COST GUIDES
How much does garden landscaping cost in 2026?
Updated 05/26
With sunshine-filled days already here for many of us, it’s the perfect time to put your green fingers to good use in the garden.
Making over your garden will ensure you’re all set to spend the warmer months soaking up the sunshine, enjoying drinks alfresco and living off BBQ food at every opportunity!
Fast Facts
The average garden landscaping project costs around £250–£2,500 overall
Laying grass costs around £12 - £30 per m2
A paved patio costs around £65- £80 per m2
Whether your garden is in need of just a little TLC or a complete makeover, investing in garden landscaping is a great approach.
It goes a long way to enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of any garden or outdoor space, no matter what you’re working with.
How much does garden landscaping cost?
| Garden landscaping example | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Real grass (per m2) | £12 - £30 |
| Artificial grass realistic installed (per m2) | £25 - £60 |
| Levelling (per m2) | £20 - £120 |
| Terracing (10m long, 1m deep) | £1,200 - £2,400 |
| Flagstone Paving (inc. base, supply and installation) | £65- £80 per m2 |
| Decking (per m2) excl. handrails | £50 - £120 |
| Brickwork (per m2) | £45 - £65 |
| Last updated: June 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |
The average landscape gardening project can cost anywhere between £250–£2,500 for the whole project.
As you can see, however, costs vary a lot - it all depends on what exactly your project involves. Installing a bit of grass is at the lower end of the cost spectrum, while the cost of paving and decking can add up fast.
Let's take a deeper dive into what costs you can expect, and how to get a quote from local garden landscapers.
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Sloped garden landscaping costs
From levelling, terracing and incorporating outdoor dining ideas, through to storage options, flooring options and garden lighting, you’ll be amazed at how a sloped garden can be transformed. As for the costs...
How much does it cost to level out a garden?
Levelling a garden costs around £20 - £120 per m2. This will vary depending on how much work needs to be carried out.
Creating a series of level garden areas can give you designated areas for flower beds, shrubs, vegetables or even an inviting outdoor dining area.
This can be done by levelling out each garden patch and building terrace walls made from wood, stone or concrete.
How much does garden terracing cost?
Expect to pay around £1,200 - £2,400 for a 10 metre long, 1 meter deep terrace. Prices will differ depending on the type of terracing you choose, the size of your garden, and other factors such as slopes.
Landscaping a sloping garden using terracing can create some wonderfully useful and beautiful spaces, and a professional landscape gardener can help you utilise your garden to its full potential.
There are lots of materials that can be used for effective terracing, including reclaimed railway sleepers, stone retaining walls, new sleepers and gabions.
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Flooring landscaping costs
Paving and decking can add character, function and practicality to a sloped garden. There are lots of designs and styles available to bring your garden to life.
All of these materials are a great option, even for sloping gardens and uneven surfaces. Again, depending on the bespoke requirements of your garden, prices will vary.
How much does a patio cost?
A patio made of flagstone paving will cost around £65- £80 per m2, including the base, materials, and installation.
That said, there are many different patio options - including concrete, brick, and other types of paving - all of which come with different price tags.
Check out our patio laying cost guide to learn more about the cost of a patio in the UK.
How much does decking cost?
The average cost of wooden garden decking is around £50 - £120 per m2 - excluding any additional features such as fencing or handrails.
Decking has become a hugely popular feature in British gardens, adding both a stylish feature and a functional platform to utilise. There are a wide range of decking styles available, so you're guaranteed to find one that suits your personal taste.
To find out more, take a look at our garden decking cost guide.
How much does landscaping brickwork cost?
If you're a fan of brick flooring in the garden, you can opt for brickwork at a cost of about £45 - £65 per m2.
This cost will depend on the exact type and quantity of bricks you use, and whether they're new or reclaimed bricks.
How much does gravel cost?
If you are on a tighter budget, gravel is a cost-effective garden flooring option, costing approximately £60 for an 800kg bag - which is enough to cover around 5m2 of ground.
Grass landscaping costs
How much does grass cost?
The average cost of real grass turfing is £12 - £30 per m2, not including the cost of installation.
Having a beautiful garden lawn adds charm, beauty and a special place to spend time outdoors. And having traditional real grass is, for some, the only way to properly finish a landscaped garden.
Another great benefit of real grass in a garden is that it's often cheaper than decking, paving or laying artificial grass.
How much does artificial grass cost?
The cost of artificial grass is around £25 - £60 per m2, including installation.
Offering outstanding durability, versatility and instant aesthetic appeal, artificial grass is also safe for children and easy to maintain. You won’t have to worry about using fertilisers or pesticides either.
Although it is generally very safe and easy to maintain, artificial grass can reach high temperatures in summer and be problematic for pets and young children in the heat, so bear this in mind.
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Other landscaping costs
How much does it cost to dig up a garden?
| Dig up garden costs | Unit | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Garden clearance/dig summer | Per hour (team of 3 people) | £68 |
| Additional summer hours | Per hour (team of 3 people) | £50 |
| Garden clearance/dig winter | Per hour (team of 3 people) | £71 |
| Additional winter hours | Per hour (team of 3 people) | £46 |
| Skip to remove soil 35 cubic metres 7 x @£265 large (builder) skip hire | Per project | £265 |
| Last updated: June 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||
The average cost to dig up a garden varies seasonally, but you can expect to pay an average of £68 - £71 per hour for the work.
When planning your garden project, it's also worth considering the access that the garden excavation team will have, as that can affect the price you pay. If access is poor, it can take a lot longer for them to remove dirt and soil – which will hike up the price.
You'll also need to consider the cost of skip hire and disposal of the waste soil and debris - which works out at an average of £265 per project.
How much does a shed cost?
The cost to build a shed starts from around £850, though costs can vary a lot depending on the size and style of the shed you choose.
Storage is always a good idea for any garden space, especially when it comes to keeping your garden neat, tidy and accessible.
From garden sheds and outdoor boxes through to bin stores and log stores, there’s a wide range of garden storage options that are ideal for keeping all of your garden tools safe and sound.
What affects the cost of garden landscaping?
The final price tag of a landscaping project can vary pretty widely. Just a few of the things that can affect the cost of your garden landscaping include:
What kind of landscaping you need
The size of your garden
Whether you choose premium or budget materials
How sloped or hilly your garden is
How accessible your garden is
The time of year
Your location in the UK
What's included in a garden landscaping quote?
When you get a quote from a garden landscaper for your project, it will usually include the costs of:
Materials and plants
Labour
Site survey and assessment
Project management, if needed
Tools and equipment
Cleanup and basic garden waste disposal
Garden maintenance advice
Always talk to your landscaper and get a written quote so that you know exactly what's included and what isn't.
You can also expect a timeline, and - if it's an expensive project - a payment plan.
Additional or hidden costs to budget for
You may need to pay a little extra for your garden landscaping for things like:
Project management
Garden design services
Additional materials
Unexpected challenges when working the garden (e.g. pests, different soil types)
Disposal and garden clearance, especially if there's a large amount of waste
VAT
Get a quote for your landscaping
Ready to start gathering quotes from landscapers for your garden project? Perhaps Checkatrade can help!
Just enter your postcode into our search tool, and we'll show you the Checkatrade landscape gardeners working in your area. Every single one has passed up to 12 checks, and you can read real, verified reviews from previous customers too.
Find a local landscape gardener
You can also try our request a quote feature - tell us about your project, and let landscape gardeners come to you. Or why not use the Checkatrade mobile app?
Try the job estimate calculator
Want a quick idea of what your landscaping project may cost? Give our job estimate tool a go.
All you need to do is jot down a few details about what you're planning, and the calculator will use our pricing data to give you an estimated quote - so you know what to expect and can start budgeting.
Job Estimate Calculator
What other landscaping can I do in my garden?
Spread a little mulch
Spreading a layer of mulch can be a great help to trees, shrubs and perennials, especially when it comes to adding important nutrients to the soil. But that’s not all. If you’re looking to create a low maintenance garden, mulch can help control weeds and conserve moisture, reducing the amount of upkeep your garden requires.
Reduce the size of planted areas
Cutting down the size of planted areas in your garden will instantly make your outdoor space a lot easier to manage. But this doesn’t mean your garden needs to look bland and boring – far from it!
If you take the time to understand your space, there are a whole host of low-maintenance plants you can use to fill out your garden, including wildflowers. These you can leave pretty much to their own devices in a dedicated area of your garden, which also creates a little haven for wildlife.
Keeping your plants in big pots can prevent them from becoming too big and of course, potted plants are much easier to take care of.
Buying the right plants is an important part of having a low-maintenance garden. Opt for hardy evergreen plants as they will last longer and are easier to manage.
The costs of plants will vary significantly depending on the type, size and where you purchase them from. If you want to keep the budget down, seeds and bulbs are cheaper than pre-grown plants and flowers, but you’ll need to spend more time caring for them while they grow.
Introduce shrubs
As we’ve already said, it is possible to fill your garden with lovely plants that require minimum maintenance. One of the best ways to do this is to swap flower beds and borders for attractive shrubs. You’ll be amazed at how much time and energy this will save you!
Good options include lavender, as you only need to worry about pruning it once a year, and geums and geraniums, which only need to be cut once a year.
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FAQs
In general, most gardening excavation and landscaping work doesn't require planning permission – including general garden excavation for planting, laying a lawn or patio.
That said, there are some occasions when you will need to apply for planning permission, such as sheds and outbuildings, paved driveways, decking, and major landscaping or elevation changes.
If in doubt, speak with your local planning office before starting any excavation work to check if planning permission is required.
Garden landscaping involves bringing together a whole host of elements in order to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing garden space. This might include mixing botanical elements, such as lawns, trees, shrubs and flowerbeds with hardscapes, such as pathways, furniture, decking, fences and water features.
Whereas gardening generally means maintaining and caring for living plants and where they grow, landscaping is all about visualising a space, designing it and then creating it. That means incorporating lawns, trees, pathways, greenery, planting and other features to bring a garden space to life.
Of course, gardens come in all shapes and sizes, which is why garden landscaping prices vary significantly, depending on the work that you are getting done.
The main reason why garden landscaping can be costly is because there is a large amount of skilled labour involved. Each landscaping task requires specialist skills - whether it's gardening expertise, paving, decking, or dealing with slopes and elevation.
No - day-to-day or regular garden maintenance would be undertaken by a gardener. A landscaper, on the other hand, creates the outdoor space of your dreams, including planning your garden, planting a large amount of plants, or building structures, terraces, and fences.
Yes, it's possible for a landscaped garden to add value to your property. In some cases, it can add as much as 20% to the value of your home.
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