Artificial Grass Cost Calculator (2026)
By Dan Whitlock, Home Projects Editor · Updated July 2026
You've decided real grass isn't worth the watering, mowing, and brown patches anymore. In 2026, professionally installed artificial grass runs about $9 to $20 per square foot, so a 500-square-foot backyard patio area comes in around $4,500 to $10,000, and a full residential lawn at 1,000 square feet lands closer to $9,000 to $20,000. The turf itself is only part of the number: base prep (excavation, road base, drainage, and compaction) often accounts for $3 to $5 per square foot before a single roll of turf goes down. Enter your area below to build a grounded estimate.
Estimate your cost
Square feet to cover. A small patio or dog run is ~200–400 sq ft; a full backyard lawn is typically 800–2,000 sq ft.
Excavation, road base, compaction, and drainage. The biggest variable after turf quality.
Sand or crumb-rubber infill adds stability and feel; bender board or steel edging contains the turf edge.
Labor and materials swing with local cost of living.
Estimated artificial grass cost
$6,750 – $15,000
Most homeowners pay around $9,750
Cost breakdown
- 750 × ~$13$9,750
Planning estimate based on 2026 national price data, not a quote. Get local quotes to confirm.
What drives your artificial grass cost
- Turf quality and face weight: economy landscape turf runs $2–$4 per square foot in material, mid-grade pet-friendly polyethylene $3–$6, and premium nylon-blend realistic turf $5–$8, with labor adding another $3–$12 per square foot on top.
- Base preparation: excavating sod, laying and compacting 3–4 inches of decomposed granite or road base, and installing drainage is the true labor cost of artificial grass: $3–$5 per square foot on a typical install.
- Infill type: standard silica sand is inexpensive; Zeofill (odor control for dogs) and cooling-grade infill cost more but matter in pet runs and hot climates.
- Edging and seaming: steel bender board or aluminum edging runs $3–$8 per linear foot; seaming tape for large areas adds material cost.
- Site access and slope: steep yards, tight side yards, or difficult access slow the crew and can add 15–30% to labor.
Ready for real numbers?
A calculator gets you the fair range. Local quotes confirm it for your exact home. Comparing 2–3 written quotes from licensed local pros is the single best way to avoid overpaying: ask each for the same scope in writing so the numbers are comparable.
Ways to save
- Limit the scope: do the patio, side yard, or dog run first. Smaller areas have proportionally lower base-prep costs and you can evaluate the result before committing to the full lawn.
- Get 3 quotes and ask each contractor to break out turf cost vs. labor vs. base prep. That breakdown reveals where you can actually negotiate.
- Economy turf is fine for low-traffic areas and dog runs; save mid-grade or premium for the main lawn the neighbors see.
- If you have an existing compacted base (old patio area, gravel dog run), you can skip the most expensive excavation step.
- DIY on a small project cuts material cost to $2–$6 per square foot, versus $9–$20 installed, but invest time in a level, well-drained base: that is where DIY installs fail.
Hire it out, or do it yourself?
DIY-able for some: know your limitsA patio-sized area (a pet run, a side yard, a small courtyard) is a genuine weekend DIY at material cost. You can buy polyethylene turf rolls for $2–$6 per square foot, rent a plate compactor, lay decomposed granite base, and stretch the turf yourself. On a 300-square-foot patch with a simple existing base, you might spend $800–$1,500 in materials versus $3,500–$5,000 installed. That delta is real money for a competent weekend project.
A full residential lawn is a different calculation. The part that earns the $9–$20 per square foot installed price is the base: proper excavation to 3–4 inches, road base or decomposed granite, compaction, drainage slope, and edge restraints. An unlevel or poorly drained base shows up within six months: wrinkles, standing water, odor in pet areas. Professionals bring a plate compactor, laser level, and experience reading drainage. If you get the base wrong, fixing it means pulling up the turf.
The honest split: DIY the install if the area is under 500 square feet and the base is already established (existing patio, gravel area, flat terrain). Hire a pro for anything involving sod removal, full excavation, or slopes. Either way, get at least two quotes so you know what the labor component actually represents: it is typically $3–$12 per square foot of the total.
Helpful products
Taking the DIY route, or doing part of the job yourself? These are the product categories most people buy for this project. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, and it never changes your price.
Get quotes from local pros
Angi is a national marketplace for home services. You describe the job, and landscaping contractors who work in your area contact you with their own quotes. Requesting quotes is free and you are never obliged to hire anyone.
Angi pays us a referral fee for a completed service request. The fee comes from Angi, not from you, and it does not change the estimates on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does artificial grass cost per square foot installed in 2026?
Professionally installed artificial grass runs about $9 to $20 per square foot in 2026, including turf, base prep, labor, infill, and edging. Economy turf and a simple base come in near the low end; premium nylon-blend turf with full excavation and drainage push toward $20 and beyond in high-cost markets.
How much does it cost to install artificial grass on 1,000 square feet?
A 1,000-square-foot artificial grass project typically runs $9,000 to $20,000 installed, with a national average around $12,000–$13,000. Turf quality and the extent of base work are the main variables: the same 1,000 sq ft can range from $9,000 with economy turf on a simple base to $22,000+ with premium turf and full excavation.
How much does artificial grass cost for a backyard?
A typical residential backyard of 1,000–1,500 square feet runs $9,000 to $30,000 professionally installed. A smaller patio or side yard of 300–500 square feet often comes in at $3,500 to $10,000. The base prep, not just the turf rolls, is where the budget diverges from expectations.
What does DIY artificial grass cost per square foot in materials only?
DIY turf rolls of polyethylene or polypropylene typically cost $2 to $6 per square foot in material, versus $9–$20 installed. The labor you save is real, but base prep (excavating 3–4 inches of soil, laying road base, and compacting) is the part that trips up DIY installs. Skimping on the base causes drainage problems and wrinkles inside a year.
How long does artificial grass last compared to sod?
Quality artificial grass lasts 15–25 years with minimal maintenance: brushing twice a year, rinsing for pets, and occasional infill top-ups. Real sod needs mowing, watering, fertilizing, and periodic overseeding; ongoing maintenance typically costs $1,500–$5,000 a year for a professional service. Artificial grass generally pays back its higher install cost within 4–7 years in a climate with a real watering season.
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Price ranges cross-referenced against these 2026 cost guides and contractor databases:
With the lawn handled, the yard edge is usually the next project, and chain link fencing has its own per-linear-foot math worth running before you call anyone.
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