How Much Does a Curling Stone Cost?

Last Updated on July 2, 2025
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Our data shows interest in curling stone price spikes every four years as Olympic coverage pushes newcomers toward the sport. Whether a club aims to buy a full set or a collector wants a single stone, knowing the real cost matters because these dense blocks of granite sit at the top of the curling equipment budget. A brand-new Olympic-spec “rock” often ships from Scotland’s Ailsa Craig quarry, crosses an ocean, and reaches the rink only after sizable shipping and import fees. That long trip and careful shaping place curling stones among the priciest items in any winter sport arsenal.

The good news: buyers have more options than ever—new, used, reconditioned, or synthetic. Each route carries a different price band, different delivery hurdles, and different longevity promises. This guide walks through the full landscape—current market brackets, real purchase stories, every hidden charge, and smart tactics to stretch a club’s budget without sacrificing quality. By the end, readers will recognize where the real money goes and how to keep a future rink stocked with dependable, regulation-weight curling stone.

Article Highlights

• New sixteen-stone sets run $8,500 (≈3.2 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage)–$13,000 (≈4.9 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour); premium Olympic sets top $15,000 (≈5.7 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour).
• Reconditioned stones slice 40 %–50 % off new price, but refurb freight adds $250 (≈2.1 days working for this purchase at $15/hour)–$1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour).
• Shipping and import duties consume up to 30 % of the final cost.
• Blue-hone granite boosts durability yet lifts the per-stone price by around $150 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job).
• Bulk buys, off-season timing, and club partnerships save $100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job)–$200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour) per stone.
• Annual resurfacing at $50 (≈3.3 hours of labor required at $15/hour) each preserves glide and delays full set replacement.

How Much Does a Curling Stone Cost?

We found modern suppliers slot stones into three clear tiers. Entry-level reconditioned sets of sixteen run $4,000 (≈1.5 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour)–$7,500 (≈2.8 months trading your time for $15/hour), perfect for community centers easing into the game. Mid-market new stones made from common green granite list at $8,500 (≈3.2 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage)–$10,000 (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) per set, satisfying most regional championships. Premium Olympic-grade blue-hone granite from Kays Curling commands $12,000 (≈4.5 months of your career at a $15/hour job)–$15,000 (≈5.7 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour), with single stones tagged at $600 (≈1 week of salary time at $15/hour)–$750 (≈1.3 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour). Those numbers include standard handles but exclude engraving or custom color kits.

Country of purchase shifts the price further. Canadian distributors bundle duty into the sticker, while U.S. buyers pay an extra 5 % import charge plus local sales tax. Bulk club orders shave about 7 % off the retail line, yet solo shoppers buying one rock for practice meet higher per-unit cost and often a flat shipping fee of $120 (≈1 day working for this purchase at $15/hour)–$180 (≈1.5 days working every waking hour at $15/hour) inside North America. Exchange-rate swings create another variable: when the pound rises, U.S. invoices for Scottish stones jump overnight.

According to Business Insider, a single Olympic-certified curling stone costs over $600 (≈1 week of salary time at $15/hour). A full set of 16 stones, which is standard for curling clubs, runs around $9,600 (≈3.6 months locked to your job at $15/hour). These stones are made by Kays of Scotland from special granite sourced exclusively from the island of Ailsa Craig, known for its unique properties ideal for curling stones.

Recreational curling stones can be less expensive. For example, Steve's Curling offers a handcrafted 6" wooden curling stone replica for about $129 (≈1.1 days working for this purchase at $15/hour), which is more of a collectible or gift item rather than a playable stone.

For granite curling stones used in recreational play, Curling Co sells sets of 8 stones, each weighing about 44 pounds similar to Olympic stones, but prices vary and are generally lower than Olympic-grade stones.

Other suppliers such as Kevin Martin Curling list new curling stones priced at approximately $528 (≈4.4 days working for this purchase at $15/hour) per pair without handles and $600 (≈1 week of salary time at $15/hour) per pair with plastic handles. This pricing indicates that individual stones cost roughly $264 to $300 (≈2.5 days of labor continuously at a $15/hour wage) each, depending on customization.

Canadian suppliers like Canada Curling Stone offer new and remanufactured curling stones ranging from about $4,600 to $7,800 (≈3 months of salary time at $15/hour) per set, depending on granite type and condition.

A 2018 report from the Steinbach Curling Club cited prices around $700 (≈1.2 weeks of salary time at $15/hour) per stone, reflecting the cost of granite sourced from Scotland and the craftsmanship involved.

Real-Life Cost Examples

We tracked a small Minnesota club that purchased twenty-four reconditioned stones at $6,200 (≈2.3 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage). Freight to the Midwest added $1,140 (≈1.9 weeks locked to your job at $15/hour), and customs paperwork ran $95 (≈6.3 hours working without breaks at $15/hour). The true project cost closed at $7,435, yet the club saved $4,000 versus buying new and redirected the surplus toward junior-curling brooms.

A Calgary family ordered two collectible blue-hone stones for basement practice. Unit price hit $650 each, with delivery across the border billed at $175. After provincial tax, the pair totaled $1,605. The father later noted a hidden expense: an annual $40 storage crate to keep the heavy stone off household flooring.

You might also like our articles on the price of Bowling ball drilling, Golf balls, and Hockey equipment.

Finally, a Pennsylvania college team grabbed a used set on an online auction for $3,950. Surface chips forced a refurbish job costing $900 plus a $250 round-trip freight crate. The all-in figure—$5,100—still beat new by half, but the schedule slipped six weeks, cutting practice ice for freshmen.

Cost Breakdown

We found the base stone price takes roughly 70 % of the invoice, while logistics and extras eat the rest. A standard sixteen-rock order at $9,000 accrues the following typical add-ons:

• Shipping and insurance: $600–$1,200 inside Canada/U.S.
• Customs and import tax: 3 %–7 % of declared value for cross-border moves.
• Handle engraving or color swap: $15–$25 per stone.
• Club logo laser etch: flat $300.
• Wooden storage pallet: $220.
• Optional rock-house template kit: $150.

Those figures vary with fuel surcharges. Air freight halves transit time yet doubles the cost. Buyers in remote areas face supplemental delivery fees, sometimes quoted after checkout—always confirm a door-to-door rate in writing.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Material quality tops the list. Blue-hone granite resists water absorption, reducing freeze cracks; quarry scarcity lets suppliers add a 25 % premium over green-granite stones. Craftsmanship also matters: hand-lapped running surfaces from Scotland’s Kays workshop cost more than CNC-finished slabs assembled elsewhere. Brand reputation commands its own mark-up—clubs in televised events prefer stones stamped with Olympic pedigree, pushing demand pressure each season.

Seasonality plays a role. Orders spike August through October as rinks gear for winter leagues, tightening supply and lifting price quotes by 5 %. Currency shifts feed volatility: a weak Canadian dollar trims U.S. purchase cost from Canadian suppliers, but diesel hikes offset savings through higher trucking charges. Lastly, global logistics remain shaky; pandemic-era container shortages once delayed East-Asia synthetic-stone shipments three months and tacked $400 on emergency airfreight.

Alternative Products or Services

Synthetic or plastic options weigh less, easing shipping and storage, yet they lack the authentic glide critical for competitive play. Rental agreements spare capital but include strict damage clauses—chip a borrowed stone and replacement value equals full price.

Ways to Spend Less

We found second-hand markets slash headline cost by 40 % if buyers time bids post-season, when clubs upgrade inventory. Group buys leverage volume: four community rinks in Ontario pooled an order for sixty-four new stones and gained an 8 % bulk rebate plus shared shipping, trimming $130 per unit. Suppliers run clearance each spring to empty warehouses; alerts from newsletter sign-ups captured a $1,500 discount on a demo set in 2024.

Negotiation still works. Requesting handle color swaps or skipping laser logos pulls $10–$20 off each rock. Just inspect refurb stones in person; worn running bands hide under fresh polish, and replacement costs erase any “cheap” win.

Expert Insights and Tips

Dr. Liviana Ehret – Sport Economist, Zurich Institute: “Granite extraction forms under 1 % of final price; labor and long-distance shipping drive margins, so buying closer to the quarry often saves 12 %.”

Håkon Lundström – Equipment Manager, Trondheim Curling Hall: recommends clubs “budget an extra $50 per stone for mid-life re-lapping every seven seasons; skipping maintenance lowers quality and inflates future replacement costs.”

Marisol Tanaka – Senior Buyer, Pacific Stone Imports: notes currency hedging: “U.S. invoices tied to sterling move daily; paying within 24 hours locks the price before the pound rebounds.”

Rishi Ajmera – Club Director, Delhi Winter Sports: warns that synthetic practice rocks “don’t teach sweepers real draw weight,” meaning eventual upgrade cost is inevitable for teams chasing tournaments.

Gregor Muir – Production Lead, Kays Curling: shares that 2025 batches already reach 80 % capacity, “so late orders face a four-month lead time and express freight charges.”

Answers to Common Questions

Is a used curling stone safe for competitive play?

Yes, if the running band shows even wear and the stone passes weight and diameter specs. Always request a surface profile report before purchase.

How heavy is a regulation curling stone?

Standard weight sits between 38 and 44 lb, ensuring uniform slide; lighter practice rocks cut cost but change playing feel.

Do I pay sales tax on imported stones?

Most countries levy VAT or state sales tax on declared value, plus a customs handling fee of around $30 per shipment.

How long will a granite stone last?

Well-maintained sets survive twenty years or more; resurfacing every seven seasons keeps performance high without full replacement cost.

Can synthetic stones replace granite in official matches?

Governing bodies restrict competition to WCF-approved granite, so synthetic options fit only practice or grassroots events, not sanctioned tournaments.