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Use Concrete for Stepping Stones With Custom Designs

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Updated January 13, 2025

DIY concrete stepping stones create a custom walkway in your yard. Using concrete for stepping stones lets you cast a walkway yourself and personalize it with a variety of textures. Learn about the best concrete for stepping stones, how to cast the stones and how to add textures of your choice.

Skill

Beginner

Time

One Day

Stepping stones in a garden setting.

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

The Best Concrete for Stepping Stones

Do-it-yourself walkways are easy to make but choose the right concrete for your DIY stepping stones. Concrete mixes vary and give different results. Standard, general-purpose concrete mix combines cement with gravel and stones while sand-mix concrete uses coarse sand with the cement. If you want the finished stones to have a rougher texture, a gravel-based mix is the best concrete for the stepping stones. If you want a smoother finish, sand-mix concrete is best. We’re using sand-mix concrete for our stepping stones to give the custom textures the greatest impact.

DIY Cement Stepping Stones vs Concrete Stepping Stones

You might think of cement and concrete as two words for the same material, but they are different. Cement is a component of concrete mix and needs aggregates, such as gravel or sand, to give the finished material strength and make it stable. Concrete mix combines cement and aggregates. Concrete alone isn’t suitable for DIY stepping stones.

Concrete, Cement & Masonry

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Mulch

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Decorative Landscaping Rock

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Landscape Edging

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DIY Concrete Stepping Stones

You’ll need to mix concrete for the stepping stones. Before you begin this project, learn how to mix concrete by hand.

DIY Concrete Stepping Stone Instructions

Try Different Textures on Your DIY Stepping Stone Concrete

Add some variety to your walkway by molding different textures into the concrete for the stepping stones.

Ideas for Concrete Stepping Stone Textures

Using DIY Concrete Stepping Stones

Here are some tips for using your customized stepping stones:

  • Consider sealing your concrete stepping stones periodically to keep them looking great.
  • Spacing between stepping stones varies, typically from 3 to 6 inches. Dry fit them and test spacing with family members to find a comfortable layout.
  • When setting your stepping stones in place, it’s best to cut out the turf or ground and set them on 2 to 3 inches of paver sand. The sand allows drainage, creates a firm base and allows you to adjust the stones easily.
  • If you’re not laying your DIY stepping stones in turf, add landscape rock or mulch around them to create contrast and give the project a professional look.
  • As the ground freezes and thaws, stepping stones may shift over time. Adjust them as necessary to reduce tripping hazards.
  • Use care in sub-freezing temperatures. The textures hold water, which will freeze.

Caution

Before beginning any excavation, call 811 to check for underground utilities.