How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost

Artificial grass can come with a reasonable outlay in terms of initial cost, especially when compared to natural turf and the cost of installation, but it does however introduce some savings over its long-term life.

These savings include not having to spend money on maintenance such as lawnmowers and other equipment, watering, reseeding, fertiliser, food and more. What’s more, you’re paying for the convenience of very little maintenance and year-round good looks.

How much does artificial grass cost?

As a very rough guide, artificial grass costs between £60 - £80 per m2 to install, not including the cost of the turf itself. It is absolutely possible to lay artificial grass yourself [link] and reduce this cost somewhat but there are also some important financial considerations which mean it’s not as attractive a proposition as it looks on the surface.

Things to consider in the cost of artificial grass

• Our artificial grass starts at £19.99 per m2 for our Sophia range and rises up to £24.99 per m2 for our more premium ranges such as Lords, Par 3 and Trafford. Generally, as you move up the price range you get more variation of greens and browns for that natural look, and longer as well more numerous fibres for that more luxurious feeling.
  
  It is possible to find artificial grass cheaper than this elsewhere, but this is usually low quality and suitable only for temporary installations.
  
  All of our artificial grass product pages have a calculator built in to work out your exact cost for your project.
   
• The average sized area that people install artificial grass onto in the UK is around 40-50m2. Professional installers will generally charge between £100 and £150 per person, per day. If they are required to do the prep work, then the whole project would take 2-3 days. If it’s just the installation, they may be able to do it in a single day.
  
  The main exception to this is if you have to install a concrete base which will of course require time to dry. It will also increase the cost.
   
• You must also consider the cost of the materials for the sub-base, as well as the sand infill, and any foam underlay you may decide to use. For a project of 40m2, you would need 4-5 tonnes of sand for the bedding, to cover it at a depth of 50mm. This would cost you in the region of £300-400. You would need another half a tonne of fine sand to brush over the top. This would cost around £50.
   
• Finally, you should consider the cost of a skip and disposal of your old turf and soil. A medium skip would cost around £200 to rent for one week.

How much does it cost to have artificial grass installed?

If we take our mid-range Oval artificial grass at £22.99 per m2 then the costs for a 40m2 project would look something like:

Note, this doesn’t include smaller costs such as adhesives, joining tape, and pins. It’s also important to remember that this is for a square or rectangle shaped installation. More complicated shapes will require more artificial turf as there will be more offcuts.

When you book in your home visit, our friendly consultant can talk you through all your options and give you an accurate quote for costs, including whether you want us to install your artificial grass for you, and whether you need us to also supply extra materials.

How much does it cost to install artificial grass myself?

Did you look at the estimate above and baulk? In that case you may be thinking that you can save some money by installing it yourself. However, there are several costs that you need to factor in which may mean that, in reality, especially for smaller jobs, it is not much cheaper.

For example, there are a lot of tools you’ll need to hire and these are usually on a weekly basis.

• A turf cutter £100
• Compactor plate - £40-50
• Skip - £200
• Turntable trolley (to carry the turf) - £45
• Sand spreader - £200-£400

The main bonus of opting to install artificial grass yourself is that these costs don’t rise with the size of the project, so a larger project where you pay a professional by the square meter could save a significant amount. 

How much does artificial grass cost compared to natural grass?

The main drawback of artificial turf is the upfront cost, which for many is significant. However, maintenance costs are essentially zero, and with an expected lifespan of 15 to 20 years, the artificial grass will often end up paying for itself.

Whereas, natural grass requires the purchase of a lawnmower (maybe two in that time frame) at several hundred pounds. It also requires watering during the summer months. For example, a 50m2 lawn would require roughly 1.5 cubic metres of water every time. This is 1500 litres (nearly 20 bath tubs), which at around £2.50 a cubic metre would cost around £375 - £400 a year if watered every week.

Lawn feed or fertiliser will also need to be used if you want a pristine lawn, and this costs around £25 per bag. A 5L bottle of weed killer will cost around £20. Therefore, you could potentially be looking at upkeep costs of around £500 a year if you want a lawn you can be proud of.

If you want a hassle-free garden for years to come, book a home visit or contact us to get your journey started.