Updated on 09/10/2024
The cost to install artificial grass is the most common question we're asked. Let's find out the truth.
Recent Updates as of September 2024:
We see many lawns with bumpy surfaces and visible seams. This does not benefit the communities. This article will show you what it takes to install quality artificial grass following manufacturers' recommendations.
The price may vary depending on the cost of artificial grass and its quality, accessibility, front or backyard turf areas, soil removal, and turf infill system. You can get a precise calculation with our synthetic turf installation cost calculator.
This pricing represents the average cost of professionally installing natural-looking synthetic grass that looks and feels natural and designed for long term use. It's important to note that this is the base price and does not include any additional features like pet-friendly infills or drainage systems.
Those mentioned above are the key factors considered when determining the cost of an artificial lawn project. Click on each to discover what they entail and the consequences of cutting corners in that area. Want a ballpark price on your specific upcoming project? Receive pricing in just a few clicks with our artificial grass cost calculator below!
There are a number of supplies needed when beginning an artificial turf installation. This is where you'll see a large chunk of the cost. Below we'll walk through common polypropylene and polyethylene turfs used and how much they typically cost.
Synthetic grass is a fascinating blend of materials. The turf blades are made to look and feel like real natural grass. A home or business owner can choose from many different high quality artificial grass brands, styles, lengths, and colors that will complement their style. You can install pet turf, putting greens, and sports turf to name a few. For the sake of this guide, we'll be focusing on median-grade turf materials because they are the most popular.
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Typically, medium to high-quality artificial grass materials that look like natural grass lawns are priced from $1.97 to $3.83 per square foot at the stores that sell synthetic turf. Remember this price may vary depending on location, manufacturer, and style of polyethylene grass.
When ordering artificial grass, consider that there will be wasted material. If your yard is rectangular, you won't experience as much waste as turf yards that are curved. While most yards require 10-20% excess material, your project may need a little more or less depending on the size and shape of your artificial lawn in the backyard.
For this pricing table, we'll figure in a 10% waste at $2.90 per sq. ft.:
| Total Turf Material |
500 sq. ft. +10% Waste |
550 sq. ft. |
| Artificial Grass Cost |
550 sq. ft. x $2.90/sq. ft. |
$1,595.00 Subtotal |
| Cost After Taxes |
$1,595.00 + 8% California Tax |
$1,722.60 Total |
| Turf Cost Per sq. ft. |
$1,722.60 500 sq. ft. |
$3.45/sq. ft. |
Installing artificial turf involves the preparation of the road base. Class II road base is a proper drainage material made of crushed rocks of various sizes. It is installed as a base surface for artificial grass to provide stability to the surface. The pricing of road base will be different based on your location and accessibility. On average, an installer shall bring about 4 cubic yards of base material to prepare the surface. The more road base applied to the installation area, the stronger the surface and the drier the synthetic lawn. Yet this increases labor costs. Also, the base is the best prevention of weeds. This is true for both residential and commercial applications. Commercial synthetic lawns and sports fields often require at least 4 inches of base to provide proper drainage and support specialty equipment. You will save money on maintenance and ensure proper drainage with the right amount of base applied by professional artificial grass installers.
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| Class II Road Base Cost |
500 sq. ft. x $.38/sq. ft. |
$190 |
Bender boards are important for installing artificial grass professionally because they help separate turf from other types of landscaping, such as trees and shrubs. The brown board is 20 feet long and made of polypropylene. Its cost estimate is around $35 apiece.
If there's a concrete, wood, or stone border around the perimeter of the space, bender boards aren't necessary. If you have a wooden or chain link fence, bender boards are still needed to provide stability. Often, homes with existing landscaping already have bender boards installed separating the grass from their shrubs; in this case, you can save money by installing artificial grass with existing edging. It's important to assess your space to know how many linear feet of boards we'll need to order.
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In our home improvement project example, our lawn has no borders so we'll need to install bender boards around the entire space. Refer to the price grid below for more details!
| Perimeter | 20ft. + 20ft. + 25ft. + 25ft. | 90 ft. |
| Bender Board Rolls | 90 20 | 4.5 Rolls (Round To 5) |
| Bender Board Cost | 5 Rolls x $35/Roll | $175 |
Weed barrier fabric is used in most installations and it is available at most stores that sell artificial turf. It's a cloth-like fabric that lays under the surface of the artificial turf. It prevents seeds from penetrating the ground beneath. In our experience, weed barriers cause the build-up of bacteria under the surface over time and are ineffective against aggressive weeds in the long term. For these reasons, we don't include a weed barrier layer by default. Instead, we recommend using a weed-preventer herbicide. However, we're adding weed barrier fabric to our cost list because of how common it is in DIY artificial grass installation. Weed barrier fabric comes in rolls that are 1,500 sq. ft. for around $80.
Because our sample yard is only 500 sq. ft. one roll will be more than enough!
| Weed Barrier Fabric Cost | $80 x 1 Roll | $80 |
Artificial turf infill comes in a variety of materials. Zeofill, hydrochill, silica sand, and antimicrobial sand are the most common options. The infill is significant. We recommend choosing the best infill that you can afford so you don't have to reapply it often. This will save you money down the road. A high-quality infill will provide your artificial grass with durability, wrinkle prevention, and a long life span. For pet owners and spaces with children playing, we recommend antibacterial sand infill to prevent bacteria build-up.
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Per recommendation, we'll use antimicrobial sand in our pricing table below. The cost for this is about $23 per bag after taxes, and weighs in at 50 pounds. Typically, you'll want at least 1-2 pounds of turf infill per square foot of space. We'll use the median of that: 1.5 pounds of infill per square foot. You may need to apply more infill for artificial grass materials with taller turf blades.
| Square Footage Covered Per Bag | 50 1.5 lb. | 33.33 sq. ft. |
| Infill Bags Needed | 500 sq. ft. 33.33 | 15 Bags Of Infill |
| Cost of Infill | 15 Bags x $23/Bag | $345 |
| Artificial Lawn Materials (After Taxes) | $1,722.60 |
| Class II Road Base | $190 |
| Bender Board Materials and Stakes | $175 |
| Weed Barrier Fabric | $80 |
| Artificial Turf Infill | $345 |
| Nails | $95 |
| Seaming Tape With Glue for Seams or Staples | $120 |
| Razors, Gloves, and Misc Items | $60 |
| TOTAL COST OF MATERIALS | $2,787.60 |
When it comes to the cost of labor, you absolutely get what you pay for. Many forget to factor this into their budget, but the man-hours it takes to provide you with a quality installation will cause the total cost of artificial grass installation to rise.
Selecting a highly skilled and knowledgeable turf installation crew is crucial for ensuring the long-term durability and lifespan of your artificial turf. It is worth investing in a team that possesses the expertise and experience in the installation process of the grass lawn.
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You can always cut cost of artificial grass here, but your quality of work will suffer. If you don't pay for a good contractor, then you will end up with a subpar job that leaves you with costly repairs. For a solid installation, a qualified crew will charge no less than $3.80 per square foot for labor costs. We'll use the low end of that for our pricing table below and plugin $3.80/sq. ft. Note that we use our payroll data to calculate the cost of the crew. This does not include vacations, hiring, training, and supervising.
| Crew Costs | 500 sq. ft. x $3.80/sq. ft. | $1,900 |
Most companies advertise free estimates for installing artificial turf. It's a way to keep them in line with the competition. These proposals are typically detailed presentations outlining materials needed and optional add-ons. While these are free to people just browsing, the time spent working on these estimates doesn't come without a cost.
Preparing an estimate and driving to an appointment will cost around $75 give or take, depending on location and traffic. Before signing larger accounts, it can take up to 5 visits to the worksite to close a deal. This can rack up nearly $400 in additional average costs for just one project, and sometimes these projects are never signed. Every time you hear "free estimate," know that they're not free to the clients moving forward with the installation, and they're factoring that time into the overall price.
At InstallArtificial, we don't think it's fair to make our customers pay for other people's appointments. We ensure that the budget is clear and outlined for each customer in our proposals and that they're comfortable with the price range before we make visits to homes or businesses to pass our savings to you.
For our pricing table, we'll stay on the low end and add $75 to account for "free" estimates.
| Cost of "Free" Estimates | $75 (Ballpark Estimate) | $75 |
| Crew Costs | $1,900 |
| Cost of "Free" Estimates | $75 |
| TOTAL LABOR COSTS | $1,975 |
Operational fees refer to any costs that are added from transporting materials to and from the worksite. While most companies won't lay these fees out for you, they're built into the final price. Keep reading to learn common operational fees and how much it affects the overall pricing of your artificial lawn installation.
Delivery of materials typically isn't free, so it's another thing that's factored into the final bill. Depending on where you live, delivery costs may range greatly. The cost also may vary depending on the manufacturer used. On top of the cost of delivery, the crew must also unload the heavy material.
Delivery costs for road base, turf, containers, and other needed materials typically range from $400-$500 per project, depending on the above-mentioned factors. For our example, we'll use the low end of those fees at $400.
| Delivery Fees | $400 (Ballpark Estimate) | $400 |
When it comes to removing old turf, soil, and grass from your lawn, the cost of hauling will depend on the amount of waste accumulated. Typically, hauling away a container can cost around $900. However, for a 500 sq. ft. lawn, you may only need to haul two trailers instead of a container. In our calculations, we assume the use of our truck, with our driver, and include the cost of gas as part of the overhead.
Hiring a driver for a company comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to the cost of gas and salary. This is a major concern for most gardeners, as their trucks are not built to handle heavy loads easily. In an attempt to save money, many inexperienced crews opt to scrape off the turf, leaving the roots behind in the ground. While this may technically remove the turf, it won't be long before the weeds and grass start to grow back from underneath the artificial grass surface. This shortcut may save them anywhere from $350 to $1000 initially, but it ultimately compromises the longevity and quality of the installation.
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| Hauling Costs and Dump Fees | $350 x 2 Truckloads | $700 |
| Delivery Fees | $400 |
| Hauling Costs | $700 |
| TOTAL OPERATIONAL FEES | $1,100 |
Any reliable company will have a boatload of overhead costs. While this may result in the price of your project rising, it's worth the extra money to ensure the installation runs smoothly. If the company you choose doesn't provide its insurance, for example, you, as a homeowner, will be responsible for any injuries on the job site. Overhead costs include but are not limited to:
General Liability Insurance Workers Compensation Programs
Payroll Expenses Accounting Fees
Taxes Licensing Fees
Auto Expenses Admin Staffing Fees
It is crucial to understand that there are numerous behind-the-scenes fees that serve to protect both the installation company and home or business owners. Unfortunately, many individuals tend to overlook the importance of insurance and license requirements, whether they are homeowners or developers. However, we must always remember who ultimately bears the cost of these expenses. As we drive down the highway, we are bombarded with banners that exclaim, "Injured? I Will Give Them Hell!"
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On the low end, a turf company's overhead can add 10% to your project total. We'll use a smaller fixed number based on our experience. Projects up to 1,500 sq. ft. require relatively similar office support that is at least $530.
| TOTAL OVERHEAD COSTS | Average fixed cost | $530 |
In order for turf companies to thrive, they must generate a profit. On average, a crew that fails to bring in a gross profit of at least $800 per working day will find themselves on the verge of bankruptcy within a matter of months.
Typically, turf companies operate with a profit margin of around 30%. This means that by the end of the year, their net profit could potentially reach 15%.
While many homeowners may believe that a 10% profit margin is sufficient and represents the industry average, it is important to consider the practicality of companies undertaking projects where the out-of-pocket expenses amount to $5000, but the potential outcome is only $500. Numerous factors could go awry, such as receiving defective turf, experiencing burst pipes, or facing challenges due to inclement weather conditions that make soil removal and area cleanup difficult. Within just four hours of crew labor, 10% of the project's budget could easily be consumed. It is unlikely that many installers would willingly undertake the laborious task of hauling tons of dirt and then have to pay the client for the opportunity to do so. If you have negotiated a favorable deal and expect top-quality work, be prepared for the challenges that may arise along the way.
When faced with a job that has been abandoned, we always strive to lend a helping hand. However, the outcome is often far from ideal. It is extremely challenging to satisfy a client who has already been let down once. Not only will the total cost inevitably double compared to the original quote, but the client is also aware that they are overpaying. This leaves no room for us to make a profit. Additionally, there is the possibility of hidden quality issues emerging, such as crushed pipes or un-compacted areas. These unexpected challenges can further complicate the situation and add to the overall cost.
We'll plug in 20% in our price guide below. Which is almost $400 short and my wife would have definitely disagreed about that.
| TOTAL PROFIT | $6,392.60 + 20% Margin | $1,278.52 |
During this artificial turf installation pricing guide, we've used low to median averages, so keep that in mind when assessing the overall price. This is just a starting point. There may be other needs specific to your project, such as rewiring irrigation lines or adding borders to trees throughout the yard. Additional material add-ons will affect pricing as well. Optional installation additions may include: pet-friendly turf materials, putting greens, aluminum bender boards, padding systems, and proper drainage systems. You may want to opt for a premiut type of artificial turf, select nylon turf or save money with regular polypropylene turf.
Below we'll wrap up our findings and discover the low-median cost of a simple, national average, 500 sq. ft. backyard installation!
| Material Costs | $2,787.60 |
| Labor Costs | $1,975 |
| Operational Fees | $1,100 |
| Overhead Costs (less than 10%) | $530 |
| Profit (20%) | $1,278.52 |
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Total Artificial Grass Installation Cost for the 500 sq. ft. project or $15.34 per sq.ft. |
$7,671.12 |
| Artificial Grass Project Size | Artificial Grass Install Cost per square foot |
| <400 sq. ft. | $17-25 |
| 400-700 sq. ft. | $14-17 |
| 700-900 sq. ft. | $12-14 |
| 900-2,000 sq. ft. | $9.5-12 |
| 2,000+ sq. ft. | $9 |
The factors that greatly influence the prices mentioned earlier include the efficiency of the crew, the convenience of bulk deliveries, and the overall profitability of the project.
If you're seeing cheap prices, there's no magic happening. They're skimping on either materials and expertise or ready to pay you for your project (highly unlikely). Some companies outsource your projects to crews that they don't even supervise. Before opting for the cheaper installation, reference this pricing guide and discuss the specs of your project with the crew to ensure they're qualified and insured. Anyone offering a lower price than this is more than likely cutting corners somewhere. Ready to get an idea of the price for your next turf project? Check out our artificial turf cost calculator below to get an instant quote!
Prices of artificial grass materials, overall, remain the same in 2024. However the cost of labor, hauling, dump fees, insurance, and rent increased by at least 10-15%.
To save the most money on your upcoming artificial grass installation, complete your project in the low season. Many contractors are willing to offer better deals during this time and the most discounted pricing is seen in the fall/winter so don't wait until spring of 2024 to renovate your lawn.
Rubber infill could possibly contain PFAS. Rubber infill is used mostly in commercial sports turf systems by choice. Companies and officials are trying to "value-engineer" projects and save on pad systems, infilling fields with rubber.
Most playgrounds are made of rubber. We drive on asphalt roads. Children inhale silica dust, running in clouds of dirt, while parents are concerned about the potential harm of PFAS. This is the world we live in.
We recommend turf from US manufacturers.
Artificial grass systems combine specific synthetic turf, infills, and installation methods. Usually, an artificial turf system costs about $2 per square foot more than regular artificial grass. The price increase comes from infills, the additional cost of labor, and more advanced fake grass materials.
Clients often ask why the cost of turf installation per sq. ft. is always so much higher for smaller jobs than for larger ones. Due to fixed costs that remain the same regardless of project size, small jobs don't receive the same discounts as large projects. Hauling, delivery, dumpsters, road base, and other materials all contribute to the fixed costs that must be covered to remain profitable. Therefore, raising the price per square foot is necessary to complete small synthetic turf projects profitably.
More than that, smaller jobs require more planning efforts and agile logistics to keep the costs moderate. Many inexperienced artificial turf installers often struggle to accurately calculate the costs for smaller jobs, leading them to offer lower bids. Unfortunately, they often realize their mistakes only when they reach the job site. As a result, we frequently encounter subpar or abandoned turf projects that are less than 500 sq. ft.
It's important to remember that the price per square foot should vary based on the size of the artificial turf project. While larger projects may start at a competitive rate of $7.99 per sq. ft., it's crucial not to be swayed by flashy advertisements.
There are no shortcuts or miracles in the artificial grass business. It requires hard labor, dedication, and plenty of sweat. A reputable artificial grass installer who delivers high-quality work at competitive prices typically operates with modern equipment and compact loaders.
It is recommended to plan in advance and think where you might need to have low voltage, plumbing and irrigation. As a general rule, bring electrical conduit and at least one irrigation line to a backyard planter. Clean drainage pipes prior to installing artificial turf.
Take advantage of the low season and choose to install your artificial turf during the winter months. With fewer projects on their plate, even professional turf installers will have more time to dedicate to your project. Not only will this result in a higher level of attention to detail, but it may also lead to discounts and special offers.
Additionally, consider scheduling your project well in advance. While it may be slightly more challenging to lock in a price, many installers appreciate knowing about projects ahead of time. This allows them to plan their resources effectively, ensuring a smooth and efficient installation process. By planning ahead, you can secure your spot on their schedule and potentially even negotiate better pricing.
You can save a lot on base preparation. However, this leads to weed issues and bumpy surfaces in the future. Instead of class II road base, gardeners lay a thin layer of decomposed granite. If you opt for such an installation, we highly recommend not using any nails at all. Decomposed granite and regular soil will not hold nails in place. Pressure will push nails up, creating trip hazards. Instead, use a bender board and staple turf to the board with galvanized staples. Artificial grass installed over a thin layer of decomposed granite with durable weed fabric and attached to the board with galvanized staples is the cheapest way to install artificial grass.
Certainly, you can go ahead and lay artificial grass on top of dirt or soil. However, while it may be fine when the surface is dry, once it gets wet, the dirt will start to squeeze through the drain holes of the turf, creating a messy situation. To prevent this issue, some people choose to lay a layer of fabric under the turf. However, it's important to note that this is only a temporary solution, and you shouldn't expect high-quality work or a long-lasting experience. In about a year or two, the installation will start to resemble a dirty cloth covering muddy soil, which is not ideal. Professional installers should avoid these practices as they are not recommended by manufacturers.
Additionally, this kind of installation creates a significant amount of waste that harms our planet and provides a poor experience for homeowners. So, my advice would be to refrain from taking this route and instead stick to a natural lawn until you have saved enough money for fake turf.
Artificial grass installations in residential backyards offer homeowners a multitude of benefits. They can transform their outdoor space into a functional and enjoyable area. Homeowners have expressed their delight in reclaiming their backyard, now being able to walk barefoot, easily clean up after rain or during hot summer days. Not only do dogs appreciate the warmth that artificial turf provides, but mothers also appreciate the safety and softness it offers for their children. Fathers can now enjoy barbeques without the hassle of dealing with weeds and fertilizers. Although nothing can truly replace the beauty of a natural lawn, many homeowners find that artificial grass is a practical alternative that they wouldn't have considered otherwise.
Yes, we are the professional installers of artificial grass operating in Los Angeles area. We cover most of LA and travel for larger commercial turf projects nationwide. We also have an extensive network of partners in the United States. We know professional artificial installers in many cities across the US and are happy to help make connections.
If you're looking for the cost of installing artificial grass nearby, check out these local artificial turf installation cost articles below to find out more about the cost of installing turf in your city!