Cost to Install Landscaping in 2023

How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

The cost of landscaping is dependent on the elements you intend to introduce. Do you want a garden that is covered in concrete adorned with a few potted plants? Are you a keen gardener who would like lots of flowerbeds and a rustic feel?

The cost of a landscaping project could range from a few hundred dollars to over $40,000 for a sophisticated design. People usually spend around $1,500 to $5,000 for new landscaping projects, but that largely depends on what the project is.

Beautifully manicured landscaping and retaining wall

There are limitless options available with regards to how you approach landscaping. Let’s examine the cost implications of some of them:

Create a Design

The first step in a landscaping project is to come up with a design for the project. It’s important to consult a professional with expertise in landscape architecture and design to create a plan that is not only beautiful, but also accounts for things like irrigation, drainage. and soil composition.

A comprehensive design plan can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,500.^[1]

Hardscaping vs. Softscaping

Hardscaping refers to all of the ‘hard’ elements you wish to introduce into your garden project: patios, gazebos, decorative rocks, fountains, and pathways. These elements are going to be more expensive than what’s known as softscaping.

While the costs for hardscape projects vary, most spend $7 to $22 per square foot.^[2]

Softscaping is anything that is living or natural: from plants to trees to bushes. Thus, the proportion of hard to soft that makes up your vision for your yard will impact the overall cost. As a general rule, the more hardscaping you have, the more expensive it will be.

However, you might want to consider the fact that softscaping elements will require more care and maintenance than hardscaping ones, so longterm costs can tip the scales a bit.

It’s also important to balance hardscapes and softscapes in a landscaping project. A good balance will create an inviting atmosphere and increase curb appeal.^[3]

Installing a Patio

Installing a patio is a popular landscaping project as it creates an outdoor living space capable of fulfilling a number of purposes. You might have a dog that you want to keep in a concrete space so that it is easier to keep their area clean. Alternatively, you might be a person or family who enjoys entertaining with barbecues. Patios provide an excellent space for all sorts of outdoor entertaining.

A typical 12′ x 12′ patio often costs $1,700 to $2,800 to install. The cost of a patio starts with measuring the space to find the square footage, then selecting a material, and finally multiplying the square footage by the cost per square foot for the chosen material.

Our paver calculator can estimate materials and determine the costs for paver patio projects.

Buying Soil, Mulch, or Rock

Many landscaping projects involve buying soil, mulch, rock or stone. These include adding flowerbeds, ordering fill dirt for a site that needs leveling, buying mulch for gardening requirements, or buying gravel or crushed stone for aesthetic or practical purposes.

These materials are commonly measured by the cubic yard. To find the cubic yardage and estimate the cost, you need to know three types of measurements for the material in question: the length, the width, and the height. These three measurements are necessary components of calculating the cubic yard required for your landscaping project.

Extent of Work

The cost of your landscaping project depends on how much work needs to be done. You might be a homeowner who has been living in the same house for years who wants a bit of life brought back to your garden.

This kind of project, which could include the introduction of a flower bed or restoring patchy areas of grass, will cost a lot less than someone who has moved into a new property that pretty much has a square of mud calling itself a yard.

Alternatively, you may have just bought a new home that already has a landscaped garden that needs a personal touch or two. All of these examples create very different scenarios in terms of what the overall landscaping cost will be.

Popular Landscaping Projects Costs

Now that some common aspects of landscaping have been addressed, it’s appropriate to delve further into the actual costs of specific projects. Here are some particular prices for popular landscaping projects for you to consider:

Seeding a Level Area

Seeding the average sized yard usually costs about $100 to $300 for seed and materials. Hiring out the project and additional prep adds to the price.

Adding Sod

Adding sod to your garden, assuming that you use either nursery sod, Bermuda, or Blue Rye mix, costs 80 cents per square foot including labor. This does not include the preparation of the soil, however.

Placing Topsoil

Placing 4-inch deep topsoil on a level site costs approximately $19 per cubic yard, while it costs a bit more for an area that is sloped. This does not include the equipment for the task but is priced in terms of equipment being used. If done by hand, the costs go up again: about $38 per cubic yard on a level site and $44 per cubic yard on a sloped site. Use our soil calculator to estimate how much soil you’ll need.

Placing Soil Amendments

Assuming that you want to improve the look of your soil or add something to it for other reasons, the cost varies depending on the material. Assuming it is being spread by hand, natural wood chip mulch costs roughly $60 per cubic yard, forest mulch $84 per cubic yard, peat loam $90 per cubic yard, and organic compost is nearly $90 per cubic yard. Calculate the amount of mulch to buy using our mulch calculator.

Landscape Stepping Stones

If you want to add interest to your garden space by adding some stepping stones, it is useful to find out the cost of some different sizes of stepping stones. The price of these is per stone and includes labor. 12 inch round stepping stones cost about $7 each, 14-inch round $8 each, 18-inch round $12 each, and 24-inch round are around $17 each.

Above are estimates for just some landscaping elements you may want to introduce into your garden. These are a great starting point for homeowners who are undertaking a project and need help doing a budget.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.