How the cost estimate adds up
| Line | How it’s worked out |
|---|---|
| Turf | square feet ordered (whole strips + trimming) × price per sq ft |
| Infill | bags × price per bag |
| Base | cubic yards × price per cubic yard |
| Labor | area × labor per sq ft |
| Total | sum of the lines you fill in |
| Per sq ft | total ÷ area actually covered |
All price boxes are optional. If a contractor gives you a single installed price per square foot, put it in “Labor” and leave the rest empty to see the total for your area. If they itemize, enter each line.
What goes into a turf installation quote
| Item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Removal | Cutting out existing grass and hauling it away |
| Excavation | Digging down 3 to 4 inches or more for the base |
| Weed barrier | Fabric under the base or under the turf |
| Base material | Crushed rock or decomposed granite, spread and compacted |
| Drainage | Extra work where water collects, or for pet areas |
| Edging | Bender board, metal or concrete borders |
| Turf | The product, ordered in whole strips off the roll |
| Seaming | Tape, adhesive and labor for each seam |
| Infill | Sand or specialty infill, brushed in |
| Cleanup and disposal | Removing soil, old turf and offcuts |
A worked example with placeholder prices
A 40 × 25 ft area (1,000 sq ft) with 15 ft rolls. The calculator compares both directions: two strips running the 40 ft way need 2 × 15 × 40.5 = 1,215 sq ft, while three strips running the 25 ft way need 3 × 15 × 25.5 = 1,147.5 sq ft. It picks the smaller order, which has two 25 ft seams (50 ft of seam tape) and about 148 sq ft of cut-off. Some installers prefer fewer seams even if it costs a little more turf; ask which layout your quote uses. At 2 lb of infill per sq ft that’s 2,000 lb, or 40 bags, and a 3 in base is 9.26 cubic yards.
| Line | Quantity | Made-up price | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turf | 1,147.5 sq ft | T per sq ft | 1,147.5 × T |
| Infill | 40 bags | I per bag | 40 × I |
| Base | 9.26 cu yd | B per cu yd | 9.26 × B |
| Labor | 1,000 sq ft | L per sq ft | 1,000 × L |
If T were $3, I $10, B $50 and L $4 (round numbers only to show the math), the total would be 3,442.50 + 400 + 462.96 + 4,000 = $8,305.46, or about $8.31 per sq ft of finished area. Notice the turf line is charged on 1,147.5 sq ft, not 1,000. Replace every number with your quotes.
What makes turf cost more or less
- Product. Pile height, density, backing, blade shape, and features such as pet drainage or cooling all move the price per square foot.
- Shape of the area. Curves, beds, trees and narrow strips mean more cutting, more seams and more cut-off.
- Width versus roll width. An area that matches the roll width (15 or 30 ft wide, for 15 ft rolls) wastes little; one that’s a few feet wider than a roll wastes a lot. Check both directions in the artificial turf calculator.
- Site work. Removing a lawn, digging out clay, fixing drainage and hauling soil away.
- Access. Rolls of turf are long and heavy. A backyard reached only through a narrow gate takes more labor.
- Region. Labor and material prices vary a lot from place to place.
Turf or real grass?
| Artificial turf | Sod | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front work | Excavation, compacted base, seaming, infill | Soil prep, laying, rolling |
| Ordered by | Whole strips off a fixed-width roll | Square feet, pieces and pallets |
| Ongoing | Brushing, rinsing, topping up infill | Water, mowing, fertilizer |
| Lifespan | Years, then replacement | Indefinite with care |
To price the sod option for the same area, use the sod installation cost calculator.
Getting good quotes
- Measure the area yourself first so you can check the contractor’s square footage.
- Ask for the turf product name and specs, the roll width and the square feet ordered as well as covered.
- Ask what base depth and material they use, and whether removal and disposal are included.
- Ask about warranty on both the product and the installation.
- Compare totals per square foot of finished area.
This page doesn't give price estimates. Enter prices from your own quotes; the example uses placeholder numbers only to show the math.
Questions people ask
- How much does artificial turf cost to install?
- It depends on the turf product, the size and shape of the area, how much digging and base work the site needs, and local labor rates. Get itemized quotes and use the calculator to compare them on cost per square foot of finished area.
- Why is the turf I'm paying for bigger than my yard?
- Turf comes in fixed roll widths, usually 15 ft. If your yard isn't a multiple of the roll width, part of the last strip is cut away, and every strip needs a little extra length for trimming. You pay for the whole strip.
- What is the most expensive part of artificial turf?
- Often the turf itself and the labor, but on sites that need a lot of excavation, base material, drainage or edging, the groundwork can be a large share. Itemized quotes show where the money goes.
- Is artificial turf cheaper than sod?
- Usually not up front: turf needs a dug-out compacted base and specialty labor, while sod goes onto prepared soil. Turf owners save on water, mowing and fertilizer over time, so compare the costs over the years you expect to keep it.
- Why don't you give a price per square foot?
- Turf and installation prices change too much by product, region and site to give a fair national number. A local quote run through the calculator tells you far more.