Most professionally installed artificial turf in the U.S. lands between roughly $5 and $20 per square foot, materials and labor included. A typical residential lawn usually falls in the middle of that spread. The exact number depends on turf quality, how much ground work your yard needs, the size of the project and where you live. Below you will find the ranges published by national cost guides, worked examples for common yard sizes, and a checklist for reading a quote so you know what you are paying for.

Key Takeaways

• National cost guides put installed artificial turf anywhere from about $5 to about $20 per square foot. The spread is wide because sources define “typical” differently.
• Materials run about $2 to $8 per square foot and professional labor about $3 to $12, according to Bob Vila’s cost guide.
• Site preparation (excavation, base, weed barrier, drainage) is a large share of the bill. Two quotes with the same turf can differ widely because of the base underneath.
• Smaller yards cost more per square foot than large ones, because setup and delivery costs are spread across less area.
• Ask for an itemized, written quote. A good one separates turf, base, infill, removal of the old surface, edging, drainage and labor.

Table of Contents

• What artificial turf installation costs per square foot
• What 500, 1,000 and 2,000 square feet can cost
• Where the money goes: materials, labor and site prep
• What raises or lowers your price
• How to read an artificial turf quote
• Is the installed price worth it?
• Our perspective on turf pricing
• Turf for putting greens, gyms and play areas
• Get a turf quote in Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

What artificial turf installation costs per square foot

The honest answer is a range, not a single number. Different cost publishers survey different contractors in different years, so their averages do not match. Here is what the main sources report:

Why the gap? Fixr’s figure leans toward simpler, smaller jobs, while Homewyse prices a full professional job including preparation. Neither is wrong. They describe different scopes of work, which is exactly why you should compare quotes by what is included, not by the headline number.

A practical way to use these figures: treat $5 to $12 per square foot as a low-to-middle band for straightforward jobs, and expect higher numbers when the site needs significant excavation, drainage work or premium turf.

What 500, 1,000 and 2,000 square feet can cost

Per-square-foot numbers are hard to picture. These examples multiply the published ranges above by common yard sizes. They are arithmetic on the sources’ figures, not quotes, and your project will differ.

A 500 sq ft area (a small backyard, a dog run, a patio-sized lawn):

• Using Fixr’s $5 to $12.50 per square foot: about $2,500 to $6,250.
• Using Homewyse’s $16.08 to $19.74 per square foot: about $8,040 to $9,870.

A 1,000 sq ft yard (a typical small residential lawn):

• Using Bob Vila’s combined materials and labor ($5 to $20 per square foot): about $5,000 to $20,000, with the middle of the range being the most common landing zone.

A 538 sq ft area is about 50 square meters, a size readers often ask about. At the combined $5 to $20 range, that is roughly $2,690 to $10,760.

A 2,000+ sq ft yard: larger projects usually come in at the lower end of the per-square-foot range, because mobilization, delivery and equipment are one-time costs. You get more area per dollar of overhead.

If you want one planning number, get at least two written quotes for your actual yard. The spread between them will teach you more than any national average.

Where the money goes: materials, labor and site prep

A useful rule from Fixr: materials (grass, base and infill) make up more than half the cost, and labor makes up the rest. Here is what sits in each bucket.

The turf itself

The turf is the part you see, but it is not the biggest line. Bob Vila puts materials at $2 to $8 per square foot. Price rises with pile height, density, backing quality and how the product is built for its use. Turf for a decorative front lawn does not need the same construction as turf for a play area or a gym floor.

The base and preparation

This is the part you do not see, and it determines how flat, how well drained and how long-lasting the finished surface is. According to Bob Vila, preparation involves:

1. Clearing rocks, roots and tree stumps.
2. Excavating the area to a depth of about 2 inches, which can cost $50 to $200 per cubic yard.
3. Installing a weed barrier.
4. Adding and tamping crushed rock.
5. Spreading sand over the rock to smooth out bumps.

Skipping or thinning any of these steps is how a low quote happens. It is also how a lawn ends up with ripples, standing water or weeds poking through a few seasons later.

Labor

Labor covers excavation, grading, base compaction, rolling out and cutting the turf, seaming, securing the edges and brushing in infill. Bob Vila lists professional labor at $3 to $12 per square foot depending on job difficulty and yard size. Labor also tends to cost more in dense urban areas than in rural ones.

Time on site

Per Fixr, most installations take from less than a day to about three days, depending on size. A small, flat, clean site can be done quickly. A sloped yard that needs a lot of removal and regrading takes longer, and that time shows up in the price.

What raises or lowers your price

Two yards of the same size can cost very different amounts. These are the factors that move the number most.

• Project size. Small jobs sit at the higher end per square foot. Large yards get lower unit costs because setup, delivery and equipment are spread over more area.
• Existing surface. Removing sod is simple. Removing old concrete, gravel or an older synthetic lawn adds demolition and haul-off.
• Grading and drainage. A yard that holds water needs correction before turf goes down. Drainage work is a separate line item on a good quote.
• Location of the install. Per Bob Vila, stairways, rooftops, decks, patios, concrete, walls, indoor spaces and child or pet play areas can raise the cost, because they need special adhesive and extra treatment to prevent mold and mildew.
• Turf quality and purpose. Pet areas, playgrounds, putting greens and gym floors each call for different construction.
• Edging. Curved borders take more cutting and more edging material than straight runs.
• Local labor rates. Dense metro areas usually cost more than rural ones.

One more factor homeowners often overlook: access. If equipment cannot reach the back yard and everything has to be carried through a narrow gate, expect labor hours to climb.

How to read an artificial turf quote

A vague quote hides the very things that decide how your lawn performs. Before you compare bids, make sure each one is itemized. An itemized quote checklist is a good habit for any surface project, because it lets you compare bids line by line instead of by the bottom number.

For turf, ask that your written quote separates:

1. Turf material: the product name, pile height and the square footage it covers.
2. Base materials: the type of crushed rock, the depth, and the weed barrier.
3. Infill: what type and how much.
4. Removal: demolition of the old surface and haul-off.
5. Labor: the crew, the number of days and what the labor covers.
6. Edging and seams: how the perimeter is secured and how seams are joined.
7. Drainage: any grading or drainage correction.
8. Warranty: what the product warranty covers and what the installer covers.

Pro tip: compare the base depth and drainage plan first. If one quote is far cheaper, check whether it quietly skips preparation. The difference often hides there.

Is the installed price worth it?

Artificial turf is a one-time project cost, and it removes recurring lawn expenses such as watering, fertilizer, chemicals and pesticides, a point Bob Vila makes in its guide. That is the main reason many homeowners, landlords and property managers choose it: a surface that looks the same in August as it does in May, with far less upkeep.

The price is also easier to defend when the use is clear. A play area, a dog run, a small city-style backyard that never grew good grass, or a garage gym floor all have a defined job. The more clearly you know what the turf is for, the more accurately a installer can specify it and the less you pay for features you will not use.

If you are weighing whether to take on part of the project yourself, our guide on doing it yourself versus hiring a pro walks through the trade-offs for flooring projects. For turf, the base and seams are where experience matters most, so for larger or oddly shaped areas, many people prefer a crew that does this every week.

Our perspective on turf pricing

We talk with homeowners, landlords and business owners across Northeastern Pennsylvania about outdoor and sports turf, and the same thing comes up every time: people compare the price per square foot and forget to compare what is underneath it.

Turf is a system. The surface, the base, the drainage and the edges all work together, and a clean installation is what makes the surface look good and perform the way you expect. That is why we build our approach around personalized, no-obligation quotes. We would rather look at your space, ask how you will use it, and put a number on the full scope than hand you a one-line estimate.

It is also why we keep a large in-stock selection and offer quick installation. Once the product and the plan are settled, you should not wait weeks for the work to start. Whether you are laying turf for a backyard putting green, a garage gym, a play area or a commercial space, our goal is a finished surface you are happy to see every day, at a price that makes sense for your budget.

the author

Turf for putting greens, gyms and play areas

Cost depends on use, so it helps to see where turf is most often installed. Backyard putting and chipping areas need a smooth, consistent surface. Our guide to building a backyard putting green covers how that project comes together. Garage and basement gyms use turf for sled work and training; see our overview of gym turf flooring for home gyms. For a broader look at where turf works, from homes to athletic spaces, read our artificial turf flooring ideas.

If you are interested in our own product line, the GV Grass Giant Green page shows what we carry for outdoor use.

Get a turf quote in Northeastern Pennsylvania

We sell and install flooring for homeowners, landlords, contractors and businesses in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, the Poconos and the surrounding counties, including outdoor turf. Our quotes are personalized and carry no obligation, and our showroom lets you see and touch the products before you decide. Tell us the size of your space, what it will be used for and what is there now, and we will give you a clear, itemized number.

Start on our Outdoor Flooring collection, or contact Giant Floor to ask about installation for your project.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to install artificial grass per square foot?

National guides range from about $5 to $20 per square foot installed. Fixr reports $5 to $12.50, while Homewyse estimated $16.08 to $19.74 in May 2026 for basic mid-range work. Your total depends on site preparation, turf type and project size.

How long does installation take?

According to Fixr, installation takes from less than a day to about three days depending on the size of the project. Small, flat areas with an easy-to-remove existing surface are on the shorter end. Large or sloped yards that need grading take longer.

Why is a small project more expensive per square foot?

Delivery, setup and equipment are one-time costs no matter how big the area is. On a small yard they are spread over fewer square feet, so the unit price rises. Larger yards spread the same costs further and usually cost less per square foot.

What does a turf installation quote include?

A complete quote itemizes the turf, base materials, infill, removal of the existing surface, labor, edging, any drainage work and warranty details. Ask for each as a separate line so you can compare bids fairly. Materials generally make up more than half of the total, with labor making up the rest.

Does installing turf on a patio or deck cost more?

Often, yes. Bob Vila notes that locations such as decks, patios, concrete, stairs, rooftops and indoor spaces can add cost because they require special adhesive and added treatment to prevent mold and mildew.

Sources

• Fixr: Artificial Grass Installation Cost
• Homewyse: Cost to Install Artificial Lawn
• Bob Vila: Artificial Grass Cost Guide
• Itemized quote checklist for resurfacing projects

Recommended

• Artificial Turf Flooring for Gyms, Putting Greens & Outdoor Spaces
• Sports Turf Flooring for Gyms, Backyards, and Training Areas
• Build a Backyard Putting Green with Giant Green Artificial Grass