People stabilize dune surfaces with a variety of materials. The goal is to immobilize surface sediments to wind-blown sand or to stabilize an area until vegetation can take hold.

Chemical stabilizers stop sand movement by forming a protective coating over the surface or increasing cohesion ("glue") between the surface sand grains. Chemical stabilizers include crude oils, asphalts, synthetic latex, polyvinyl, polymers, hydrosilicates and gelatine. The life of the treatment, reaction to moisture or frost, and effects on vegetation vary with the type of chemical stabilizer used.

Organic materials such as straw mats, twigs, branches and other organic debris placed on a dune have two effects: they prevent wind erosion of the dune area and they trap wind-blown sand moving into the area. The organic materials will biodegrade over time. This method is often combined with planting dune vegetation.

Inorganic materials control sand movement by armoring the dune surface or changing wind flow patterns. Inorganic materials include rocks, construction site waste, tires, concrete, etc. The materials must be heavy enough to resist movement by wind and they are placed on the surface as a protective layer to prevent wind erosion.