How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

Last updated: March 28, 2026 by the How Much Does That Cost? editorial team. Estimates are informational - see our methodology.

Landscaping costs $4 to $17 per square foot of yard renovated, or about $4,000 to $17,000 total for a typical 1,000-square-foot project area, depending on scope. A basic refresh with mulch, edging, and a few plants sits at the low end, while a full redesign with mature trees, extensive plantings, and decorative stone runs much higher.

Project area is the main driver of cost, but yard condition, plant selection, and add-ons like irrigation or lighting all shift the total. The calculator below adjusts for your specific yard.

Quick Answer

$8,500average cost

Typical range: $4,000 – $17,000

Low end

$1,500

High end

$25,000+

Actual pricing varies by location, project size, materials, labor rates, and job complexity. Use the calculator below for an estimate tailored to your project.

Landscaping Cost Calculator

Adjust the inputs below for an estimate tailored to your project.

Project area1,000 sq ft

Project scope

Yard condition

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Remove existing landscaping/overgrowth

Optional upgrades

Tie in irrigation/sprinkler zoneAdd outdoor landscape lightingAdd French drain / drainage correctionUpgrade to premium sod

Estimated Project Cost

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Typical estimate: —

This is an estimate, not a quote. Actual pricing depends on your specific project details and local contractor pricing.

Cost Breakdown

How a typical project budget breaks down by category.

Category	Estimated Cost
Plants, trees, sod & mulch	$1,800 – $8,000
Labor (design & installation)	$1,700 – $6,500
Edging & decorative accents	$300 – $1,500
Site prep & drainage	$200 – $1,000

What Affects the Cost

Project area

Larger yard renovations need more plants, sod, and mulch and take longer to install, making square footage the biggest single driver of total cost.

Scope of the project

A basic refresh with mulch and a few foundation plants costs far less than a full redesign with mature trees, retaining features, and extensive new plantings.

Plant selection and maturity

Mature trees and larger specimen shrubs cost significantly more than young saplings or small starter plants, though they provide instant visual impact.

Yard condition and soil quality

Poor soil, drainage problems, or heavy existing overgrowth that needs clearing before new landscaping goes in adds site prep cost.

Design complexity

Custom landscape designs with curved beds, tiered plantings, and mixed hardscape elements take more planning and installation labor than a straightforward layout.

Add-ons like irrigation and lighting

Tying new plantings into a sprinkler system or adding landscape lighting extends the project scope and cost beyond basic softscape installation.

Cost by Yard Size

Yard Size	Typical Cost
300 sq ft	$1,200 – $5,100
750 sq ft	$3,000 – $12,750
1,500 sq ft	$6,000 – $25,500
3,000 sq ft	$12,000 – $51,000
5,000+ sq ft (large property)	$20,000 – $85,000

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

Doing it yourself

DIY landscaping can save significantly on labor for straightforward projects like mulching, planting small shrubs, or laying sod, and many garden centers offer design consultations to help homeowners plan a layout.

Hiring a professional

Landscape designers and installers bring plant knowledge suited to your climate and soil, proper grading and drainage know-how, and the equipment to move large plants, boulders, or sod efficiently, typically completing a project in days rather than weekends spread over a season.

Bottom line: Basic planting, mulching, and small-scale updates are reasonable DIY projects; larger redesigns involving grading, drainage, mature trees, or irrigation tie-ins are usually worth hiring a professional for.

Ways to Save

Phase the project over a couple of seasons instead of doing everything at once to spread out the cost.
Choose smaller, younger plants and trees, which cost a fraction of mature specimens and will fill in within a few years.
Get multiple quotes, since landscaping design and installation pricing varies widely by company and region.
Do your own mulching, edging, and planting of small shrubs, and hire a pro only for grading, sod, or larger trees.
Ask your local extension office or garden center about native, drought-tolerant plants that need less long-term maintenance and irrigation.
Time major installation for early spring or fall when nurseries often have sales and planting conditions are ideal.

How We Estimated This Cost

We model each calculator from public price ranges, labor data, material pricing, industry surveys, and the regional adjustment method explained in our methodology. Estimates are reviewed for consumer usefulness, then shown as ranges because local quotes, site conditions, materials, and timing can change the final price.

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