How Much Does Landscaping Cost? (2023)

Landscaping your yard can boost your home’s curb appeal and increase its overall value. Plus, beautiful landscaping is a wonderful mood-booster. Landscaping costs differ based on the size and scope of the job. Prices for smaller jobs, like basic lawn care, can be as low as $50, while more labor-tensive jobs requiring complex landscape design work can cost up to $7,000. The average landscaping cost is about $700.

Landscaping Cost Per Square Foot

Landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot, on average, for basic and intermediate services. A full makeover including landscaping design and remodeling can cost up to $40 per square foot.

Basic and intermediate services may include planting grass or flowers, lawn care and thatching. Remodeling involves a complete exterior design along with demolition and regrading the area.

Landscaping Cost Per Hour

Labor makes up about 80% of the total landscaping cost. Landscapers charge between $50 and $100 per hour for a crew of two. As the manpower required increases, so will the cost. Additional crew members will cost $25 to $50 per hour extra.

Landscape designers are more advanced than typical landscapers, often charging at least $200 an hour to plan and design your yard. While you won’t need to work with a designer for routine landscaping work, you will need to hire one if you’re looking to install something unique from scratch.

Get at least three quotes from different landscapers before starting work to find one that works with your budget.

Landscaping Cost Per Project

Landscaping costs start at $50 for small projects and can reach upwards of $7,000 for complex tasks. Popular landscaping projects include lawn seeding, landscape curbing, lawn mowing, tree trimming and lawn grading.

The final cost will ultimately depend on the size of your property.

Material Costs

Some landscaping materials cost more than others. Landscape gravel, for example, typically costs more per square foot than turf. Some materials are more difficult to source or require more labor to install, which makes them more expensive. If you’re landscaping on a budget, this list of common landscaping materials will help you determine which materials will work best for you.

Landscaping Rocks

Rock is a very common landscaping material. The average cost of landscaping rocks is between $3 and $6 per square foot, but the cost will ultimately depend on the type of rock used.

Landscaping Cost by Type

There are three main types of landscaping: hardscaping, softscaping and xeriscaping. Softscaping refers to the plant elements of a landscape and often involves flowers, shrubs and trees that require services like weed management, planting and mowing. Xeriscaping is a landscaping process that works to conserve water and eliminate the need for irrigation, while hardscaping involves non-plant materials (paths, decks, retaining walls, etc.).

Many homeowners incorporate all of these types into their overall landscaping. Each type differs in cost, but ranges from $900 to $30,000.

Landscaping Maintenance

Most landscaping you have done will require regular upkeep. Monthly landscape maintenance costs range from $50 to $300 based on the size of your yard and the work required. Routine lawn care services (mowing, fertilization and weed control) done by a professional landscaper will cost a homeowner $150 per month on average.

You may be able to hire a handyman or independent contractor to do some of this work, but a professional landscaping company will be the most experienced and accommodating. Remember to get multiple quotes before settling on a company you like.