inches uphill.
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4
Place rip-rap
Stack angular rock from toe upward, fitted tight, no gaps.
How much erosion control material do you need
| Project size | 3 inch depth | 4 inch depth |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.9 cu yd / 1.3 tons | 1.2 cu yd / 1.7 tons |
| 300 sq ft | 2.8 cu yd / 3.9 tons | 3.7 cu yd / 5.2 tons |
| 600 sq ft | 5.6 cu yd / 7.8 tons | 7.4 cu yd / 10.4 tons |
Quantities above assume crushed stone at roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel and river rock run a bit lighter, decomposed granite a bit denser. Add 10 percent waste for irregular shapes and edge losses.
What erosion control costs in 2026
| Region | Delivered per ton | Typical 300 sq ft project |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $50 to $86 | $175 to $301 |
| Midwest | $38 to $67 | $133 to $235 |
| South | $36 to $65 | $126 to $228 |
| West | $58 to $106 | $203 to $371 |
Prices below are delivered per ton, full truck loads, 2026 service area pricing. Add 8 to 15 percent for half-loads under 12 tons and add fuel surcharges in volatile diesel markets. Bag drops and small-yard deliveries run higher per ton than the table shows.
Erosion Control mistakes to avoid
- Stone too small for the slope, which washes downhill in the first storm.
- Skipping the keyed toe trench, so the rip-rap slides off the bottom.
- Light fabric instead of heavy non-woven, which tears under stone.
- Slopes steeper than 2:1 with no terracing, which keeps moving.