What you'll need
- Lawn area length and width (feet)
- Turf grade preference
- Pile / blade height preference
What you'll get
- Total installation cost — Turf, infill, labor, and sub-base combined
- Cost per square foot — Compare across turf grades
- 10-year lawn savings — Vs. ongoing natural-lawn maintenance
Artificial Turf & Grass Installation Cost Overview
Artificial turf and grass installation costs $8–$22 per square foot fully installed. A 500 sq ft backyard runs $4,000–$11,000. A 1,000 sq ft project typically costs $8,000–$22,000 all-in.
Sub-base preparation is strongly recommended — it provides drainage and prevents sinking. Together with labor it accounts for roughly 50–60% of project cost, so it is not a line item to cut: it is the foundation of a long-lasting installation.
Most homeowners in dry climates recoup the installation cost within 5–10 years through water and maintenance savings alone.
Artificial Turf Installation Cost
"Artificial turf" and "artificial grass" describe the same product — synthetic fibers over a compacted base — and the cost is identical: $8–$22 per square foot installed, from basic turf ($8–$12/sq ft) to premium pet and putting turf ($15–$22/sq ft). "Turf" is more common for sports, putting-green, and pet-area installs; "grass" is more common for residential lawns — but contractors quote both from the same per-square-foot pricing.
If you're turfing a yard that also needs a boundary, compare with the Fence Installation Calculator — turf and fencing are commonly bid together in the same backyard project. Still deciding between turf and a natural lawn? The Lawn Care Cost Calculator shows what ongoing mowing, fertilizing, and irrigation cost over the same 10-year window used above.
Artificial Grass Installation Cost
| Grade | Face Weight | Material/Sq Ft | Installed/Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 40–55 oz | $2.00–$3.50 | $8.00–$12.00 |
| Mid-range | 60–75 oz | $3.50–$5.50 | $12.00–$18.00 |
| Premium | 80–100 oz | $5.50–$9.00 | $18.00–$22.00 |
Base prep (excavation, gravel) adds $2–$4/sq ft. Infill adds $0.50–$1.50/sq ft.
Cost drivers — and why the base matters most
Labor and base prep are 50–60% of the project — the turf roll is only part of the cost. A properly compacted 3–4" aggregate base is what keeps the lawn flat, draining, and wrinkle-free for 15+ years. A cheap install that skimps on the base is the #1 reason turf fails early.
- Turf quality: face weight, pile height, and blade shape drive the per-sq-ft price.
- Access & shape: small, cut-up, or hard-to-reach yards cost more per sq ft.
- Use case: pet and putting-green turf carry premiums.
Does it pay off? Maintenance & savings
Artificial grass costs more upfront but eliminates mowing, watering, fertilizing, and reseeding. In a dry climate the water and lawn-care savings often recoup the cost in about 7–10 years, and quality turf lasts 15–25 years. Maintenance drops to occasional rinsing, brushing high-traffic lanes, and topping up infill.
Questions to ask — red flags & warranty
- How deep is the base, and how is it compacted and graded for drainage?
- What's the turf face weight and pile height, and is it UV-stabilized?
- Is pet-grade infill and a weed barrier included? (A thin base or no infill is a red flag.)
Warranty: quality turf carries an 8–15 year manufacturer warranty against UV fade and defects; ask separately about the installer's workmanship warranty on the base and seams.
A 500 sq ft mid-range installation with a sub-base and weed barrier runs $4,900–$8,800 on this calculator, or $9.80–$17.60 per sq ft — turf is only one of seven priced lines, and the sub-base alone can cost more than the turf itself. Grade is the input that moves price the most: premium pet or putting turf runs $15–$22 per sq ft against $8–$12 for budget turf, before any of the site-prep add-ons.
How this calculator prices a turf install
Seven lines make up the total: turf, infill, labor, and four optional site-prep items — sub-base, weed barrier, shock pad, and perimeter edging. All seven scale off the same square footage except edging, which scales off perimeter instead.
Turf, infill, and labor alone — without any site-prep add-ons — come to $3,250–$5,500 on the same 500 sq ft, or $6.50–$11.00 per sq ft. The sub-base and weed barrier together add $1,650–$3,300 on top, meaning site prep can account for a third or more of the finished price. A quote that skips sub-base compaction isn't cutting a cosmetic corner — it's the layer that keeps turf from puddling and shifting.
The payback math, and its limits
The calculator estimates annual savings at $0.15 per sq ft of turf — $75 a year on the 500 sq ft example above, $750 over ten years. That's a maintenance-and-water offset only; it doesn't include the installation cost in the comparison, so it isn't a payback period by itself. Set the $4,900–$8,800 install cost against $750 in ten-year savings and the honest read is that artificial grass here is a durability and time trade, not a cost-recovery investment for most lot sizes this calculator covers.
Angi and HomeGuide both put fully installed artificial grass in the same $8–$22 per sq ft band this calculator's dataset uses, with labor and base prep making up 50–60% of a typical project — consistent with the site-prep share shown above.
Methodology
All dollar figures are computed directly from this calculator's own per-sq-ft rates for turf grade, pile height, infill, labor, and each site-prep add-on, plus its perimeter-based edging rate — no figure here is estimated or interpolated beyond that arithmetic. Cost-range context is this page's own cost dataset (Angi, HomeGuide), retrieved July 2026.
Sources
- Angi — Artificial Grass Installation Cost (2026) — accessed 2026-07-13
- HomeGuide — Artificial Grass Cost (2026) — accessed 2026-07-13
What's included — and what's extra
Usually included
- Turf material & delivery
- Excavation of old grass/soil
- Compacted aggregate base
- Infill (sand/rubber) & brushing
- Seaming, nailing, and edging
Often extra
- Old-lawn/concrete removal & haul-away
- Drainage upgrades on wet sites
- Weed barrier & pet-grade infill (odor control)
- Bender board / borders & custom cuts
- Putting-green turf & padding
Methodology & sources
The cost figures on this page are generated from a single, sourced cost-data file (Per sq ft fully installed (turf, base prep, labor). National average estimate for 2026.). Labor and base prep are 50–60% of the project. A typical 200 sq ft install runs about $1,600–$4,400 at the headline rate; custom cuts and premium turf push toward the top of the band. Last verified July 2026.
- Angi — Artificial Grass Installation Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
- HomeGuide — Artificial Grass Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
About this calculator
How much does artificial grass installation cost?
Artificial grass installation costs $8–$22 per square foot fully installed — that figure covers the turf, sub-base preparation, and labor together. Basic turf runs $8–$12/sq ft, mid-grade landscape turf $11–$16/sq ft, and premium pet or putting turf $15–$22/sq ft. Labor and base preparation account for roughly 50–60% of the project. A 500 sq ft project typically costs $4,000–$11,000 fully installed.
How long does artificial grass last?
Quality artificial grass lasts 15–25 years. Budget turf (under 40 oz face weight) lasts 8–12 years. Mid-range (40–60 oz) lasts 15–20 years. Premium (60+ oz) lasts 20–25 years. UV-stabilized fibers resist fading. Proper base preparation is the single biggest factor in long-term performance. Infill may need topping up every 3–5 years.
Is artificial grass worth the cost?
For most homeowners, yes — especially in drought-prone climates or homes with pets and kids. Artificial grass eliminates mowing, watering, fertilizing, and reseeding. Annual savings of $1,000–$3,000+ on water and maintenance are common in dry climates. Most homeowners recoup the installation cost within 5–10 years. It also eliminates the time cost of lawn maintenance.
Is artificial grass good for pets?
Yes — pet-grade artificial grass is designed for dogs and cats. It features antimicrobial infill to control odors, enhanced drainage holes, and durable fibers resistant to digging. Pet-grade turf falls in the premium band at $15–$22/sq ft installed. Solid waste is removed and the area rinsed. Enzymatic cleaners further control odors. Most pet owners find artificial grass far superior to natural lawn for pet households.
What is the difference between artificial turf and artificial grass?
None in terms of the product — 'artificial turf' and 'artificial grass' both describe synthetic fibers installed over a compacted base, and both are priced the same: $8–$22 per square foot installed. 'Turf' is the more common term for sports fields, putting greens, and pet-play areas; 'grass' is more common for residential lawns. Contractors quote both from the same per-square-foot pricing.
How much does artificial turf installation cost?
Artificial turf installation costs $8–$22 per square foot fully installed, the same range as artificial grass. Basic turf runs $8–$12/sq ft, mid-grade landscape turf $11–$16/sq ft, and premium pet or putting turf $15–$22/sq ft. A 500 sq ft turf project typically costs $4,000–$11,000 all-in, including sub-base preparation, infill, and labor.