When Elite Construction, a contractor based in Las Vegas, Nevada, needed a large volume of premium natural stone pavers at genuine wholesale pricing, they turned to Citadel Stone. We supplied two full container loads — 2,535 hand-selected pieces of white limestone and Ocean Reef shellstone pavers covering 6,884 square feet — and managed the entire journey from our partner quarries in the Middle East to their job site in Las Vegas: production, export packing, freight booking, U.S. customs coordination, and final-mile delivery.
Here’s how the project came together.
Project at a Glance
| Client | Elite Construction |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Products | White limestone pavers and Ocean Reef shellstone pavers, plus a complimentary quantity of an additional stone paver included free of charge |
| Total order | 2,535 pieces / 6,884 sq ft (≈640 m²) |
| Shipment | 2 full container loads · 32 wooden crates (16 per container) |
| Weight | 20,750 kg (≈45,750 lb) per container · ≈41.5 metric tons total |
| Scope | Quarry-direct supply, quality inspection, export packing, freight booking, customs coordination, delivery to site |
About the Client
Elite Construction serves the Las Vegas Valley. Like many U.S. contractors, they wanted the pricing advantage of buying natural stone directly from the quarry — without taking on the complexity and risk of managing an international import themselves.
The Challenge
Ordering two containers of natural stone from overseas is not like ordering from a local stone yard. For the project to succeed, Elite Construction needed:
- Consistent quality across thousands of pieces — color and finish had to match from the first crate to the last.
- Competitive freight on a heavy cargo — at over 20 tons per container, stone shipments live or die on freight and logistics costs.
- A smooth path through U.S. customs — documentation errors at the port mean demurrage fees and job-site delays.
- Delivery to an inland city — Las Vegas has no seaport, so the containers had to be trucked inland to the site after clearance.
- One accountable partner — a single point of contact from quarry to job site, rather than juggling a supplier, forwarder, broker, and trucker separately.
The Citadel Stone Solution
Hand-selected stone, inspected twice
Every block for this order was hand-selected at the quarry, and every finished piece was inspected again after manufacturing — before it was allowed anywhere near a crate. The order combined two of our signature stones:
- White limestone pavers — pure white stone with subtle silver veining, delivering a natural marble aesthetic at a fraction of marble’s cost.
- Ocean Reef shellstone pavers — a natural shell-reef texture that stays cool underfoot, a classic choice for pool decks and patios.
As part of the deal, we also included additional square footage of a complementary stone paver completely free of charge — added value we were glad to build into the order.
Export packing built for a 7,000-mile journey
Natural stone only arrives beautiful if it’s packed properly. The full order — 2,535 pieces — was packed into 32 export-grade wooden crates, 16 per container, with each crate packed to minimize movement and breakage in transit. Each loaded container weighed in at 20,750 kg (about 45,750 lb).
From our partner quarry to a Las Vegas Job Site
Logistics is where most overseas stone orders go wrong — and where we do the heavy lifting for our clients. For Elite Construction, our team:
- Coordinated with our freight forwarder and booked two full container loads at highly competitive rates, protecting the client’s landed cost per square foot.
- Prepared complete export documentation and communicated swiftly with the U.S. customs broker, so paperwork was in order before the containers arrived and clearance went smoothly.
- Arranged inland trucking with a reliable logistics partner to move both containers from the port to the job site in Las Vegas.
- Kept the client informed at every stage — from production and loading through sailing, clearance, and final delivery.
The result: Elite Construction received quarry-direct stone at their site in Las Vegas without handling a single shipping document themselves.
The Shipment by the Numbers
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pieces supplied | 2,535 |
| Total coverage | 6,884 sq ft (≈640 m²) |
| Containers | 2 full container loads |
| Wooden crates | 32 (16 per container) |
| Weight per container | 20,750 kg (≈45,750 lb) |
| Total shipment weight | ≈41.5 metric tons (≈91,500 lb) |
Why These Stones Make Sense in the Las Vegas Climate
Material choice matters in the Mojave Desert, where summer surface temperatures are brutal on outdoor paving. Light-toned stone like white limestone reflects far more sunlight than dark paving materials, helping surfaces stay noticeably cooler underfoot — a real, everyday benefit for patios, walkways, and outdoor living areas in southern Nevada. Ocean Reef shellstone adds a second advantage: its natural shell texture provides grip when wet, which is why it has long been a favorite for pool decks in hot climates. For a Las Vegas contractor, the combination delivers both the upscale look clients expect and paving that genuinely performs in desert heat.
The Outcome
Both containers arrived at the client’s site in Las Vegas as planned, and Elite Construction was very happy with the result — with the quality of the hand-selected stone and with the service and communication at every stage, from the first quote to the crates arriving on site. It’s exactly the outcome we work for on every order: premium stone, competitive landed cost, and an import process the client never has to worry about.
Planning a Bulk Stone Order for Your Project?
Whether you need one container or a recurring supply program, Citadel Stone handles the entire process — quarrying, cutting, inspection, export packing, freight, customs coordination, and delivery to your site anywhere in the USA. New clients can pay through escrow with an independent verifying agent, and we ship samples so you can approve the exact color and finish before committing. Use our free stone calculators to estimate quantities, or explore our trade & wholesale program for container-load pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Citadel Stone deliver stone pavers anywhere in the USA?
Yes. We deliver nationwide, including inland cities with no seaport. For this project, we booked ocean freight, coordinated with the U.S. customs broker, and arranged trucking of both containers to the job site in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How much stone fits in one shipping container?
It depends on the stone’s thickness and format. In this order, each container carried roughly 3,400 sq ft of limestone pavers in 16 wooden crates, at a loaded weight of 20,750 kg (≈45,750 lb). Our stone calculators can help you estimate quantities and container loads for your own project.
How are limestone pavers packed for international shipping?
Every piece is inspected after manufacturing, then packed into export-grade wooden crates designed to keep the stone from shifting in transit. This order was packed into 32 crates across two containers, and the client received their stone in excellent condition.
Why choose white limestone or Ocean Reef shellstone in a desert climate?
Light-colored limestone reflects more sunlight than dark paving, so surfaces stay cooler underfoot in extreme heat — ideal for Las Vegas and the wider Southwest. Ocean Reef shellstone’s natural texture also adds grip when wet, making it a popular choice for pool decks.
Can I combine different stone types in one container order?
Yes. This shipment combined white limestone pavers and Ocean Reef shellstone pavers, plus a third complimentary stone, across two containers. Mixing products in a single order is a cost-effective way to source everything for a project at once.
Citadel Stone supplies quarry-direct limestone, shellstone, basalt, and custom stonework to contractors, distributors, and homeowners across the USA. Request a free quote or order samples today.