How much does landscaping cost?

How much does landscaping cost?

How much does landscaping cost?

$50 – $100Cost per hour
$4 – $12Cost per square foot
$3,000 – $16,000Complete new landscaping installation cost

Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:

$50 – $100 Cost per hour

$4 – $12 Cost per square foot

$3,000 – $16,000 Complete new landscaping installation cost


Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:
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Tom Grupa
Written by
Tom Grupa
Edited by
Sarah Noel

Landscaping costs

Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour for a 2-person crew, or $25 to $50 per person. Landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot for basic services. Small landscaping projects cost $300 to $800 while large jobs cost $2,000 to $4,000 on average.

Landscaping costs
Landscaping Average cost
Per square foot $4 – $12 per square foot
Per hour $50 – $100 per hour
New installation $3,000 – $16,000

Landscaping cost per square foot

Landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot, depending on the yard size, location, and job complexity. Labor is the biggest expense at around 80% of the total cost. 

Landscaping costs per hour

Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour for a two-person crew or $25 to $50 per person. Rates vary according to the job type, size, and location.

New landscaping installation cost

The cost to landscape a new house is $3,000 to $15,950 on average, depending on the yard size. Realtors recommend spending 5% to 15% of the total home value on landscaping. New landscaping typically requires 4 or more workers over several weeks.

Blue house with beautiful landscaping including flowerbeds and bushes
Blue house with beautiful landscaping including flowerbeds and bushes
Get free estimates from landscaping companies near you.

Landscaping prices

Landscaping prices start at $300 to $800 for small maintenance tasks. Costs go up to $2,000 to $4,000 for large jobs like sod or sprinkler installation.

Average landscaping prices list

The following table shows popular landscaping projects and pricing:

Landscaping price list
Landscaping project Average cost
Lawn seeding $0.04 – $0.18 per square foot
Sod installation $1 – $2 per square foot
Artificial turf $6 – $20 per square foot
Sprinkler system $1,800 – $5,200
Drip irrigation system $300 – $1,200 per zone
Rainwater collection system $200 – $2,500
Landscape curbing $400 – $2,200
Misting system installation $1,000 – $2,500
Building a pond $1,800 – $6,900
Building a koi pond $3,500 – $17,000
Water fountain installation $1,500 – $8,000
Yard grading $0.40 – $2.00 per square foot
Landscaping maintenance $100 – $200 per month
Lawn care $30 – $80 per hour
Lawn mowing $30 – $85 per visit
Mulch $15 – 65 per yard delivered
Tree trimming $200 – $900 per tree
Tree removal $300 – $2,000 per tree
Gardener $75 – $250
Leaf removal $150 – $350
Lawn aeration $75 – $250
Tree stump removal $100 – $400
Tree stump grinding $120 – $400
Fill dirt $5 – $25 per yard
Land clearing $1,150 – $3,680
Lawn mower repair $40 – $90

Landscaping price guide

Landscaping services include:

Lawn seeding cost

Lawn seeding costs $0.04 to $0.18 per square foot, including labor and materials. Installing a new sprinkler system at the same time is advisable to make the grass grow evenly. A new lawn can take up to 30 days to re-grow.

Sod installation cost

  • Sod installation costs $1 to $2 per square foot, including new sod.

  • New sod prices alone are $0.30 to $0.80 per square foot.

  • Installing new sod creates an instant new lawn but can cost more for delivery.

Average sod prices by type
Sod type Average cost per square foot
Bermuda Sod $0.30 – $0.85
Fescue Sod $0.35 - $0.70
St. Augustine Sod $0.30 - $0.80
Zoysia Sod $0.28 - $0.80

*Material prices

Brown two story home with beautiful front yard landscaping
Brown two story home with beautiful front yard landscaping

Artificial turf installation cost

Artificial turf costs $6 to $17 per square foot installed. Artificial grass lasts 15 to 25 years and is the easiest to maintain. Benefits of artificial turf include water conservation and avoiding groundwater pollution from lawn weed-and-feed sprays.

Sprinkler system installation cost

The cost to install a sprinkler system is $1,800 to $5,200, depending on lawn size and if you already have landscaping installed. Installing a drip irrigation system costs $300 to $1,200 per zone.

A rainwater collection system costs $200 to $2,500 for an above-ground, 50- to 200-gallon rain barrel system. Collecting rainwater is a sprinkler alternative for irrigating a lawn or garden.

Landscape curbing installation cost

Landscape curbing costs $400 to $2,200 on average, depending on the style and material. Curbing with retaining walls or edging accentuates garden areas and prevents erosion.

Landscaping curbing retaining wall stairs walkway
Landscaping curbing retaining wall stairs walkway

Misting system installation cost

A misting system installation costs $1,000 to $2,500 on average. A misting system is an effective way to cool an outdoor area in warmer climates.

Pond installation cost

The cost to build a pond is $1,800 to $6,900 for a shallow 4'x6' garden pond or up to $15,300 for an 8'x11' pond. A koi pond costs $3,500 to $17,000 on average installed, excluding the fish.

Ponds are a great addition to your landscape that helps solve yard-drainage issues and attracts local wildlife and butterflies.

Landscaping pond
Landscaping pond

Water fountain installation cost

Water fountain installation costs $1,500 to $8,000 total, depending on the material, size, and type. A water fountain increases maintenance but typically increases the home's value as well.

Landscaping water fountain
Landscaping water fountain

Lawn grading cost

Yard grading costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot. The excavation equipment necessary can require removing fencing or gates around the backyard.

Landscaping maintenance cost

Landscaping maintenance costs $100 to $200 per month. This price includes general yard maintenance and lawn treatments. The total cost depends on the size of your yard and the amount of work requested.

Lawn care prices

Lawn care prices by frequency
Yard size Mowing cost (per service) Full-service cost (per month)
1/8 acre $30 – $40 $100 – $200
1/4 acre $45 – $85 $200 – $400
1/2 acre $50 – $100 $400 – $800
1 acre $60 – $150 $800 – $1,600
2 acres $100 – $260 $1,600 – $3,200

Mulching costs

Mulch costs $15 to $65 per yard delivered. One cubic yard of mulch covers 110 to 120 square feet at 3' deep. For smaller projects, mulch costs $2 to $7 per bag that covers 7 to 9 square feet.

Mulching has benefits like:

  • Replenishing soil nutrients

  • Root protection around plants

  • Keeping the soil at an ideal temperature

  • Moisture rentention for less watering

  • Weed blocking

Tree trimming costs

Tree trimming costs $200 to $900 per tree on average, depending on the tree size and type. Tree trimmers typically offer discounts for trimming multiples trees in the same visit.

Tree removal costs

Tree removal costs $300 to $2,000 per tree on average, depending on the tree size and location. Larger equipment is necessary for hauling away and disposing of trees more than 25' tall.

Tree removal cost
Tree height Average cost
Small (under 30' tall) $150 – $500
Medium (30' – 60' tall) $300 – $1,000
Large (60' – 80' tall) $650 – $2,000
Extra-large (over 80' tall) $1,200 – $2,700

Landscaping material costs

The following table shows average landscaping material prices:

Landscaping material costs
Landscaping material Average cost
Composting $25 – $33 per yard
Flood Lights $200 – $500 per light
Grass Pavers $3 – $10 per square foot
Landscape Boulders $150 per ton
Landscape Gravel $20 – $30 per square foot
Landscape Fabric $1.50 – $2.00 per square foot
Landscape Rocks $0.05 – $0.30 per pound
Landscape Timbers $5 – $7 per linear foot
Lawn Edging $1 – $5 per linear foot
Lawn Fertilization $40 – $60 per application
Lawn Replacement $1 – $2 per square foot
Lawn Turf $5 – $20 per square foot
Retaining Wall $15 – $20 per square foot

Cost of landscaping rocks

Cost of landscaping rocks
Rock type Average price
River rocks
  • $45 – $130 per ton
  • $50 – $160 per yard
  • $15 – $35 per bag
Lava rock
  • $80 – $240 per ton
  • $50 – $140 per yard
  • $20 – $50 per bag
Crushed stone & gravel
  • $10 – $50 per ton
  • $15 – $75 per yard
White stones & pebbles
  • $650 – $1,300 ton
  • $15 – $40 per bag
Mexican beach pebbles
  • $475 – $800 per ton
  • $25 – $60 per bag
Crushed or decomposed granite
  • $45 – $95 per ton
  • $70 – $130 per yard

Landscaping walkway gravel stone brick shrubs
Landscaping walkway gravel stone brick shrubs
Get free estimates from landscaping companies near you.

Additional backyard landscaping costs

Landscaping cost estimator

Concrete patio bistro with landscaping
Concrete patio bistro with landscaping

Fence material costs

Fencing prices are $5 to $25 per foot, depending on the material.

Fence material costs
Fence material Average cost per linear foot
Board wood fencing $8 – $13
Wood fence $7 – $15
Wood picket fencing $15 – $21
Vinyl fencing $25 – $40
Black vinyl-coated chain link fencing $5 – $17
Glass fencing $61 – $87
Redwood fencing $12 – $18
Aluminum fencing $15 – $60
Wrought iron fencing $20 – $30
Chain link fencing $4 – $15
Split rail fencing $10 – $25
Stockade fencing $8 – $15
Shadowbox fencing $6 – $15

Landscaping costs by type

The following table shows the average cost for hardscaping, softscaping, and xeriscaping:

Landscaping costs by type
Landscaping types Average cost
Hardscaping $2,000 – $45,000
Softscaping $9 – $12 per square foot
Xeriscaping $6 – $18 per square foot

Hardscaping

Hardscaping costs $2,000 to $45,000, depending on the project size.

Hardscaping projects include:

  • Backyard paths

  • Gazebos

  • Patios and decks

  • Retaining walls

  • Pergolas

  • Any landscape construction with wood, brick, concrete, or stone

Trex decking
Trex decking

Softscaping

Softscaping costs $9 to $12 per square foot. Softscaping includes all types of plants like trees, shrubs, vegetable gardens, and flowerbeds. Plants are classified as annuals, biennials, and perennials depending on when they flower.

Landscaping patio flowers trees
Landscaping patio flowers trees
Get free estimates from landscaping companies near you.

Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping costs $6 to $18 per square foot or more with extensive design plans. This landscaping type is for arid climates conserving water. Landscapers install plants that occur naturally in that climate type with minimal water needs.

Landscape design cost

Landscape design costs $700 to $3,000 on average, depending on the size, location, and project complexity.

  • A small backyard garden design costs $300 to $600.

  • Landscape designers charge $50 to $150 per hour.

  • A landscape design consultation fee is $100 to $200.

A landscape architect costs $100 to $250 per hour or 5% to 20% of the total project cost when supervising installation as well.

Landscaping design xeriscaping
Landscaping design xeriscaping

What does a landscape architect do?

Landscape architects have a university degree and state licensing in horticulture and design. Their work involves drawing up official construction and design plans for permits. Sometimes they provide full design-and-build management too.

Landscape architects specialize in:

  • Creating detailed plans with exact property measurements

  • Designing new hardscaping

  • Creating new drainage and irrigation systems

  • Re-grading land to install multiple new yard features

  • Retaining walls

  • Pools

Architects typically focus more on larger commercial projects, while landscape designers do more smaller-scale residential projects. 

What does a landscape designer do?

Landscape designers have general experience in gardening to make simple, conceptual designs without hardscaping or drainage changes. These designers don't need a degree or license in many states. A designer is ideal for simple landscaping projects and plant selection.

Landscaping styles

A landscape designer helps homeowners choose a design style that suits their yard needs best. Popular landscaping styles include:

  • Cape Cod - These gardens feature pergolas, picket fences, shutters, window boxes, birdhouses, birdbaths, and native grasses. The color palette includes coastal-home colors like white, cream, light yellow, and light gray.

  • Colonial - This style features stone walls, picket fences, stone paving, arbors, and an unstructured array of flowers with pastel colors. Large yards also include traditional outdoor cooking areas Inspired by early settlers like stone ovens.

  • English - The English garden style is informal with gentle slopes, native wildflowers, cobblestone paths, and statues. The rustic and organic setting often includes sweet-smelling herbs and rounded hedges.

  • Mediterranean - This style combines Spanish, French, Tuscan and American Southwest landscaping elements. Common features include tiered fountains, terracotta pots, bocce balls, columns, ornamental grass, or cypress trees.

  • French - Gardens in the French style feature lots of symmetrical designs, cast-iron garden seating, glazed pots, columns, birdbaths, terraces, and fountains. This type is labor-intensive, colorful, and formal.

  • Spanish - A garden with Spanish styles is symmetrical and features walled sections, patio and courtyard areas with tiered fountains, Saltillo tiles, Cantera stone, urns, and terraces. Reflecting pools are surrounded by arches, benches, fruit trees, and drought-tolerant plants.

  • Tuscan - The Tuscan style features stone paths and walls lined with box hedges and plants in terracotta pots. These yards often have gravel paths through a maze with benches.

  • Southwest - This style suits arid regions and blends Native American and Spanish culture with clay pavers, terracotta tiles, fountains, and plaster elements. Bright-colored materials are common like red, brown, orange, and yellow.

  • Country - Inspired by Victorian gardens, this style has vegetable and herb gardens, fruit trees, beehives, and birdhouses. Native wildflowers are filler between farmhouse and ranch elements.

  • Japanese - Gardens in Japanese style have more water features and fountains, ornaments, small plants, and smooth river rocks associated with Zen design.

  • Modern - The modern style contrasts wood, metal, and concrete elements. Designers use split-faced or unfinished concrete surfaces. Less plants appear in these layouts.

  • Tropical - These yards feature palm trees, a pool with faux boulders, waterfalls, torches, and hammocks. A thatched roof or pergola is often above the patio designed in bold colors.

inground pool
inground pool

Which types of grass should I plant?

You should plant the type of grass that best suits your climate and soil type. All the different types of lawn grasses generally fall into one of two categories:

  • Creeping - An example of creeping grass is Bermuda, which tolerates higher temperatures. Creeping grass grows along runners either above or below ground.

  • Bunch - Grasses of the bunch type grow out from the center in "bunches." Mowing it higher will protect the center.

Warm climate grass

Light foot traffic

  • Bentgrass - Tolerates acidic soil and full sun

  • Bluegrass - Best in pH 6.5-7 neutral soil and full sun

  • Fine fescue - Suitable in most soils and full sun or shade

Heavy foot traffic

  • Perennial rye grass - Good for most soils and full sun

  • Tall fescue - Suitable in most soils with full or partial sun

Cool climate grass

Light foot traffic

  • Centipede - Tolerates acidic soil and full or partial sun

  • Bahia - Suitable in most soils and full or partial sun

Heavy foot traffic

  • Bermuda - Best in light, textured soil, and full or partial sun

  • St. Augustine - Ideal for sandy soil and full or partial sun

  • Zoysia - Suitable for pH 5.5–6.5 slightly acidic soil and full or partial sun

New construction landscaping

Landscaping the yard in a newly constructed home costs much more than improving existing landscaping.

Testing soil quality

A soil test costs $10 to $40 per sample for a complete soil composition analysis. Contractors will add compost, wood chips, soil amendments, or other fertilizers to make up for soil nutrient deficiencies. Soil improvement is essential before seeding.

Landscaping permit cost

Landscaping permits cost $50 to $400 for land leveling or grading projects. Most gardening and yard improvements won't require permits.

Additional fees apply for building new hardscaping:

  • Deck permits cost $50 to $150.

  • Pergola permits cost $60 to $150.

  • Retaining wall permits cost $50 to $450 depending on the wall size.

Front or back yard

Invest more money into the front yard to boost curb appeal when re-selling a home. Spending more money on the backyard is worthwhile in warm climates or in neighborhoods where buyers expect a well-landscaped yard behind the home.

Tips before you start

When should I start my landscaping project?

Spring is the best time of the year for most landscaping work that involves planting and reseeding a lawn. Fall is ideal for pruning and preparing the grounds for frost in cold climates. Cheaper rates are typically available in late fall and early winter.

How do I save money with my landscaping project?

  • Design the project with your designer or architect and install it one step at a time.

  • Make sure each contractor sees the plans before doing their part to ensure the next part goes easily.

  • Do land grading and hardscaping in the first year. Add plants later.

  • Choose local materials to cut shipping costs for special items.

State-issued rebates

State governments in climates with water shortages offer rebates to any homeowners that alter their landscaping to use less water or permeable paving. Rebates typically apply for turf replacements, native plants, rainwater retention, permeable hardscape, and water-saving sprinklers.

Landscaping checklist

  1. Budget – Know your budget for the entire project, including the planning phase as well as the implementation phase.

  2. Schedule – Allow 1 to 2 weeks for the plans to come together as you work with your chosen landscape designer. Building a deck, pool, arbor, pergola, or land grading projects take longer.

  3. Permits – Have your contractor take care of this aspect of the project.

  4. Selection – Compare several designers and landscaping firms to see who suits your project goals best.

  5. Visuals – Get layout plans from the designer to give you an idea of how it will look when it is all in place.

  6. Experienced workers – Ask the designer to recommend other contractors for installation that they have worked with before.

Finding your landscaping company

Before hiring a landscaping company near you, be sure to:

  • Compare multiple quotes from companies with 5+ years of experience.

  • Ask if they have horticulture or design training.

  • Verify that they have surety bonds and full liability insurance.

  • Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.

  • Request an itemized estimate and contract upfront.

  • Beware of the lowest bids that often yield low-quality results.

  • Don’t give a full payment. Follow a payment plan instead.