Landscaping Cost Calculator
Estimate a whole landscape project: lawn, planting beds, trees, shrubs, a paver patio and mulch, priced as a low-to-high range at typical 2026 installed rates.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Total project range
- $12,163 to $17,588
- Installed, at typical 2026 US rates. Design fees, irrigation, lighting, drainage and permits are not included
- Lawn, sod
- $2,500 to $3,500
- 2,000 sq ft at $1.25 to $1.75 per sq ft
- Beds, trees and shrubs
- $5,363 to $7,988
- 300 sq ft of beds at $12.50 to $17.50 per sq ft, 3 trees at $238 to $413 each, 12 shrubs at $75 to $125 each
- Paver patio or walk
- $3,750 to $5,250
- 200 sq ft at $18.75 to $26.25 per sq ft, base and edge restraint included
- Mulch, delivered and spread
- $550 to $850
- 400 sq ft at $1.38 to $2.13 per sq ft for a 3 in layer
- Cost per square foot of yard
- $4.19 to $6.06 per sq ft
- Total spread over 2,900 sq ft of worked area
Landscaping Cost formula
Lawn = Area x rate per sq ft (sod $1 to $2, seeded $0.20 to $0.60)
Beds and plants = Bed area x $10 to $20 + Trees x $150 to $500 + Shrubs x $50 to $150
Hardscape = Patio area x $15 to $30 per sq ft; Mulch = Area x $1 to $2.50 per sq ft
Total = Sum of the parts, then divide by the worked area for cost per sq ftWorked example
A 5,000 sq ft yard done at the basic level: 4,000 sq ft seeded at $0.20 to $0.36 is $800 to $1,440. Beds of 600 sq ft at $10 to $14 is $6,000 to $8,400. Five trees at $150 to $290 is $750 to $1,450, and 20 shrubs at $50 to $90 is $1,000 to $1,800.
A 350 sq ft paver walk and landing at $15 to $21 adds $5,250 to $7,350, and topping up 800 sq ft of existing beds with mulch at $1 to $1.60 adds $800 to $1,280. The project comes to $14,600 to $21,720, or $2.54 to $3.78 per square foot over the 5,750 sq ft that gets worked on.
Quick reference
| Element | Unit | Basic | Mid-range | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sod lawn | per sq ft | $1.00 to $1.40 | $1.25 to $1.75 | $1.60 to $2.00 |
| Seeded lawn | per sq ft | $0.20 to $0.36 | $0.30 to $0.50 | $0.44 to $0.60 |
| Planting bed, planted | per sq ft | $10.00 to $14.00 | $12.50 to $17.50 | $16.00 to $20.00 |
| Tree, installed | each | $150 to $290 | $238 to $413 | $360 to $500 |
| Shrub, installed | each | $50 to $90 | $75 to $125 | $110 to $150 |
| Paver patio or walk | per sq ft | $15.00 to $21.00 | $18.75 to $26.25 | $24.00 to $30.00 |
| Mulch, spread 3 in | per sq ft | $1.00 to $1.60 | $1.38 to $2.13 | $1.90 to $2.50 |
What actually drives the price
Two yards with the same plant list can be thousands apart, and the difference is rarely the plants. Access comes first: if a skid steer cannot reach the back yard, base stone, soil and pavers move by wheelbarrow and the labor doubles. Slope is next, because anything over a gentle grade means retaining, steps or hauled fill. Then comes what is already there: turf and stumps to strip, an old concrete pad to break out and dump, or clay that has to be amended before a plant goes in.
Systems are the quiet line items. Irrigation typically runs $2,500 to $5,000 for a small residential system in 2026, low-voltage lighting a few hundred dollars per fixture installed, and a drainage fix such as a French drain or a regraded swale can rival the patio. None of them show in a plant list, and all of them are cheaper before the hardscape goes down than after.
Phasing, design fees and bids
A drawn plan is what makes phasing work. Extension guidance is to finish grading and drainage, then permanent hard surfaces, then trees, then beds and lawn, because each step tears up the one before it if the order is reversed. With a plan you can build the patio this year and the beds next year and still have them meet. Designers charge either a flat fee for a plan or an hourly rate, and many credit the fee against installation, so ask.
Get two or three itemized bids on the same scope. The line to compare is not the total, it is what each one includes: demolition and haul-off, base depth under the pavers, soil amendment, plant sizes and counts, irrigation, cleanup, and how long the plants are warranted. The lowest number often turns out to be a thinner base or one gallon plants. Ask each contractor what they would cut first if the budget came down 20 percent, since that answer tells you what they think is optional.
What this calculator leaves out
Design fees, permits, irrigation and lighting, drainage work, retaining walls and steps, fencing, demolition and dumpsters, tree removal and stump grinding, and any soil brought in to fix grade. It also leaves out ongoing maintenance and the water bill for establishing new plants. The rates are national typical ranges for 2026, so a dense metro or a rural county with one crew will sit outside them.
Mistakes that cost money
- Buying plants before grading and drainage are finished; extension guidance is grade, then drain, then hardscape, then plant.
- Comparing bids with different scopes: ask each contractor to itemize demolition, haul-off, soil prep, base depth, plant sizes and the warranty.
- No gate or side yard wide enough for a skid steer; every yard of base and soil then moves by wheelbarrow, which adds days of labor.
- Planting a $400 tree with no irrigation or watering plan; replacing it twice costs more than the drip zone would have.
- Phasing without a drawn plan leaves the second-year patio out of line with the first-year beds and the grades fighting each other.
- Skipping the design fee on a complex lot: a plan is what lets three contractors bid the same scope and lets you build it in stages.
Key facts
- Hardscape carries the budget: a paver patio typically costs $15 to $30 per sq ft installed, while sod runs $1 to $2 for the same square foot.
- NALP suggests planning around 10 to 15 percent of a home's value for the full landscape, spent over several years.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension research found a sophisticated landscape adds 5.5 to 11.4 percent to perceived home value, with design quality the largest single factor.
- Seeding a lawn costs roughly a fifth of sod per square foot, but it needs a full growing season and daily watering for the first three weeks.
- A 3 gallon shrub catches up to a 7 gallon of the same variety in about three seasons, for roughly a third of the installed price.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for landscaping?
NALP suggests planning around 10 to 15 percent of the home's value for the full landscape, spent in phases. Virginia Cooperative Extension research puts the value a good landscape adds at 5.5 to 11.4 percent of home value.
What is the most expensive part of a landscape project?
Hardscape and anything that moves earth. A paver patio typically costs $15 to $30 per square foot installed, roughly fifteen times what sod costs per square foot, and retaining walls and drainage run higher still.
Is sod or seed cheaper for a new lawn?
Seeding with soil prep typically costs $0.20 to $0.60 per square foot against $1 to $2 for sod. Seed needs the right season, daily watering for about three weeks, and a full growing season before it takes traffic.
Do I need a landscape designer?
For a single bed, no. For a whole yard being built over several years, the plan is what keeps the phases lined up and lets contractors bid the same scope. Ask whether the fee is credited toward installation, and whether the plan includes grading and drainage rather than just a plant layout.
Sources and references
- Home Landscape Design (planning, phased installation, working with a designer) (Mississippi State University Extension)
- The Effect of Landscape Plants on Perceived Home Value (426-087) (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
- How to Plan Your Landscape on a Budget (budget share, phasing, bids) (National Association of Landscape Professionals)
Next steps for this project
The usual order for a landscaping & outdoor project. See all landscaping & outdoor calculators.
Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.