The Best Garden Stepping Stones of 2024

Buying Guide: Garden Stepping Stones

Garden stepping stones are an interesting addition to your garden space; they bring a bit of spice and magic to any space, come in many different forms, and are excellent decorative options for your garden. But that’s not it. You can even go for personalized garden stepping stones to add a bit of character to your yard. With so many options available on the market, you’re sure to find one that meets your functional and aesthetic needs if you know how to look. To help you out, we’ve put together this buying guide that’ll break down everything you should know about stepping stones. Let’s take a look!

What Is a Garden Stepping Stone?

A garden stepping stone is a raised stone or other material used singly or in a series as a place on which to step when crossing a garden. They are a wonderful way of creating pathways through your garden, or any unpaved areas around your home. They can also be used to create small paved areas in any space. Garden stepping stones also serve an aesthetic function. They can be decorative pieces for spicing up your garden space.

Why Should I Buy Garden Stepping Stones?

Stepping stones in a garden are more than just practical; they’re a stroke of aesthetic genius. As you place each stone, you create a path that invites exploration and adds a touch of nature’s whimsy to your outdoor space. They’re not only functional, guiding your steps across the lawn, but also serve as charming decor that complements the garden’s beauty.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Garden Stepping Stone

It has been well established that garden stepping stones come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and forms, with each configuration offering a unique set of features that serve particular functions and cater to a specific subset of customers. And so, choosing one of the many available options is usually tricky. We recognize that even with the list of the best garden stepping stones we have already provided, you are likely to need further details before you can make a properly informed choice. To help with this, we will run through those factors you should pay attention to when shopping for garden stepping stones.

Decorative vs. Functional

Stepping stones can be functional or decorative elements in your garden. While some models strike a good balance between both of these, some models tend to prioritize one at the expense of the other. With this in mind, when choosing a stepping stone, you should look for one that offers a blend of function and style that works for you. You can even add a personal touch to your garden by opting for personalized garden stepping stones.

Weight

The weight of the stepping stone is another thing to consider. A stepping stone that is too light may not be as solidly grounded and so may slide around when you walk on it. Meanwhile, stepping stones that are too heavy may be harder to install or move and may sink into soft soil.

Build material

Stepping stones can be made of many different materials, from concrete to metal to resins to heavy-duty leather. All of these materials offer unique features that you should consider when making a choice. Concrete stepping stones have an authentic and classic look and feel, but stepping stones made out of concrete tend to be more expensive and heavy. They are also susceptible to breakage. Metal stepping stones are unlikely to break, but they must be specifically treated for rust resistance to be any good.

You can even opt for a concrete stepping stones kit that mostly comes with cement mix, mosaic pieces, a mixing paddle, a writing tool and an easy-to-follow instruction booklet.

Surface

Stepping stones are primarily for walking, so you need one with a surface flat enough to walk on. You also need your stepping stone that has a surface that provides enough grip to your feet and footwear to prevent slipping and falling, even when wet.

Weather resistance

Stepping stones are typically for outdoor use, and so, they have to be able to cope with the outdoor elements like rain, snow, and sunlight, all year round. You want a water-resistant stepping stone, rust-resistant (for metal models), and holds up well under intense and consistent sunlight.

Concrete pavers are also a favorite among gardeners as pavers can last up to 50 years if properly installed using cement mix and maintained. The pavers absorb water just as grass, or dirt. Because of this, water on concrete pavers easily drains to the soil below.

Aesthetics

Such metal, resin, or concrete stepping stones come in a variety of styles, from rectangular blocks to animal-themed models with inscriptions and/or images. You should choose a model that caters to your aesthetic as well as your functional needs.

For more tips and tricks about garden stepping stones, check the video below.

How Much Do Garden Stones Cost?

The price of a garden stepping stone depends on features like its build material, its size, weight, and aesthetic features. Garden stepping stones can cost anything between $6 to about $200.