Know what your landscaping should cost
A 1,200 sq ft landscaping costs $4,000 to $6,800 in 2026, about $5 per sq ft installed. Across every option it runs from $1,900 (refresh) to $28,600 (hardscape and planting).
Four questions gets you an itemised range, adjusted for construction wages where you live. The whole number, up front, before we ask for anything.
What landscaping work costs in 2026
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Refresh Mulch, trimming and a few new plants | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| New sod and planting beds | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Full yard renovation Regrade, new sod, beds and irrigation | $7,600 – $13,000 |
| Hardscape and planting Patio, walls or walkways alongside the planting | $11,200 – $19,000 |
Where the money goes
Labour
$2,050 · 38% of the job
Plants, sod and trees
$1,300 · 24% of the job
Soil, mulch and amendments
$700 · 13% of the job
Edging and hardscape materials
$540 · 10% of the job
Equipment and delivery
$490 · 9% of the job
Design and layout
$320 · 6% of the job
Landscaping cost by state
Labour is the part of this job that moves with geography. These are the same 1,200 sq ft project, priced against construction wages in each state.
- California $4,200 – $7,100 +4.6% vs national
- Texas $4,050 – $6,850 +1.3% vs national
- Florida $3,750 – $6,450 -6.0% vs national
- New York $4,200 – $7,100 +4.4% vs national
- Colorado $4,000 – $6,800 +0.2% vs national
- Connecticut $4,150 – $7,050 +3.6% vs national
- District of Columbia $4,300 – $7,300 +7.1% vs national
- Delaware $3,900 – $6,700 -1.9% vs national
- Georgia $4,000 – $6,800 -0.4% vs national
- Hawaii $4,250 – $7,250 +6.4% vs national
- Iowa $3,800 – $6,500 -4.2% vs national
- Idaho $3,650 – $6,150 -8.9% vs national
Questions homeowners ask
What is a reasonable budget for landscaping?
For new sod and planting beds across a typical 1,200 square foot yard, about $4,000 to $6,800. A full renovation with regrading and irrigation on the same yard is closer to $10,300, and adding a patio or walls takes it to around $15,100.
How do you calculate landscaping costs?
Measure the area you are actually working, subtract the house, driveway and existing hardscape, which usually leaves 60 to 80% of the lot. Then apply a rate per square foot for the scope. Labour is about 38% of the total and varies up to 40% by region.
How much does landscaping cost for a small yard?
A 500 square foot yard with new sod and beds runs roughly $1,650 to $2,850. Below about 200 square feet you are into most contractors' minimum, near $800, so small jobs price poorly per square foot.
Why is hardscaping so much more expensive than planting?
Excavation, base preparation and material weight. A patio or wall runs nearly three times a planting job on the same area, because the ground has to be dug out, compacted and built on rather than simply planted.
Reviewed and maintained by Anchorcost. Last checked September 3, 2026. Figures are verified against this page's own calculator on every build. How these figures are worked out.