The direct answer
How much does landscaping cost?
For a typical single-family yard, landscaping costs $3,000 to $15,000. On a per-square-foot basis, planted beds run $3 to $12, sod runs $1 to $2, and a design plan runs $500 to $2,500. A whole-property rebuild with grading, irrigation and stone can pass $50,000.
Updated November 2026 · Planning ranges, not quotes
The math, in one paragraph
Landscaping is priced as a set of units. Beds are measured in square feet, edges and walls in linear feet, sod in square feet, irrigation in zones and heads, and trees per specimen. A company adds labor hours, materials, equipment, disposal, overhead and profit. That is why two quotes for the same yard can differ by 40%: one measured 900 square feet of bed and the other measured 1,400, or one included soil replacement and the other top-dressed existing clay.
The fastest sanity check is to multiply your planted area by $3–$12. A 1,000 square foot bed rebuild should land between $3,000 and $12,000 before hardscape. If a quote is far outside that band, ask what unit it used and what is included.
By yard size
Lot size is not planted area. A 10,000 sq ft lot usually has 800–1,500 sq ft of beds.
| Yard | Lot size | Planted area | Typical project | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small yard | under 5,000 sq ft | 300–600 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,000 | Front beds, a few shrubs, mulch and edging. |
| Standard suburban | 5,000–10,000 sq ft | 800–1,500 sq ft | $5,000 – $18,000 | Front and side beds, sod repair, small walkway. |
| Large lot | 10,000–20,000 sq ft | 1,500–3,000 sq ft | $12,000 – $35,000 | Multiple zones, irrigation, screening trees. |
| Acreage | over 20,000 sq ft | 3,000+ sq ft | $25,000 – $75,000+ | Grading, long drives, native seeding, drainage. |
Three budget tiers
Refresh: $1,000–$5,000
Keep the layout. Replace dead shrubs, cut back overgrowth, add mulch, fix an edge, plant a few perennials. Best value when the bones are still good and drainage works.
Rebuild: $5,000–$25,000
New beds, soil amendment, a plant palette, sod or seed, edging and one hardscape element. This is the range most full-yard projects occupy.
Whole property: $25,000–$75,000+
Grading and drainage, irrigation, retaining walls, paving, lighting, trees and multi-zone planting. Design fees and permits are part of the budget, not an afterthought.
What changes the number most
- Planted area and density. More square feet and closer spacing mean more plants.
- Plant size. A 15-gallon tree can cost five times a 5-gallon tree of the same species.
- Soil and grade. Builder fill, clay and slope require amendment, drainage or walls.
- Access. Narrow gates and backyard-only access add hand-carry labor.
- Hardscape. Pavers, walls and steps are construction, priced per square or linear foot.
- Irrigation. A new system is $2,000–$6,000; extending an existing one is far less.
- Region. Labor rates and water costs differ; see cost by state.
- Season. Spring books out; late autumn can be cheaper for hardscape and planting in mild climates.
Rule of thumb
If a quote is less than half the next one, it is usually missing soil prep, disposal, irrigation or plant size — not giving you a deal. Compare the scope line by line, not the total.
What the line items cost
| Item | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape design plan | $500 – $2,500 | flat fee |
| Planting and bed installation | $3 – $12 | per sq ft |
| Full-yard landscaping | $3,000 – $15,000 | typical project |
| Sod lawn installation | $1 – $2 | per sq ft |
| Irrigation system | $2,000 – $6,000 | per system |
| Mulch and bed refresh | $500 – $2,000 | typical project |
| Xeriscape conversion | $1,500 – $6,000 | front yard |
| Rain garden | $1,500 – $5,000 | installed |
| Fruit tree pruning | $150 – $500 | per tree |
See the full cost hub for what each range includes.
FAQ
How much does it cost to landscape a 1,000 square foot yard?
If you mean 1,000 square feet of planted bed, plan on $3,000 to $12,000 installed. If you mean a 1,000 square foot lot — a very small yard — a basic refresh with a few plants and mulch is more like $1,500 to $4,000, because there is less area to cover.
How much does landscaping cost per hour?
Landscaping labor is commonly billed at $50 to $100 per person-hour for installation work, and $75 to $150 per hour for design or specialist pruning. Many companies quote a project price instead of hourly, with labor buried in the line items. Ask for the crew size and estimated days.
Is $10,000 enough to landscape a backyard?
It is enough for a focused backyard: a patio, a bed rebuild, a small lawn and a few trees, or a larger planted garden without hardscape. It is not enough for a full rebuild with grading, drainage, irrigation, stone work and mature trees. Decide which two or three elements matter most.
What is the difference between landscaping and lawn care?
Landscaping is the design and installation of the yard: beds, plants, sod, edging, hardscape and irrigation. Lawn care is the recurring maintenance of the lawn: mowing, fertilization, aeration, overseeding and weed control. They are usually different companies and different budgets.
Should I get a design before getting quotes?
For anything beyond replacing a few shrubs, yes. A plan gives every contractor the same scope, which makes quotes comparable and prevents a company from pricing its own idea of the project. A design fee of $500 to $2,500 is small relative to a $15,000 install.
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