How much does artificial grass cost?

Updated on

Needing little maintenance and with a long life, artificial grass has become increasingly popular in recent years as a viable alternative to growing your own grass. With an average installation cost between £300 and £600, what else do you need to know about the cost of artificial grass and its installation? Read on to find out more. Please note, all prices are estimates that are accurate as of 2024.

Want to get quotes from local tradespeople?

4.7

Top rated Landscapers

Our Landscapers, are rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 2253 reviews from customers like you.

Quality screening

Easily find vetted and reviewed local tradespeople. Just post your job to get free quotes from tradespeople near you across the UK.

If you’re thinking about getting artificial grass installed, there’s plenty to consider beforehand. From preparing the ground to finding the right type of grass and hiring the right landscape gardener for the job, take the time to understand the different parts associated with your artificial grass installation and you can be confident at getting it right first time.

We'll cover the following topics in this pricing guide:

Average artificial grass installation cost How long does installing fake grass take? How to reduce artificial grass installation costs FAQ Your artificial grass installation checklist
fakethin-

Average artificial grass installation cost

Artificial grass can be a better option than real grass for a few different reasons, including the fact it needs less maintenance, is damaged much less easily and can last longer. But while going with artificial grass can be beneficial, you should also bear in mind the different costs that come with it. 

For one, artificial grass needs to be correctly installed, and if it isn’t done properly, it can damage both the ground and the artificial grass too. To prevent this from happening, you’ll likely need to hire a landscape gardener to help you get the installation right first time. 

Moreover, you’ll also need to select the right type of artificial grass for the surface. Not all types of artificial turf are suitable, so you’ll need to prepare the ground properly and even out lumps and crevices. While you could decide to do some of the preparatory work yourself, it might be advisable to seek out the help of an experienced and qualified landscape gardener to get this work done for you. 

But what other costs do you need to keep in mind? Here are the average costs associated with fake grass installation.

Job/materialAverage cost
Artificial grass installation£500
Budget artificial grass supply£12 per m2
Mid-range artificial grass supply£20 per m2
Premium range artificial grass supply£30 per m2
Skip hire£220
Labour£600
Crushed granite£180

Get a landscaping quote

How much does artificial grass cost?

There are two ways of approaching your artificial grass installation. The first, and the method we recommend, is to work with a landscape gardener to get the job done. A landscape gardener will provide you with a quote for the installation, a supply of fake turf, ground preparation, skip hire and other aspects of the job. 

Alternatively, you might choose to take some of these costs on yourself to keep the quote as competitive as possible. For example, you might choose to flatten the ground yourself, hire a skip or deal with the installation yourself by ordering your own supply of artificial grass. You may be able to procure these materials yourself for less than a landscape gardener would charge you, but you also need to remember that getting parts of your installation wrong can lead to costly damage that can result in even bigger costs further down the line. For this reason, it’s always advisable to seek out a qualified landscape gardener to get the job done. 

Cost of ground preparation

Before you can install artificial grass, you need to make your patch of land is suitable for any work to begin. This involves taking steps like clearing the area of debris and weeds and digging up the topsoil layer to create a space for the artificial grass. We recommend asking a landscape gardener to do this, as if it isn’t done properly, you can find lumps in your artificial grass that make it less attractive. 

In most cases, your landscape gardener will include this initial preparation as part of their overall quote although as mentioned above, there are also some elements you can do yourself. If you ask your professional to do this preparation for you, it is usually only a small amount but can also vary depending on how large the amount of grass that needs inspecting is. 

Cost of hiring a skip

If your topsoil is dug up, you’ll also need somewhere to dispose of the soil. The best option for this is a skip. Again, though it depends on how much topsoil needs removing, a small skip hired for a matter of hours will normally be enough, and this costs around £220 on average. You can read more about hiring a skip in our dedicated guide.

Cost of artificial grass

Different types of artificial grass offer you different types of finishes and quality. Whether you install it yourself or use a tradesperson, it’s worth knowing more about the different types of turf available to you. 

At the cheaper end of the scale, you will find nylon grass, which is made from strong plastic fibres. This is usually quoted at around £10 to £40 per m2. In the middle of the range, polypropylene offers a good compromise of costs and quality. This type of grass is usually quoted at around £10 to £30 per m2. Finally, you could also opt for polyethylene, which is a luxury fake grass material and typically costs between £20 and £50 per m2

As well as pricing your artificial grass project based on the amount that needs to be laid, you should also expect an installation fee on top of this amount. If your tradesperson charges you a daily rate, that means you should expect to pay an average of around £500 per day.

Cost of crushed granite

Unlike real grass, artificial grass doesn’t sit on soil or any other material that stores moisture. Instead, artificial grass sits on a sub-base made from a material that is generally dry, drains easily and doesn’t store moisture. In most cases, this is crushed granite, which compacts into a solid base under pressure. 

However, this is far from the only option open to you. You could also choose to use MOT Type 1, which is better suited to areas of soil that could still shift around, such as areas that used to be ponds or areas that haven’t had the time to compact. Usually though, a skilled landscape gardener will prefer to use crushed granite. Depending on how much you need, you should generally expect to pay around £180 for 1.5 tonnes of the material.  

Cost of labour

One of the largest parts of your quote will be your labour costs. On top of material procurement and equipment hire, you’ll need to pay a fee for labour costs, but this can vary depending on a few different factors. 

Firstly, any landscape gardener you speak to will build a quote based on the amount of work that needs doing. In this case, it’s how much artificial grass needs to be laid. Secondly, factors like how far away from you the tradesperson lives can also impact your quote. All in all, labour costs can vary substantially, but as an example, average labour costs for a 30m2 installation should be around £600.

Cost of artificial grass repair

Although stronger and more durable than ordinary grass, there are still ways that your synthetic grass can be damaged, whether through unsuitable footwear, leakage or sparks from a barbecue to name a few.

Thankfully though, these damages only require small fixes. Usually the best way of repairing your turf is to speak to and hire a landscape gardener you trust and who can put together the fairest and most competitive quote for the work. 

Cost of decoration

With your new artificial grass installed, it’s up to either you or a reliable professional to decorate it. Decoration could be anything from new furniture to use on the grass or ornaments that decorate it. Depending on your budget, it should cost a couple of hundred pounds for some simple garden furniture. 

Cost of artificial grass maintenance

Keeping your new artificial grass patch maintained is generally simple and straightforward. Frequent maintenance keeps your lawn looking fresh and clean and helps give it lasting life. Fortunately, most forms of artificial grass cost next to nothing to maintain, making it easy for either you or a tradesperson to keep on top of your lawn. Common grass maintenance tasks involve brushing debris off the lawn and keeping the blades straight and even. Where a residue has been left behind, you can use a diluted disinfectant to remove this. The majority of these costs are next to zero and you can find an artificial lawn disinfectant for under £10.  

grass5

How long does installing fake grass take?

Installing synthetic grass generally doesn’t take long, though the exact amount of time can vary depending on how big your garden is. As an average, laying 40m2 of fake grass should take around one to two days, while a garden that’s double this size will generally take double the time. 

How to reduce artificial grass installation costs

While some of these costs are fixed, the good news is that there are also lots of ways of keeping costs down. Let’s take a look at some different methods. 

  • Partial DIY: While it’s always a good idea to seek out the advice of a skilled tradesperson, there are aspects of your installation that you can do yourself. This can include preparing the ground, digging up the topsoil and laying the base foundation of granite or other material. Remember though, that if your installation goes wrong, you can end up leaving yourself with a costly mistake to fix. 
  • Hire your own materials: Landscape gardeners will normally include the supplying of materials as part of their overall quote, but you may be able to source some of these materials cheaper yourself.  
  • Choose budget materials: Depending on what type of artificial grass you want installed, you can opt for different materials that could reduce your overall quote. For example, you could switch from mid-range polyethylene grass to lower end nylon turf. It’s important to ask yourself whether you feel comfortable compromising quality in favour of cheaper costs. 
  • Find competitive quotes: One of the best ways of getting the best possible price for your job is to use MyBuilder to compare the quotes of different professionals in your area. Depending on various factors, including location and materials, different landscape gardeners will be able to offer you different quotes for your job. You could even try to negotiate better prices to secure a better quote. 

FAQ

How long will artificial grass last?

One of the biggest advantages of an artificial grass installation is its long life. With minimal maintenance, you can keep your new lawn looking great. And by keeping your turf regularly maintained, you can expect your artificial grass patch to last for around ten years. 

How often should artificial grass be maintained?

Although minimal, your artificial grass patch does still need some maintenance to keep it looking fresh. Make sure to keep your lawn cleared of leaves, sticks and other debris every few days or weeks to make sure nothing can damage it. If your artificial grass is on a slope, make sure to keep an eye out for any sides of subsidence as some types of sand sitting underneath could slip after prolonged and heavy rainfall. 

Does artificial lawn fade?

Most types of artificial grass won’t fade over time, even when exposed to high UV levels. This being said, it’s always worth speaking to a professional about the type of grass being installed and potential fading issues it may have in the future. 

Your artificial grass installation checklist

So, knowing many of the common costs associated with getting artificial grass installed, what else do you need to be aware of? We’ve put together a checklist of important dos and don’ts for you to work through as you progress through the different stages of getting your new grass laid. 

  • Do your research: Before getting started on any project like this, make sure you speak to experts and tradespeople as part of your research process. Find out whether artificial grass is right for you, what type of material would work best and what kind of effect you want it to give off. Finally, be sure to evaluate the different costs of each to come to a final decision. 
  • Calculate your budget: You should work out an initial budget for your project early on so that you have a way of keeping your project on time and on track. Having a budget will help you to decide which parts of the project are essential and which ones aren’t. This can be particularly helpful once the project is underway. 
  • Find the right person for the project: With MyBuilder, finding and hiring a landscape gardener that’s right for the job is easy. Simply post your job to the MyBuilder network in your area for free and you’ll soon be connected to skilled and qualified tradespeople near you who can get the job done. 
  • Check reviews: One of the most useful features of MyBuilder is that you can read and compare previous customer reviews of the different landscape gardeners in the MyBuilder network. You can also take a look at their different qualifications and areas of expertise to work out which professional could be the right one for you. 

MyBuilder makes it easy to find the right landscape gardener for your artificial grass project. Post your job to the MyBuilder network today and we can help you connect quickly to skilled and qualified professionals near you.