How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

Most professional landscaping costs $4.50 to $17 per square foot, so a 1,000-square-foot yard typically runs about $4,500 to $17,000. Lawn Love puts the national average near $8,700 for a mid-complexity project of roughly 700 to 800 square feet.

Landscaping cost by yard size

Cost guides often price landscaping by the square foot. LawnStarter puts professional work at $4.50 to $14.50 per square foot, and Lawn Love at $4.50 to $17.

The table below multiplies each guide's per-square-foot range by the yard size, so treat it as a rough calculation rather than a quote.

Fixr notes that plant-focused projects cost less than ones with more hardscaping, and Lawn Love says large additions such as pools, gazebos and ponds push a budget toward the high end. At the extremes, Lawn Love says simple DIY work can come in under $2,000, while a premium design can reach $40,000 or more.

Front yard vs. backyard

Fixr estimates $4,000 to $6,000 for a front yard and $8,000 to $10,000 for a backyard. Fixr says backyards cost more because that's where most of the money goes on paths, patios, gazebos, pergolas and ponds. If your main goal is curb appeal, a focused front-yard project can get you there for less than a full backyard build-out. See our low-maintenance front yard ideas for ways to keep it simple.

What common landscaping projects cost

These are typical installed prices from national cost guides. Treat them as starting points: local labor rates, material choices and site access can move them a lot.

Cost guides don't always agree:

• Sprinklers: Lawn Love's $2,400 to $4,200 is higher than the HomeAdvisor range of $1,600 to $3,600 in our sprinkler guide.
• Lighting: LawnStarter's $2,000 to $4,500 sits below the HomeAdvisor range of $3,000 to $6,000 in our lighting guide.
• Drainage: Lawn Love's $1,500 to $11,000 is much wider than Angi's typical $2,147 to $7,176 (about $4,635 on average) in our drainage guide.

The linked guides break those projects down in more detail.

The sod and tree rows use each site's dedicated page. For sod, LawnStarter puts a pro install at $1,000 to $2,200 for 1,000 square feet, not counting removal of old grass, and Lawn Love at $1.70 to $2.60 per square foot. For trees, Fixr puts planting at $200 to $550, while LawnStarter's landscaping guide runs higher, at $565 to $680 per tree.

The installed mulch price is an average that includes delivery and labor. LawnStarter's mulch guide shows premium types such as cedar and cypress costing more, and larger bulk orders costing less per yard.

Plant prices vary the most: Lawn Love's range for trees and bushes runs from $25 to $3,000 per plant, depending on plant size. LawnStarter adds that plants that are rare in your area cost more. If you're budgeting for mulch yourself, our guide on how much mulch you need walks through the math.

How much landscape design costs

Design is usually a separate line item from installation. LawnStarter's design cost guide puts the national average at about $4,200, with most homeowners paying $2,200 to $6,180. Fixr gives a similar range of $2,000 to $7,000 for a detailed plan, and Lawn Love puts design at $1,900 to $6,800 for a whole project.

Designers price their work in a few ways. LawnStarter's breakdown:

• Hourly: $50 to $150 an hour for landscape designers, and $65 to $200 an hour for landscape architects.
• Per site plan: $300 to $1,500, plus roughly $400 to $500 more for a 3D rendering.
• Percentage of the project: some charge 15% to 20% of the total landscaping cost.
• Deposit: a retainer of 25% to 35% of the design fee is common.

LawnStarter says a typical design takes 3 to 4 weeks from first consultation to final plan, including revisions. If that's more than you need, Lawn Love suggests sketching the layout yourself and paying a pro about $100 to $300 for a 2-hour consultation to review it.

What drives the price up or down

Softscape vs. hardscape

Plants, soil and mulch (softscape) cost far less per square foot than patios, walls and structures (hardscape). Fixr puts softscaping projects at $800 to $10,000 and hardscaping at $10,000 to $30,000. A plan that's mostly planting beds will land near the bottom of the per-square-foot range.

Site prep you can't see

Some of the biggest costs happen before anything is planted. Lawn Love lists:

• Demolition of old beds, concrete or turf: $1,500 to $15,000
• Land survey: $310 to $750
• Soil testing: $14.50 to $100
• Permits: $20 to $700 (LawnStarter's range runs higher, up to $3,000, depending on location and project)
• Land grading: $650 to $3,600 (LawnStarter says $1,175 to $3,645, and Lawn Love's French drain guide goes up to $4,000)

Poor drainage is a common surprise. If water pools near your house, fix that first; our guide to yard drainage solutions covers the options and costs.

Labor rates and location

Where you live changes labor costs. LawnStarter's city-by-city averages show the same kind of job costing noticeably more in large metros such as New York City than in smaller cities such as Dothan, Alabama. If you live in a high-cost area, expect quotes above the national figures.

HOA and permit approval

If you have an HOA, get the plan approved before work starts. Its rules can cover front-yard plantings, lawn area, gravel and fences. Hardscaping, grading and new structures may also need a local permit, which is the permit cost listed above.

Climate and plant choice

Your region also shapes what you should plant. In dry Western states, a water-wise design can lower long-term water bills, and some water utilities pay rebates for removing lawn. Lawn Love puts xeriscaping at $5 to $20 per square foot. Our xeriscaping guide explains how it works and where rebates exist.

Ways to save on landscaping

Lawn Love's suggestions for keeping costs down:

• Phase the project. Do the structure (grading, beds, hardscape) first and add plants over a few seasons.
• Buy smaller, younger plants. They cost less up front.
• Use native plants and local materials. Both tend to cost less than specialty or shipped-in options.
• Reuse what works. Keep healthy trees and in-good-shape pavers, edging and fencing.
• DIY the easy parts. Spreading mulch and planting perennials are good homeowner jobs. Leave grading, walls and irrigation to pros.

Hourly rates and other common questions

What's a fair hourly rate for landscaping?

Thumbtack puts the national average at $50 to $65 an hour. Fixr's range for physical labor is $50 to $100 an hour, so $100 is at the top end for crew work. Design time costs more: LawnStarter lists $50 to $150 an hour for designers and up to $200 for landscape architects.

How much do 2 hours of yard work cost?

At Thumbtack's average rate, 2 hours of labor comes to roughly $100 to $130, before materials. Mowing is priced separately: LawnStarter puts it at about $32 to $68 an hour. For mowing and other routine upkeep, LawnStarter puts monthly lawn maintenance at about $100 to $410. Our lawn care cost guide breaks that down.

What's the most expensive part of landscaping?

Usually hardscaping. Fixr says hardscaping such as patios, walkways and other structures is usually expensive because it involves costly materials and construction. Thumbtack adds that labor is the part of a quote with the most room for error, and that an inground pool, if your design includes one, will likely be the most expensive part.

When to call a pro

Hire a landscaper when the job involves grading, drainage, hardscaping, irrigation or large trees, or when you want a cohesive design rather than piecemeal fixes. To compare fairly:

• Get 2 or 3 written quotes for the same scope, with plants, materials and labor itemized.
• Ask for photos of similar work, ideally projects in your area with your kind of soil and climate.
• Check licensing and insurance where your state requires it. Rules for landscape contractors vary by state.
• Get the scope and payment schedule in writing, including what happens to removed soil and debris and whether plants carry a warranty.
• Use licensed pros for the risky parts. Under residential building code (section R404.4, shown here in California's version), walls holding back more than 48 inches of soil must be engineered, so hire a licensed contractor for retaining walls over about 4 feet. Use a licensed electrician for any new 120-volt outlets or circuits for lighting. Sprinkler backflow rules are set by states and water utilities; our backflow testing guide explains them, and a licensed pro should handle the device.
• Make sure someone contacts 811 before any digging. It's the free national before-you-dig service, and requests should go in a few business days ahead.

You can compare local landscapers on LandscapeLookup. It's free, with no sign-up. Pros are ranked by Google rating weighted by review count, plus how local they are and their main service, and you contact them directly.