Garden landscaping costs are one of the hardest things to get a straight answer on. Every garden is different, quotes vary wildly, and most landscapers will not give you a price until they have visited the site. This guide cuts through the vagueness and gives you real numbers to plan against before you pick up the phone.
Whether you want a new patio, a full garden redesign, or just someone to sort out your overgrown borders, the prices below will tell you what you should reasonably expect to pay.
A basic garden tidy with lawn and planting costs £3,000 to £6,000. A mid range redesign with paving and decking runs £6,000 to £15,000. A premium full garden design and build costs £15,000 to £50,000+.
Garden Landscaping Costs at a Glance
| Budget Level | Total Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £3,000 to £6,000 | Clearing and tidying, new turf or seeded lawn, border planting, basic fencing |
| Mid Range | £6,000 to £15,000 | Patio or decking, structured planting, new lawn, raised beds, garden furniture area |
| Premium | £15,000 to £50,000+ | Full redesign, bespoke structures, water features, outdoor lighting, premium materials throughout |
Individual Project Costs
Most garden landscaping projects combine several elements. Here is what each component costs on its own, so you can build a realistic budget for exactly what you want.
Patios and Hard Landscaping
| Material | Supply and Fit per m² | Typical Cost (30m² patio) |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete paving slabs | £50 to £80 | £1,500 to £2,400 |
| Porcelain tiles | £80 to £130 | £2,400 to £3,900 |
| Indian sandstone | £90 to £150 | £2,700 to £4,500 |
| Granite or slate | £120 to £200 | £3,600 to £6,000 |
| Block paving | £70 to £120 | £2,100 to £3,600 |
Porcelain has become the most popular choice for UK patios. It is durable, frost resistant, and very easy to clean. Indian sandstone costs less but needs sealing every two to three years to prevent staining. Concrete slabs are the budget choice but look considerably cheaper.
Decking
| Type | Supply and Fit per m² | Typical Cost (20m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure treated softwood | £60 to £100 | £1,200 to £2,000 |
| Hardwood (Ipe, Balau) | £120 to £200 | £2,400 to £4,000 |
| Composite | £150 to £250 | £3,000 to £5,000 |
Composite decking costs more upfront but requires no maintenance and lasts 25 to 30 years. Softwood decking needs treating with oil or stain every year and replacing every 10 to 15 years. Over 20 years, composite often works out cheaper in total cost.
Lawn Installation
| Method | Cost per m² | Typical Cost (50m² lawn) |
|---|---|---|
| Seeded lawn (seed only) | £3 to £6 | £150 to £300 |
| Seeded lawn (full preparation and seed) | £10 to £20 | £500 to £1,000 |
| Turf (supply and lay) | £15 to £25 | £750 to £1,250 |
| Artificial grass (supply and fit) | £40 to £80 | £2,000 to £4,000 |
Turf gives you an instant lawn. Seed is much cheaper but takes 6 to 8 weeks to establish and needs careful watering. Artificial grass is increasingly popular for families with children or those who want zero maintenance, but splits opinion on how it looks.
Planting and Borders
| Element | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Clearing and preparing beds (labour only) | £200 to £600 |
| Basic planting scheme (shrubs and perennials) | £500 to £1,500 |
| Mid range planting with specimen plants | £1,500 to £4,000 |
| Mature specimen trees (each) | £200 to £1,500+ |
| Raised vegetable beds (timber, per bed) | £200 to £500 |
Fencing and Walls
| Type | Cost per linear metre (supply and fit) |
|---|---|
| Feather edge timber fence panels | £80 to £150 |
| Composite or hardwood fence | £150 to £300 |
| Brick garden wall (low, 1m high) | £200 to £350 |
| Rendered block wall | £180 to £300 |
| Trellis or screen | £50 to £150 |
Other Elements
| Feature | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Garden room or summerhouse (base included) | £5,000 to £25,000 |
| Pergola (timber, supply and fit) | £2,000 to £6,000 |
| Garden lighting (low voltage LED circuit) | £800 to £2,500 |
| Water feature or pond | £500 to £5,000+ |
| Drainage improvements (French drain) | £1,000 to £3,000 |
| Skip hire (clearing old material) | £200 to £400 |
| Garden design fees (professional) | £500 to £2,500 |
Regional Price Variations
Garden landscaping costs vary across the UK, driven primarily by labour rates. Materials cost roughly the same everywhere; it is the day rates that shift the total.
| Region | Mid Range Redesign (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| London | £10,000 to £20,000 |
| South East | £8,000 to £16,000 |
| South West | £7,000 to £14,000 |
| Midlands | £6,000 to £13,000 |
| North of England | £5,500 to £11,000 |
| Scotland and Wales | £5,000 to £10,000 |
Landscapers in London charge £250 to £500 per day per worker. The same crew in Yorkshire or Scotland charges £180 to £300 per day. A three person team on a five day project costs £3,750 to £7,500 in London versus £2,700 to £4,500 in the North. That gap adds up fast on larger jobs.
What Affects the Price?
- Garden size. The single biggest driver. A 40 square metre courtyard costs far less than a 200 square metre back garden. Many landscapers price by area for hard landscaping (per square metre) and by day for soft landscaping and planting.
- Access. If machinery cannot reach the garden (terraced house with no side gate, narrow passage, basement flat with stairs), everything costs more. Transporting materials by hand through a narrow passage can double the labour cost of a hard landscaping project.
- Levels and slopes. A flat garden is cheaper to landscape. Significant slopes require retaining walls, steps, and terracing, which adds £2,000 to £10,000 to a project. Drainage also becomes more complex on sloped sites.
- Material quality. The difference between concrete paving slabs and premium porcelain over a 50 square metre area is £2,000 to £5,000. Choosing materials is the easiest place to control cost without compromising the design.
- Clearance and demolition. An overgrown garden with mature trees, roots, or an old concrete base adds cost before the new work even starts. Large tree removal costs £500 to £1,500 per tree depending on size.
- Your location. As above — labour rates vary significantly across the UK.
- Time of year. Landscapers are busiest from April to September. You may get better availability and slightly lower prices for work in October to March, though some planting is better done in the growing season.
How Long Does Garden Landscaping Take?
A basic garden refresh — clearing, turf, and border planting — takes 3 to 5 days for a small garden and 5 to 10 days for a larger one. A mid range project adding paving, decking, and structured planting typically takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on garden size and complexity.
A full garden design and build with drainage work, structures, water features, and lighting can take 4 to 8 weeks. Your landscaper will give you a clearer timeline once they have assessed the site and drawn up the specification.
Weather is the main variable. Paving work should not be done in frost or heavy rain. If your project starts in autumn or winter, expect some delays.
Does Landscaping Add Value to Your Home?
Yes, but not always in direct proportion to what you spend. Estate agents consistently say that a well presented garden adds 5% to 10% to a property's value, with the biggest gains coming from defined outdoor living space (a patio with room for a table and chairs), low maintenance planting, and good kerb appeal at the front.
For a house valued at £300,000, a garden that presents well could add £15,000 to £30,000 at sale. A garden that looks neglected or high maintenance has the opposite effect — buyers discount it.
The sweet spot for return on investment is generally a mid range project at £6,000 to £12,000: paving or decking, a tidy lawn, defined beds with low maintenance planting, and decent fencing. Premium features like water features, outdoor kitchens, and bespoke structures rarely return their full cost in added value, but they improve your enjoyment of the space in the meantime.
Do You Need Planning Permission?
Most domestic garden landscaping does not require planning permission. However, there are situations where you will need to check with your local authority first:
- Walls or fences over 2 metres in height (or over 1 metre if adjacent to a highway)
- New outbuildings or structures over 2.5 metres at their highest point
- Hard standing in the front garden over 5 square metres using impermeable materials (permeable paving or directing water to a soakaway does not require permission)
- Works near or affecting a listed building or in a conservation area
If you live in a new build estate, your permitted development rights may have been removed by a planning condition. Check the title deeds or ask your local planning authority before committing to work that might need permission retrospectively.
How to Save Money on Garden Landscaping
- Get three quotes. Landscaping prices vary more than almost any other trade. Getting three quotes for the same specification is the single most effective way to avoid overpaying. Describe exactly what you want, not what materials to use, and see what each contractor proposes.
- Phase the work. Do the hard landscaping first (paving, decking, walls) and spread the planting and soft landscaping over the following year. Plants bought in autumn and spring are cheaper and establish better than summer planting.
- Choose materials carefully. Porcelain is the best value mid range paving. Indian sandstone looks great when new but stains more easily. Premium granite and slate look excellent but cost 40% to 80% more than porcelain for comparable results.
- Buy direct from a builders merchant. Trade suppliers like Travis Perkins, Jewson, and local independent builders merchants sell paving, blocks, and aggregates at trade prices. Some landscapers will allow you to supply materials yourself, saving the contractor markup.
- Grow your own plants. Trees, shrubs, and perennials grown from seed or bought as young plants cost a fraction of mature specimens. A garden planted in young stock will look established within two to three years.
- DIY what you can. Painting fences, laying bark or gravel in borders, and planting beds are all achievable without a professional. Focus your budget on the hard landscaping and structural planting where a professional makes the biggest difference.
Red Flags When Getting Quotes
- No written quote. Any landscaper unwilling to give you a detailed written quote with a line by line breakdown is a red flag. Verbal quotes are unenforceable and leave you exposed to additional charges later.
- Full payment upfront. A deposit of 25% to 33% is standard to cover materials. Paying more than 50% before work starts puts you at risk if the contractor disappears or the work is substandard.
- Very low quotes with no explanation. If one quote is 40% below the other two, ask why. It usually means substandard materials, rushed preparation work, or a contractor who has priced incorrectly and will either cut corners or ask for more money midway through.
- No public liability insurance. A professional landscaper should have at least £1 million public liability insurance. Ask to see the certificate before work starts. If they damage your property and have no insurance, you have no recourse.
- No reviews or references. Look for Google reviews or ask for references from recent jobs. A landscaper who cannot produce two or three recent satisfied clients should be treated with caution.
A mid range garden landscaping project with paving, decking, a new lawn, and decent planting costs £6,000 to £15,000 for most UK gardens. Get at least three written quotes, phase the work if budget is tight, choose materials smartly, and put the money where it shows most: the patio and the lawn. Everything else you can improve over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does garden landscaping cost in the UK in 2026?
Garden landscaping costs range from £3,000 to £6,000 for a basic tidy up with a new lawn and border planting, £6,000 to £15,000 for a mid range redesign with paving, decking, and structured planting, and £15,000 to £50,000 or more for a full premium garden design and build.
How much does a patio cost in the UK?
A concrete paving slab patio costs £1,500 to £2,400 for a 30 square metre area. Porcelain costs £2,400 to £3,900 for the same area. Indian sandstone costs £2,700 to £4,500. Premium granite or slate costs £3,600 to £6,000 or more.
How much does decking cost in the UK?
Pressure treated timber decking costs £1,200 to £2,000 for a small deck up to 20 square metres. Hardwood decking costs £2,400 to £4,000 for the same area. Composite decking costs £3,000 to £5,000 but is maintenance free and lasts 25 to 30 years.
Does garden landscaping add value to a house?
A well designed garden can add up to 5% to 10% to a home's value according to estate agents. The biggest return comes from defined outdoor seating areas, low maintenance planting, and good presentation at the front. On a £300,000 home, a well presented garden could add £15,000 to £30,000 at sale.
Do I need planning permission for garden landscaping?
Most garden landscaping does not require planning permission. You need permission for walls or fences over 2 metres, impermeable hard standing over 5 square metres in the front garden, and structures over 2.5 metres. Check with your local authority if you are in a conservation area or on a new build estate where permitted development rights may have been removed.
How long does garden landscaping take?
A basic garden refresh takes 3 to 10 days. A mid range project with paving, decking, and planting takes 1 to 3 weeks. A full garden design and build can take 4 to 8 weeks. Weather delays are common, particularly in winter months.
How much does a garden designer charge?
A garden designer charges £50 to £150 per hour. A full design package costs £500 to £2,500 depending on garden size and the designer's experience. Some landscaping companies include a design service in their project quote.
How much does artificial grass cost in the UK?
Artificial grass costs £40 to £80 per square metre supply and fit. A 50 square metre lawn would cost £2,000 to £4,000. This is more expensive than turf upfront but eliminates mowing, watering, and lawn treatment costs for 15 to 20 years.