Garden Landscaping Cost Guide 2026 — What to Expect

Garden landscaping is booming in the UK. Homeowners increasingly view their outdoor space as an extension of their living area, and they are willing to invest significantly to create gardens that look great and function well. For landscapers and builders, this represents a growing market with strong margins — but only if you understand the costs and quote accurately.

This guide covers what garden landscaping costs in 2026, breaking down the prices for every major element — patios, decking, turf, planting, fencing, drainage, and lighting. Whether you are a homeowner budgeting a garden project or a landscaper looking to price more accurately, this is the comprehensive reference you need.

Overall Landscaping Costs by Project Size

Before diving into individual elements, here is what typical garden landscaping projects cost as a whole in 2026.

Small Garden Makeover

A small garden makeover — typically a terraced house or small semi-detached rear garden of thirty to fifty square metres — might include new turf, a small patio, some planting, and new fencing on one or two boundaries. Total cost: two thousand to five thousand pounds.

Medium Garden Redesign

A medium project on a typical semi-detached or detached rear garden of fifty to one hundred square metres might include a paved patio area, new lawn, planting borders, fencing on all boundaries, a path, and basic lighting. Total cost: five thousand to twelve thousand pounds.

Comprehensive Garden Landscaping

A comprehensive project on a larger garden might include a large patio or multiple hard-landscaped areas, raised beds, decking, feature planting, mature trees, garden lighting throughout, irrigation, a water feature, and premium fencing or walling. Total cost: twelve thousand to thirty thousand pounds or more.

Patio and Paving Costs

Patio installation is one of the most common landscaping jobs. The cost varies enormously depending on the material, size, and complexity of the layout.

Paving Materials and Costs Per Square Metre

• Concrete slabs (standard): sixty to ninety pounds per square metre supplied and laid
• Indian sandstone (natural stone): one hundred to one hundred and sixty pounds per square metre
• Limestone (natural stone): one hundred and ten to one hundred and seventy pounds per square metre
• Porcelain paving: one hundred and twenty to two hundred pounds per square metre
• Granite setts: one hundred and thirty to two hundred and twenty pounds per square metre
• Block paving: seventy to one hundred and twenty pounds per square metre

These prices include excavation, a compacted sub-base, a mortar bed, the paving material, and pointing. They assume a straightforward site with reasonable access. If the site is sloping, requires significant excavation, or has difficult access for materials delivery, add twenty to forty per cent.

What Affects Patio Costs

Size. Larger patios cost less per square metre because the mobilisation costs and edge detailing are spread over a larger area. A ten square metre patio might cost one hundred and fifty pounds per square metre in sandstone, while a thirty square metre patio in the same material might cost one hundred and twenty pounds per square metre.

Pattern and cuts. Simple rectangular layouts with minimal cutting are the most cost-effective. Diagonal layouts, curves, and intricate patterns increase labour time and material waste significantly. A complex circular pattern can add thirty to fifty per cent to the labour cost.

Steps and levels. If the patio requires steps — particularly retaining walls and level changes — the cost increases substantially. A set of three or four garden steps costs five hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds depending on the material and width.

Decking Costs

Decking remains popular in UK gardens, particularly for raised areas, uneven ground, or spaces adjacent to the house where a level platform is needed.

Decking Materials Per Square Metre

• Pressure-treated softwood: eighty to one hundred and twenty pounds per square metre supplied and fitted
• Hardwood (oak, iroko): one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty pounds per square metre
• Composite (Trex, Millboard, etc.): one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds per square metre

Composite decking has become increasingly popular because of its low maintenance requirements and long lifespan. While the upfront cost is higher than softwood, it does not need annual treatment, does not rot, and typically comes with a twenty-five-year guarantee. Over a fifteen to twenty year period, composite is often the cheaper option when maintenance costs are factored in.

Additional Decking Costs

• Balustrades and handrails: sixty to one hundred and twenty pounds per linear metre
• Steps (per step): one hundred to two hundred and fifty pounds
• Built-in seating: two hundred to six hundred pounds per bench
• Integrated lighting: thirty to sixty pounds per light point

Turf and Lawn Costs

A new lawn is one of the most transformative and cost-effective landscaping improvements. Here are the costs involved.

Turfing

• Turf supply and laying (including ground preparation): fifteen to thirty pounds per square metre
• Premium turf (hard-wearing or fine lawn): twenty to thirty-five pounds per square metre
• Typical rear garden (fifty square metres): seven hundred and fifty to one thousand five hundred pounds

The cost includes rotavating or digging over the existing ground, removing stones and debris, adding topsoil where needed, levelling, laying the turf, and initial watering. If the existing ground is heavily compacted, waterlogged, or full of rubble, additional preparation work will increase the cost.

Seeding

Seeding is significantly cheaper than turfing but takes longer to establish — typically eight to twelve weeks before the lawn is usable. Seed costs five to fifteen pounds per square metre including preparation. The main drawbacks are the wait time, the need for regular watering during germination, and the risk of patchy results if conditions are not ideal.

Artificial Grass

Artificial grass has become a popular choice, particularly for small gardens, shaded areas, and families with children. Costs range from sixty to one hundred pounds per square metre for supply and installation, including the sub-base, membrane, and edging. High-quality artificial grass with a natural appearance costs more but lasts longer — typically fifteen to twenty years. The main advantages are zero maintenance and year-round green appearance. The main disadvantage is the environmental impact and the fact that it gets hot in direct sunlight.

Fencing Costs

Fencing is a standard element of most landscaping projects, and many fencing contractors specialise in this work. Here are the costs per linear metre for the most common fencing types in 2026.

• Lap panel fencing with concrete posts: forty to sixty-five pounds per metre
• Close-board fencing with concrete posts: sixty-five to ninety pounds per metre
• Close-board fencing with wooden posts: fifty-five to eighty pounds per metre
• Horizontal slat fencing: ninety to one hundred and thirty pounds per metre
• Composite fencing: one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds per metre
• Picket fencing: forty to seventy pounds per metre

These prices include supply, installation, and removal of existing fencing. If existing concrete posts are in good condition and at the correct spacing, they can be reused with new panels, saving fifteen to twenty-five pounds per metre.

Fencing costs are significantly affected by access. If panels and posts need to be carried through a house or over other fencing, labour costs increase by twenty to forty per cent. A typical rear garden needing fencing on three boundaries of around twenty-five linear metres total costs one thousand to three thousand five hundred pounds depending on the type chosen.

Garden Drainage

Drainage is often the least glamorous but most important element of a landscaping project. Poor drainage ruins lawns, causes waterlogging, and can even affect the house foundations. Here are the main options and costs.

• French drain (land drain): thirty to sixty pounds per linear metre
• Soakaway (standard): five hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds
• Channel drain (along patio edge): forty to seventy pounds per linear metre
• Full garden drainage scheme: one thousand five hundred to four thousand pounds

On clay soils — which cover a large part of England — drainage should be considered for almost every landscaping project. Water sitting on the surface kills lawns, erodes paving foundations, and creates an unusable garden in wet weather. Always assess drainage during the survey and include it in your quote where needed.

Garden Lighting

Garden lighting transforms outdoor spaces and has become a standard feature on mid-range and premium landscaping projects. Here are the typical costs.

• LED spike lights (per unit, supply and install): sixty to one hundred and twenty pounds
• Recessed deck or patio lights (per unit): forty to eighty pounds
• Bollard lights (per unit): one hundred to two hundred pounds
• Wall lights (per unit): eighty to one hundred and fifty pounds
• Step lights (per unit): fifty to one hundred pounds
• Transformer and cabling: two hundred to five hundred pounds for a typical garden

A basic lighting scheme for a medium garden (six to eight light points plus transformer and cabling) costs eight hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds. A comprehensive scheme with fifteen to twenty lights, multiple zones, and smart controls costs two thousand to four thousand pounds. All outdoor electrical work must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and should be carried out or certified by a qualified electrician.

How to Quote Garden Landscaping Jobs

Quoting landscaping work requires careful survey work and clear communication with the customer about what is and is not included. Here is a practical approach.

Survey the site thoroughly. Measure the garden carefully — length, width, and any level changes. Assess the existing ground conditions — is it level, sloping, waterlogged, or full of rubble? Check access for materials delivery. Identify any services (gas, electric, water, drainage) that might be affected. Note the aspect (which direction the garden faces) as this affects planting choices.

Understand the brief. Ask the customer what they want to use the garden for. Entertaining? Children playing? Growing vegetables? Low maintenance? The answer shapes the design and specification. Ask about budget — there is no point designing a thirty thousand pound garden for a customer with a five thousand pound budget.

Break down the elements. Price each element separately — hard landscaping (patio, paths, steps), soft landscaping (turf, planting, topsoil), fencing, drainage, lighting, and any structures (pergola, raised beds, water features). Our material cost estimator can help you total up materials for each element. This makes it easy to adjust if the customer wants to change the specification or phase the work.

Account for waste disposal. Landscaping generates significant waste — excavated soil, old fencing, turf, rubble. Skip hire costs two hundred to four hundred pounds per skip, and most landscaping projects need at least one. If the soil is contaminated or contains asbestos (common in older gardens), disposal costs increase substantially.

Factor in plant costs. If the project includes planting, specify the plants clearly — species, size at planting, and number. A five-litre shrub costs ten to twenty-five pounds, while a semi-mature tree costs one hundred to five hundred pounds or more. Planting schemes can easily add two thousand to five thousand pounds to a project, and customers often underestimate this cost.

Present a professional quote. Landscaping customers are visual — they want to see what they are getting. Include a clear scope, itemised costs by element, a realistic timeline, and specify what is included in the aftercare (typically a first-cut of the lawn and initial watering). QuoteSmith helps you produce professional, branded proposals that present your landscaping quotes at their best. Learn more about pricing materials and markup for your projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does garden landscaping cost in the UK in 2026?

Garden landscaping costs range from two thousand to thirty thousand pounds or more depending on the garden size and scope. A small makeover with turf, a patio, and planting costs two thousand to five thousand pounds. A medium redesign with paving, lawn, fencing, and planting costs five thousand to twelve thousand pounds. A comprehensive project with multiple features costs twelve thousand to thirty thousand pounds or more.

How much does a new patio cost in the UK?

A new patio costs between one thousand five hundred and eight thousand pounds depending on size, material, and complexity. A basic concrete slab patio of fifteen square metres costs one thousand five hundred to two thousand five hundred pounds. Indian sandstone costs two thousand five hundred to four thousand five hundred pounds. Porcelain paving costs three thousand to six thousand pounds for the same area. Larger patios with premium materials and complex patterns can exceed eight thousand pounds.

How much does decking cost per square metre in the UK?

Decking costs eighty to two hundred and fifty pounds per square metre supplied and fitted. Pressure-treated softwood costs eighty to one hundred and twenty pounds. Hardwood costs one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty pounds. Composite decking costs one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds. Additional features like balustrades, steps, and lighting increase the total cost.

How much does new fencing cost per metre in the UK?

New fencing costs forty to one hundred and fifty pounds per linear metre including supply and installation. Lap panels with concrete posts cost forty to sixty-five pounds. Close-board fencing costs sixty-five to ninety pounds. Premium options like horizontal slat or composite fencing cost one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds per metre. These prices include removal of old fencing.

Do I need planning permission for landscaping?

Most garden landscaping does not require planning permission under permitted development. Exceptions include covering more than fifty per cent of the garden with hard surfaces, non-permeable front garden paving over five square metres, walls and fences over two metres high, and work in conservation areas. It is always worth checking with your local planning authority if you are unsure.

How much does it cost to turf a garden in the UK?

Turfing costs fifteen to thirty pounds per square metre including ground preparation, topsoil, and laying. A typical fifty square metre rear garden costs seven hundred and fifty to one thousand five hundred pounds. Premium or hard-wearing turf costs twenty to thirty-five pounds per square metre. Ground clearance before turfing adds two to five pounds per square metre if needed.