Quality landscaping rocks can effectively turn your yard into a masterpiece of walkways and accenting, with the added bonus of good soil and moisture retention. While there's just about every color imaginable to choose from when it comes to your landscaping rocks, many people choose a darker shade to match their home or to stand out less when added to planters and flower pots. It's a neutral color that is undeniably visually appealing, and we've put together a collection of black landscaping rocks that should suit most purposes, styles, and designs.

Our Favorite Black Landscaping Rocks in 2023

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Margo Rain Forest Black Polished Pebbles
Editor's Choice

Available in large quantities

Margo Garden Products has a huge line of Rain Forest branded landscaping rocks, and these black river stones come polished, tumbled, and ready for spreading. They measure from one to two inches and most commonly come in 20- or 30-pound bags. However, Lowe's also offers bulk lots for larger jobs.

Pros
  • Can be purchased in different quantities
  • Polished and tumbled for a fine sheen
  • Can be used for accents or soil and humidity retention
Cons
  • Polish will wear off over time, especially if in frequent contact with water
  • Relatively expensive in smaller quantities

These black river stones from Margo Garden Products are tumbled and polished to help them look as dark as possible. Some of the polish will undoubtedly wear off if you're using the stones outside or in water, but in general they should mostly keep their color.

The stones measure between one and two inches in size, and you get 30 pounds worth in each bag. With three inches of depth, each bag should cover about 1.5 square feet. If you're shopping at Lowe's (where prices are cheapest at the time of writing) you can buy in quantities of 20, 30, 1,620, and 2,200 pounds for much larger jobs.

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MSI Ash Black Beach Pebbles (1-2")
Best Value

More affordable than our top pick

MSI's black beach pebbles come in a 30-pound bag and measure between one and two inches. They come polished and tumbled, but you might want to add an additional clear coating of some sort to protect the original look.

Pros
  • Much more affordable pricing
  • Stones come polished and tumbled
  • Mix of one- to two-inch stone sizes
Cons
  • Finish seems more prone to wearing off than other stones

MSI's black beach pebbles cost about $19 for a 30-pound bag, which is much cheaper than our top option. They come polished and tumbled for a shiny look, but the sheen seems to be more prone to wearing off over time, especially if they're in regular contact with water.

If you're using small quantities of these for accents in your planters or walkways, an additional clear coat with something like Mod Podge acrylic sealer will go a long way for preserving the original polish. Stones are sized between one and two inches, and you should get about 1.5 feet of coverage with three inches of depth.

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Margo Rain Forest Black Gravel
Best Gravel

Simple but effective

This black gravel from Margo Garden Products has no polish that wears off over time, so you know exactly what your work is going to look like down the road. It's available in a bunch of different colors, and you can buy it in bulk if you're shopping at Lowe's.

Pros
  • No polish to wear off over time
  • Available in large and small quantities
  • A bunch of different colors available
Cons
  • Not as appealing for use as accenting

Protecting the original look of polished black river stones isn't for everyone, nor is the rounded and chunky look appropriate for all landscaping ideas. Margo Garden Products also makes some black gravel that, while not polished and inky, remains dark over time and has no finish that can wear off.

The small gravel chunks are actually available in five different colors, measuring between 0.25 and 0.37 inches in size. It's great for just about any area of your yard, and it will prevent soil erosion and hold moisture in the soil for your plants to absorb. Amazon and Home Depot have 30-pound bags for sale, and you can also source bulk buys weighing 1,620 or 2,200 pounds at Lowe's.

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Kayso Lava Rock
Best Lava Rock

Unique porous look

Lava rocks make great accents for your plants, but their heatproof properties keep them as a top option for gas-fed fire tables, wood-burning fire pit surrounds, and beyond. Pick up 10- or 40-pound bags and choose between black and red coloring.

Pros
  • Unique look is great for accents
  • Generally full of plant-friendly minerals
  • Available in black and red colors
Cons
  • Sharp edges not great for walkways
  • On the pricey side

Lava rock has a unique porous appearance and heatproof properties that make it ideal for accents around firepits or grills. It can even be used with gas-fed fire tables and fire bowls, as it can stay directly in a flame without issue. Lava rock is also generally full of nutrients beneficial to your plants, so don't be afraid to use it in your planters or potters.

These lava rocks from Kayso measure about 0.75 inches, and you can buy them in a 10- or 40-pound bag depending on the task at hand. If the black color isn't quite what you need after all, the same lava rocks can be had in a red color.

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T4U Tumbled Black Pea Gravel
Best Pea Gravel

Polished glass pebbles for ornamental use

These polished glass "pebbles" from T4U are a great option for ornamental design thanks to their polished look and small size. We recommend picking up the two-pound bag for a better deal; you'll also be surprised at how many stones you need for even a small project.

Pros
  • Polished glass "pebbles" won't lose their shine over time
  • Great for accenting your pots, vases, and ponds
  • Also available in clear and white colors
Cons
  • Relatively expensive
  • Not actually made of stone

This black pea gravel from T4U is actually made from glass and is polished to a sheen that won't fade over time. It's great for smaller projects due to the size and cost, with most people using it as accenting in pots and vases or as a base in aquariums and ponds.

The "stones" measure between about 0.16 and 0.24 inches, and you can get them in a one or two-pound bag. I'd lean toward buying too many, as the two-pound bags are a considerably better value and you'll likely need more than you think for your next project.

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Yiszm Black Landscaping Rocks (2-3")
Best Large Stone

Larger pebbles stand out

Love the look of polished black river pebbles but want to stick with the larger size? Yiszm stones measure between two and three inches and come in four different quantities. You can also pick up mixed and white colors if black isn't all you need.

Pros
  • Larger stones measuring two to three inches
  • Available in four different quantities
  • Three different colors to choose from
Cons
  • Larger jobs will get expensive

Love the look of polished black river stones but need something larger? Yiszm's rocks measure two to three inches and come in 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-pound bags. They're smooth and mostly uniform in shape, and Yiszm claims it doesn't add anything to the rocks beyond the polish. That should translate to a longer-lasting sheen.

Like their smaller siblings, these larger black river rocks are a great choice for accenting flower beds, lining walkways, or covering the soil in your planters and pots. Like any rocky coverage, they prevent soil erosion and help keep moisture in the ground for your plants to absorb.

FAQs About Black Landscaping Rocks

Black Rocks

Image credits: Clyde Laster via Canva

In case you are still wondering about the amazing application of landscaping stones, here are a few questions we have answered for you.

1. Are all landscaping rocks natural?

While the word “rocks” has a natural connotation behind it, there are options that have the same effect but are made from glass or sand. Some options use unnatural paints and/or polishes as well, so be sure to read thoroughly through the item's description before settling on any alternative. Some come with a polish that will wear off over time, leaving the rocks more of a slate color than shiny black.

2. Do all landscaping rocks come in pebble or “small rock” form?

While the majority of Landscaping rocks come in copious amounts of smaller rocks, there are options that are made from bigger, more solid pieces like Flagstones for pathways, or bigger versions of river rocks. There are also plenty of gigantic rocks that pair well with outdoor waterfalls and bigger natural displays.

3. Is it as easy as putting rocks on the ground, or is there an art to landscape rocks?

While it is best to use your imagination in regard to selecting the right option, many great ideas are floating around the internet that can help you mix and match your rock selection or simply give you advice on how to contrast your plants with your rock selection.

Getting the Best Black Landscaping Rocks for Your Yard

Trying to find the proper black landscaping rocks for your yard will likely unveil a whole lot of similar products available from a whole lot of different manufacturers and retailers. We've narrowed things down to accommodate most styles, with large and small polished stones, regular gravel, and even some lava rock. But if we're picking one, it has to be the Rain Forest polished black river stones from Margo Garden Products.

The rocks measure between one and two inches in size, and you can buy them in quantities ranging from 20 pounds all the way up to 2,200 pounds (check Lowe's for the bulk pricing). Some of the polish will wear off over time — especially if the stones are in regular contact with water — but that seems to a regular occurrence when dealing with the shinier finish. Use the stones as accenting around gardens or pathways, or use them to cover soil to prevent erosion and moisture loss.

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Margo Rain Forest Black Polished Pebbles
Editor's Choice

These polished black pebbles from Margo Garden Products are available in small and large quantities, with stones measuring between one and two inches in size. They come polished and tumbled for a slick sheen, but expect some of it to wear off over time.