What you’ll get from this guide
- Sod runs $1–$2 per sq ft installed in 2026, mulch $77–$94 per cubic yard, rock $2–$3 per sq ft and paver patios $8–$24 per sq ft.
- Shrubs run $25–$230 each planted, trees about $565–$680, edging $3.50–$8.80 per linear ft and irrigation about $750–$900 per zone.
- Most landscapers bill $50–$100 per person-hour (about $60 is most common) for work they can't measure.
- Mark up materials 15–20% (plants often more) and aim for a 15–25% profit margin on residential jobs.
Quote Installs by the Unit, Not the Hour
Customers can't judge how long a patio takes, but they can compare $16 per square foot against another quote. Price each part of an install at a rate that already includes the material, delivery and crew time, and keep the hours for your own math.
Use an hourly rate only for work you can't measure up front: cleanup, removal, hauling and small changes on site. Bill it at your full person-hour rate, not at the crew's wage.
What Landscapers Charge in 2026 (US, Installed)
| Item | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Sod | $1–$2 per sq ft |
| Seeding | $0.09–$0.18 per sq ft |
| Artificial turf | $12–$22 per sq ft |
| Mulch | $77–$94 per cubic yard |
| Decorative rock or gravel | $2–$3 per sq ft |
| Paver patio or walkway | $8–$24 per sq ft |
| Retaining wall | $20–$53 per sq ft of wall |
| Landscape edging | $3.50–$8.80 per linear ft |
| Shrub, planted | $25–$230 each |
| Tree, planted | $565–$680 each |
| Irrigation | $585–$1,335 for one zone; about $750 per added zone |
| Labor | $50–$100 per person-hour |
Ranges from LawnStarter's 2026 landscaping, sod, retaining wall and sprinkler cost data, Jobber's 2026 landscaping pricing guide, Lawn Love's 2026 paver patio costs and Aspire's 2026 labor pricing guide.
How to Price Sod, Seed and Turf
Price sod per square foot installed: $1–$2 covers the sod (a pallet of about 450 sq ft), delivery, soil prep and laying. Then adjust for the site:
- Removing old grass. Cutting out and hauling old turf is its own line. Price it per square foot or as labor hours, plus dump fees.
- Grading and soil. Low spots, rocky soil or added topsoil move you toward $2 or above.
- Small or awkward areas. Long carries from the truck, narrow side yards and slopes take longer per square foot.
- Seed instead of sod. Seeding runs $0.09–$0.18 per sq ft and suits big areas where the customer can wait for it to grow in.
How to Price Mulch and Rock
Measure the beds, then convert to cubic yards: one yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep (162 sq ft at 2 inches). A 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches takes about 5 yards. At $77–$94 per yard installed, that is about $385–$470.
Rock and gravel are priced per square foot ($2–$3 installed) because depth and fabric vary less. Add weed barrier, bed edging and weeding as separate lines.
How to Price Pavers, Walls and Hardscapes
Hardscapes are where the big tickets are, and where mistakes cost the most. Price them per square foot installed:
- Paver patios and walkways: $8–$24 per sq ft. Basic concrete pavers on flat ground sit low; natural stone, curves, borders and steps sit high.
- Retaining walls: $20–$53 per sq ft of wall face. Height, drainage and engineering requirements decide where a wall lands.
- Excavation: base depth, compaction and haul-off drive the cost. Price heavy digging separately so the customer understands it.
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Worked Example: Backyard Refresh
| Line | Math | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Remove old grass | 1,200 sq ft × $0.75 | $900 |
| Sod | 1,200 sq ft × $1.50 | $1,800 |
| Mulch | 6 yards × $85 | $510 |
| Shrubs | 8 × $60 | $480 |
| Paver patio (12×16) | 192 sq ft × $16 | $3,072 |
| Edging | 40 ft × $6 | $240 |
| Total | $7,002 |
The $0.75 removal rate is our starting point, not a sourced average; set your own. The patio is 44% of the job, so itemizing lets the customer phase it instead of asking you to cut your rates.
Markup, Minimums and Margin
Published guides put residential material markup at 15–20% (10–15% on commercial bids). Many landscapers mark plants up further, because plants carry a warranty risk and take time to source, store and handle. Build the markup into your installed rates rather than listing it on the quote.
Set a minimum job charge that covers loading, travel and dump fees; $250 is a reasonable starting point for a small install. Most landscaping businesses aim for a 15–25% profit margin on residential work. Price = total cost ÷ (1 − margin), so a job that costs you $5,000 should be quoted at about $6,250 for a 20% margin.
Your crew's wage sets the floor under every rate. See what landscaping workers earn in your metro in the 2026 Contractor Labor Cost Index.
FAQ: Landscaping Prices
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Related Landscaping Resources
Landscaping Price Calculator — price sod, mulch, rock, pavers, plants and irrigation line by line
How Much to Charge for Lawn Mowing (2026) — per cut, per acre and monthly pricing
Landscaping Estimate Generator — turn the price into an itemized estimate
Landscaping Quote Generator — send a quote your customer can approve
Landscaping Price List Builder — keep your installed rates in one list
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