Arkansas Sandstone vs Limestone: A Buyer's Guide to Choosing the Right Stone

Most stone projects in Arkansas come down to a choice between two natural stone categories: sandstone and limestone. Both are abundant locally, both are stocked at most Central Arkansas yards, and both have decades of established use in residential and commercial projects. They are not interchangeable, though. The difference in color, weight, weathering behavior, and best use cases matters more than first-time buyers usually expect.

This guide walks through what each stone actually is, how Arkansas sandstone and limestone differ in practical terms, what each is best suited for, and how to decide between them for a specific project.

What Arkansas sandstone actually is

Sandstone is a sedimentary stone formed from compressed sand grains, primarily quartz, cemented together by minerals deposited between the grains over geological time. Arkansas has substantial sandstone deposits across the Ouachita and Ozark formations, which is why the stone is so widely available in the region.

The defining characteristics of Arkansas sandstone:

• Color range: wide, from buff cream through gold, tan, brown, rust, and red, with iron staining producing much of the color variation
• Surface texture: moderately rough and grainy, with visible grain structure on freshly split faces
• Density and weight: moderate, typically 130 to 145 pounds per cubic foot
• Weathering: weathers visibly over time, developing patina and softer edges, but holds structural integrity for decades
• Workability: splits cleanly along bedding planes, can be chopped and dressed

Arkansas sandstone is the dominant stone in the regional flagstone, fieldstone, and accent stone categories. When a yard advertises Arkansas flagstone or Arkansas fieldstone, the stone is almost always sandstone unless specifically noted otherwise.

What Arkansas limestone actually is

Limestone is a sedimentary stone composed primarily of calcium carbonate, formed from the accumulated remains of marine organisms over geological time. Arkansas limestone comes from formations across the northern and central parts of the state, including substantial deposits in the Boston Mountains and the Springfield Plateau regions.

The defining characteristics of Arkansas limestone:

• Color range: generally cooler and more uniform than sandstone, dominated by cream, gray, light tan, and occasionally bluish or greenish tones
• Surface texture: smoother than sandstone, sometimes with visible fossil inclusions on cut faces
• Density and weight: higher than sandstone, typically 140 to 170 pounds per cubic foot
• Weathering: weathers slowly, holds edges and surfaces more crisply over time than sandstone
• Workability: can be sawn cleanly into precise dimensions, takes a polished or honed finish well

Limestone in Arkansas yards is more common in dimensional cut stone (chopped, sawn, dressed) and architectural applications than in irregular fieldstone or flagstone categories.

Side-by-side comparison

PropertyArkansas SandstoneArkansas LimestonePrimary color range | Buff, tan, brown, rust, red | Cream, light gray, blue-gray
Density | Moderate (130 to 145 lb/cu ft) | Higher (140 to 170 lb/cu ft)
Texture | Grainy, visible grain | Smoother, sometimes fossil-inclusive
Splits along | Clear bedding planes | Less predictable, often sawn instead
Weathering | Visible patina, slightly softening edges | Slow, crisper edge retention
Best for | Flagstone, fieldstone, natural-look projects | Dimensional cut, architectural, formal projects
Typical relative cost | Moderate, the regional default | Slightly higher per ton on average

What each stone is best used for

The right choice between sandstone and limestone usually comes down to the project itself.

Where Arkansas sandstone is the right call

• Natural-look patios and walkways where color variation and irregular edges add character
• Fieldstone walls where the weathered look is part of the design
• Water feature surrounds where warm color tones complement landscape planting
• Hearths and outdoor fire features where moderate density and good thermal performance matter
• Veneer and accent stone on home exteriors where the buff-to-rust palette works with brick and siding
• Boulder accents where the visual mass of weathered stone is the point

Where Arkansas limestone is the right call

• Architectural cut stone where precise dimensions and clean edges matter
• Building veneer in formal designs where cooler tones and uniform color suit the architecture
• Steps and treads where crisp edge retention extends the useful life of the stone
• Counter and bar tops in outdoor kitchens where smooth surface and easy cleaning are priorities
• Wall caps and copings where the dimensional precision of sawn limestone outperforms field-pulled sandstone

Where either stone works well

• Garden walls can use either, with the choice driven by color preference rather than performance
• Mixed-material designs often use both, with sandstone for fieldstone walls and limestone for cap stones or accents
• Commercial entry features sometimes use limestone for the formal pieces and sandstone for the surrounding natural elements

How to decide for a specific project

Three questions usually settle the sandstone vs limestone choice quickly.

What look does the project need?

Warm, natural, weathered, blended-with-the-landscape: sandstone. Cooler, more formal, architectural, precision-cut: limestone. Mixed or contrasting palette: often both, used in different roles within the same project.

What is the budget at scale?

Sandstone is generally the more economical option per ton in Arkansas because the regional supply is so plentiful. Limestone runs slightly higher on average, particularly in dimensional cut grades. For projects at scale, the per-ton difference adds up.

What is the maintenance and weathering expectation?

A homeowner who wants the stone to look the same 20 years from now as it looks today should consider limestone for the visible feature pieces. A homeowner who wants the stone to age and develop character should consider sandstone. Both are durable enough for decades of outdoor use; the question is what kind of aging the buyer wants.

What to ask the yard

A few short questions narrow down the right order.

• What sandstone do you have in stock right now, in what colors and thicknesses?
• What limestone do you have in stock, dimensional cut and natural?
• Can I see samples of both side by side?
• What are the per-ton and per-pallet prices for the categories I need?
• For my specific project, which stone would you recommend and why?

A good yard will walk a buyer through both options without pushing one over the other. The right answer depends on the project, not on what the yard happens to have moving fastest.

Mixed-stone projects

Many Arkansas projects use both sandstone and limestone in different roles. A common pattern: sandstone fieldstone for the main wall body with limestone cap stones for the top course. Another: sandstone flagstone patio with limestone bullnose steps and edging. The visual contrast between the warmer sandstone and the cooler limestone often produces a more interesting result than using either stone alone.

The yard can help identify combinations that have worked well on similar projects, and can quote both stones together as a single order.

How Rockhouse Stone Company stocks sandstone and limestone

Rockhouse Stone Company supplies both Arkansas sandstone and limestone from the yard at 5643 N HWY 7 in Hot Springs Village. The sandstone inventory covers flagstone, fieldstone, and chopped sandstone in the standard color range. Limestone is available in dimensional cut, wall stone, and cap stone categories. Walk-in customers are welcome to see both stones side by side and discuss which fits the project.

The yard serves Garland County and Saline County residential and commercial customers, with pickup free at the yard and delivery available across the county service area. The Rockhouse supply network connects back to the Bennett Brothers heritage of stone supply that has served Central Arkansas since 1972, with Scott Austin as the current owner.

For a stone quote anywhere in Garland County or Saline County, visit the yard at 5643 N HWY 7 in Hot Springs Village or call 501-532-1905.