How Much Does Fieldstone Cost?

Last Updated on May 20, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

With its rugged, naturally irregular texture and earthy beauty, fieldstone is a popular material for creating enduring landscapes and enhancing home exteriors and interiors. However, costs for this unique stone can vary widely depending on the specific type and quality of fieldstone desired, the total volume needed for your project, and regional availability.

Whether you plan to gather fieldstone yourself or purchase the perfect variation and amount from local quarries or national building material suppliers, preparing a detailed budget estimate tailored to your particular project requirements helps ensure you can invest confidently and cost-effectively in fieldstone.

How Much Does Fieldstone Cost?

Fieldstone costs vary significantly with prices ranging from as low as $4 per square foot for loose fieldstone up to over $25 per square foot for professional masonry installation services, depending on factors such as type, size grade, geographical region, and delivery distance.

Bulk or Loose Fieldstone by the Ton – $40 to over $200 per ton on average depending on the fieldstone type, size grade, stone dimensions, and geographical region.

Fieldstone Sold by the Square Foot – For projects requiring more precise sizing, coverage, and quantities, fieldstone can be priced at $4 to $12 per square foot on average, taking into account the thickness, average stone proportions, weight, and desired finish.

Transportation and Delivery Charges – Delivery costs fluctuate widely based on your proximity to local fieldstone quarries and suppliers as well as total mileage and volume of stone required. Local deliveries average $100 to $200 while longer distance shipments can exceed $500+ for remote sites.

Professional Fieldstone Masonry Installation – Expect to pay between $8 to $25 per square foot on average to hire qualified masonry professionals to handle proper fieldstone installation, mortaring, leveling, and drainage.

Homewyse provides a fieldstone wall cost guide, estimating $368.27 to $520.00 for a finished area of 220 square feet, inclusive of material and labor costs. Their pricing assumptions consider basic work conducted by qualified professionals using popular, in-stock products, with actual costs subject to project specifics and location.

According to Contractor Talk, a contractor in upstate SC aims to charge $25 per square foot for 6″ veneer fieldstone, with additional considerations for stone quantity and laying difficulty.

Angi states that the cost of building a stone house involves fieldstone prices ranging from $250 to $375 per ton. Additionally, installing a low fieldstone fence can cost between $40 to over $80 per hour, as per their stone wall cost estimation.

What Exactly Is Fieldstone?

Fieldstone refers to loose, irregularly shaped stones found exposed on the earth’s surface rather than quarried from underground. Unlike precisely cut and finished commercial building stone, fieldstone maintains its original, organic forms and textures with unique natural colors and surface variations that develop over time.

This rustic, imperfect aesthetic quality has made fieldstone a popular choice for centuries in masonry structures like foundational rock walls, chimneys, and paving surfaces as well as outdoor living spaces. Fieldstone adds authenticity, durability, and charm to any home or landscape.

Elements That Impact the Cost of Fieldstone

Type of Fieldstone – Naturally formed fieldstone is much more expensive and limited in supply compared to manufactured cultured stone veneers which offer consistent thickness, shapes, and color availability.

Source Region and Grade of the Stone – The quarry origin and overall grade – encompassing the stone’s colors, flecking, veining, fossils, crystal structures, and surface textures – significantly impact costs, with imported and rare sedimentary fieldstones commanding premium prices due to limited local supply.

Size of the Individual Stones – Larger, heavier fieldstones that require mechanical equipment rather than manual lifting and installation are more expensive due to increased labor, transportation, and handling costs associated with installation. Smaller stones tend to be more affordable.

Regional Availability and Delivery Distance – Fieldstone prices fluctuate substantially based on proximity to quarries, the overall supply volume, and seasonal demand trends in your local market. Homeowners in very remote rural settings without close access to quarries pay considerably more for transportation delivery fees.

Seasonal Demand Cycles – The spring through fall peak home building and landscaping seasons see elevated demand for fieldstone, which can potentially influence pricing based on tighter supply during these busy months.

Total Weight or Volume Needed – Smaller residential projects only requiring a couple tons of fieldstone in a single delivery incur much lower material transportation costs compared to commercial projects measured in the truckloads that must cover extensive areas and square footages, significantly adding to the overall project expense. Carefully calculating your specific needs is key.

You might also like our articles about the cost of sand, crushed concrete, or flagstone.

Fieldstone vs Other Natural Stones

Fieldstone vs. Flagstone for Paving – While both derive from natural sources, flagstone is cut into much flatter, smoother pieces specifically intended for use in stepping stones, patios, and floors. Fieldstone exhibits more irregular organic shapes and rounds surface suitable for walls. Flagstone offers easier DIY installation but fieldstone provides an authentically raw natural look.

Fieldstone vs. Limestone for Walls and Structures– Limestone is a softer, more porous sedimentary stone that is easier to cut and shape than fieldstone but lacks its innate strength and durability. Consequently, limestone tends to be less expensive per ton or square foot. Fieldstone’s hardy composition enables it to better withstand extreme weather fluctuations.

Fieldstone vs. Granite for Decorative Accents – Solid granite is much harder and dense than fieldstone, typically quarried in uniform blocks ideal for kitchen countertops, polished floors, and other high traffic areas. Fieldstone brings more organic, rustic elegance to gardens, fireplaces, fountains, and outdoor decor while granite withstands heavy use better for indoor surfaces.

Popular Uses for Fieldstone

Ornamental Garden Walls, Borders, Steps and Retaining Walls – The irregular shapes and textured variegation of natural fieldstone perfectly complements carefully planned garden designs and adds visual interest to steps, short decorative walls, edging, and multi-tiered retaining walls holding back slopes.

Patio, Pathway, and Landscape Surfacing – Rugged fieldstone patios, winding garden pathways, and decorative stone mulch offer enduring natural charm and stand up well to the elements over decades, blending beautifully into the landscape. Fieldstone also brings rustic ambiance around outdoor fire pits and kitchens.

Exterior Home Accents and Structures – Fieldstone chimneys, structural cladding, corner quoins, and stacked veneer applications provide attractive detailing on exterior facades and exposed foundations, increasing aesthetic street appeal. The stone’s muted color palette also blends well with siding choices.

Interior Accent Walls and Fireplaces – Fieldstone veneers or stacked stone fireplaces, interior walls, and backsplashes add warmth and coziness to living spaces as decorative focal points, providing organic visual texture and depth. Fieldstone offers a welcome natural element in home interiors.

Estimating Your Project’s Stone Needs

• Carefully measure the total square footage of the area needing fieldstone coverage, multiplying length by width. Account for the thickness desired, at least 4-6 inches for walls.
• With fieldstone’s irregular shapes, add at least 10% extra stone to allow for filling inevitable gaps, cuts, waste, and installing partial stones along edges.
• Use online fieldstone calculators or talk to landscape pros to estimate the total tonnage required based on your project’s specific dimensions and thickness.
• Consult with quarries, contractors, or distributors to determine availability of the specific type, grade, and dimensions of fieldstone you are seeking.
• Request a slightly higher quantity than the calculated estimate to ensure you receive adequate material in a single delivery with minimal need for supplemental purchases later.
• Be sure to factor in all associated ancillary costs for delivery, installation labor, mortar, equipment rentals, and required tools as well when budgeting.

Finding Quality Fieldstone Suppliers

Local Stone Quarries and Suppliers – Check quarries and landscape material companies located nearest your building site first to minimize transportation delivery fees. Quarried fieldstone also provides more uniformity in the stone’s colors, grade, and texture compared to gathered fieldstone.

Landscape Supply Centers and Nurseries – Trusted local hardscape retailers frequently stock fieldstone for sale alongside other stone products, mortar, tools, and helpful design consulting services for both DIYers and contractors. Purchasing everything needed in one place can be convenient.

Online Mail Order and Big Box Home Improvement Stores – Large national retailers like Home Depot sell fieldstone varieties online for delivery and in-store purchase. While convenient, expect only basic stone color and grade options. Reputable online stone suppliers offer wider selections but evaluate shipping costs closely.

Tips for Comparing Fieldstone Vendors – Always thoroughly research potential fieldstone providers based on product reviews, reasonable pricing structures for materials and delivery, responsive and knowledgeable customer service, and a satisfaction guarantee. Take time to make the best supplier choice.

Control Fieldstone Project Costs

• Seek quotes from at least 3-4 experienced fieldstone landscapers or hardscaping contractors to compare fair market labor rates and material prices if planning to hire out installation work.
• Ask suppliers about discount pricing for large bulk purchases of fieldstone by the ton or combined/consolidated delivery fees on shared truckloads for big orders.
• Schedule fieldstone delivery very close to when you realistically plan to start building to avoid the stacked stones being damaged, degrading over time, or being stolen from the site after delivery but before installation.
• Be flexible with timing your project to account for peak seasonal fieldstone demand cycles that frequently influence pricing based on tight supply. Spring through fall are the busiest.
• If available, incorporate found fieldstone remnants or scavenged stones from your own property to offset the higher expense of purchasing all new stone materials.
• For cost-effective aesthetics using less raw stone, consider installing thin fieldstone veneers no thicker than 2 inches to clad key accent walls rather than building extensively thick fieldstone structures.

Protecting Your Investment

Regular Sealing – Seal fieldstone walls, patios, fountains, and structures annually using specialty masonry sealants to protect from weathering damage and prevent moisture from seeping into cracks, causing splits when water freezes. Sealing refreshes the vibrant color.

Routine Cleaning – Use a stiff brush and mild soap and water to scrub off dirt, lichens, mold, and mildew that accumulate in fieldstone over time, especially in shaded or damp areas. Avoid using acidic or harsh cleaners that could react with minerals.

Pointing Mortar Repairs – Fill any new cracks or gaps between stones as needed with fresh weatherproof mortar to prevent shifting, cracking, and further water infiltration. Loose stones may require resetting.

Major Renovations – For severely deteriorated or structurally damaged fieldstone after decades, consider hiring a masonry restoration company to undertake more extensive repairs for improved integrity and aesthetics if the project scope exceeds DIY abilities.

Final Words

With its appealing imperfections and organic origins, fieldstone brings enduring elegance to residential gardens and architecture, both indoors and out. While costs may fluctuate according to the specifics of each unique fieldstone project, understanding price influencing factors allows for accurate budgeting and wise investment in this distinctive material.

Taking time to carefully estimate quantities, grade, delivery logistics, and installation enables smooth-running fieldstone projects and years of enjoyment within your thoughtfully designed outdoor living spaces and home improvements. Let fieldstone lend its welcoming natural charm to your surroundings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is field stone?

Fieldstones come in a range of sizes, from less than a pound up to 50-100 lbs. or more. Stones used for walls or cladding are typically 4 to 12 inches in diameter. Thinner slices cut for veneers fall under 2 inches thick. Fieldstone dimensions are inconsistent since they derive naturally rather than being cut uniformly.

How much fieldstone do I need?

Fieldstone coverage is about 100-150 lbs. per square foot at 4-6 inches thick. Measure your project’s area and depth to calculate your estimated tonnage needs. For walls, add 10% extra for partial stones filling gaps. It’s ideal to overestimate slightly to ensure you purchase enough fieldstone in one delivery.

Where do fieldstones come from?

Fieldstones typically originate from natural sources such as fields, riverbeds, quarries, or rocky areas where they are naturally occurring. They are often found on the surface or just below the soil in regions with abundant geological formations. Fieldstones are typically collected, sorted, and used for various construction purposes, including building walls, fences, and other structures.