How much does artificial grass cost installed in 2026?
Per-square-metre rates by region, common job prices, what drives the cost, and how to write an artificial grass quote that wins.
The short answer
Artificial grass installers typically charge $45 to $90 per hour
$80 to $220 per square metre installed. Here is what tradies actually charge in 2026 and how the price gets built.
Artificial grass installers typically quote per square metre. Standard residential artificial grass runs $80 to $130 per sqm installed. Premium pet-friendly or sport-grade runs $130 to $180 per sqm. Putting greens with custom undulation run $180 to $220 per sqm. A standard 60sqm backyard lawn runs $4,800 to $7,800. Larger jobs (200sqm+) get scale discounts. Pricing depends on grass quality (pile height, density, UV resistance), base preparation depth, infill type (sand or rubber), drainage, and removal of existing turf.
Hourly rates
Artificial grass installers hourly rates by region (2026)
Standard daytime rates across the major markets. Metro areas typically command a 20-30% premium. After-hours work is 1.5x to 2x.
United States
Notes
Premium sport-grade installers at the top
United Kingdom
Notes
STEC approved installers at the higher end
Australia
Notes
Premium pet-friendly and sport specialists at the top
South Africa
Notes
Specialist firms with imported grass above this
Canada
Notes
Toronto, Vancouver at the top
New Zealand
Notes
Auckland and Wellington at the top
Ireland
Notes
Dublin commands a premium
India
Notes
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore at the top
Job pricing
Common artificial grass installer jobs and what they cost
Real-world price ranges for the jobs tradies quote every week. Includes labour, parts, and standard call-out.
Site visit and quote
What's included
Most installers quote free. Detailed measurements with drainage assessments may be charged.
Standard residential grass (per sqm)
What's included
Includes 30-40mm pile turf, edge restraint, sand infill, base prep, and labour.
Pet-friendly grass (per sqm)
What's included
Includes anti-microbial backing, drainage substrate, deodorising infill, and labour.
Sport-grade or putting green (per sqm)
What's included
Includes shorter pile (15-25mm), reinforced backing, undulation, contoured base, and labour.
Balcony / rooftop grass (per sqm)
What's included
Includes underlay, edge sealing, drainage, and labour. Premium for waterproof membrane integration.
Existing turf removal (per sqm)
What's included
Includes excavation of existing grass and 50-100mm of soil. Disposal to landfill extra.
Base preparation (per sqm)
What's included
Includes 75-100mm crushed rock sub-base, compacted, levelled. Critical for longevity.
Infill top-up (per sqm)
What's included
After 2-3 years, infill compacts and needs topping up. Refresher service. Pet households may need annual.
Full 60sqm backyard lawn install
What's included
Includes removal, base, grass, infill, edging. Standard 30-40mm pile, sand infill. 2-3 day install.
What drives the price
Six things that change the price of a job
The same job can cost 2x more or less depending on these factors. Knowing them helps customers spot fair quotes and helps tradies justify their own.
Pile height and density
Standard 30-40mm pile for residential. Shorter 15-25mm for sport/putting. Higher density (12,500+ stitches/sqm) costs more but looks fuller. State pile height and density on the quote.
Backing and reinforcement
Standard PU backing is fine for residential. Pet-friendly uses anti-microbial backing. Sport-grade uses reinforced backing with seam tape. State the backing on the quote.
Base preparation
75-100mm crushed-rock sub-base is essential for drainage and a flat finish. Cheap quotes skip base prep; the grass sinks and pools water within 1-2 years. State base depth on the quote.
Infill type
Silica sand (standard, $8/sqm). Rubber granules for sport surfaces ($15/sqm). Anti-microbial zeolite for pet households ($20/sqm). State infill type on the quote.
Drainage
Most artificial grass drains through perforated backing. Heavy-rain or pet-urine areas need additional drainage gravel layer or French drains. Quote drainage approach explicitly.
Edge restraint
Edge restraint stops the grass from spreading at the perimeter. Standard treated pine ($12/m). Concrete kerb ($25-45/m). State edge type on the quote.
How to quote it
How artificial grass installers should price their work
Tips for tradies on writing quotes that win the job and protect the margin.
Quote per sqm with brand and pile
'Polypropylene 40mm pile, customer-choice colour, 5-year warranty, sand infill' beats 'artificial grass'. Customers can verify what they're getting.
Show base prep detail
'75mm crushed rock sub-base, compacted, levelled to 5mm tolerance' is what makes the lawn last. Cheap quotes skip this; making it explicit highlights your standard.
Itemise removal of existing turf
Customers comparing quotes often miss this. Stating it explicitly ($25/sqm) protects you and helps customers compare fairly.
Take a 30% deposit
Grass is ordered to job size. 30% covers material. Stage payments cover base prep, lay, finish milestones.
Offer annual infill top-up plan
$8-18/sqm annual top-up. Annual contract at $300-450 for typical lawn locks customer for ongoing maintenance. Locks recurring revenue.
Send before/during/after photos
Customers paying $5,000 for a lawn replacement need to see the work. Before (old grass), during (base prep), after (new lawn). Triples referrals.
Watch out for
Pricing red flags to watch for
The patterns that usually signal a problem on the quote, with what to do about each one.
No base prep included
What to do: Walk away. Without 75-100mm of compacted crushed rock, the grass sinks, pools water, and looks lumpy within 1-2 years. Insist on base prep as a line item with depth specified.
Generic 'artificial grass'
What to do: Insist on brand, pile height, density, and UV warranty. Different products have very different quality and lifespan. Without spec, the installer uses the cheapest.
Cash-only with no invoice
What to do: Walk away. Without an invoice you have no warranty, no insurance claim path, and no record for resale. Artificial grass should carry 5-10 year warranties.
No drainage assessment
What to do: Cheap quotes assume the existing site drains adequately. Heavy rain or pet urine without proper drainage means standing water and bad odors. Insist on drainage assessment.
Verbal quote on a $2,000+ job
What to do: Always written. Artificial grass has too many variables (pile, density, infill, base, drainage) for verbal.
Pressure to use 'old stock' grass
What to do: Old grass may have UV degradation, faded colour, or substandard backing. Insist on new-stock grass with manufacturer label visible at delivery.
Sample quote
A real example: line-by-line
Backyard artificial grass install, 60sqm, 40mm pile, premium with pet drainage
Removal of existing lawn (60sqm) + 80mm of soil, disposal to green-waste
100mm crushed-rock sub-base, compacted in 50mm lifts, levelled
Pet-friendly grass 40mm pile, polypropylene, UV stabilised (60sqm + 10% waste)
Concrete kerb edge restraint (32m perimeter)
Zeolite infill (anti-microbial, pet-friendly)
Installation labour (3 days, 2-person team)
Manufacturer warranty (10 years UV + product) + installer (5 years)
FAQ
Artificial grass installers pricing questions, answered
Everything customers and tradies ask about artificial grass installer pricing.
Per-sqm installed: $80-130 standard, $110-160 pet-friendly, $140-220 sport-grade. UK: £55-160/sqm. Australia: A$90-220/sqm. South Africa: R350-950/sqm. Larger jobs (200sqm+) get scale discounts of 10-20%.
Quality artificial grass with proper base prep lasts 15-25 years. Sport-grade can last 25-30 years. UV degradation is the main failure mode; premium UV-stabilised products carry 10-year UV warranties.
Yes, 2-3 quotes for any install over $2,000. Compare grass brand and pile height, base prep depth, infill type, edge restraint, and warranty. Cheapest often skips base prep or uses cheaper backing.
Yes if you have pets. Anti-microbial backing prevents urine smell build-up; the infill (zeolite or special sand) neutralises ammonia. Standard residential grass with pet use smells within 6-12 months.
Brush every 2-3 months to lift pile fibres. Rinse with water occasionally to refresh infill. Hose down pet zones after use. Infill top-up every 2-3 years ($300-450 for typical lawn). Otherwise zero maintenance compared to real grass.
30% deposit on signing for grass order. 30% on base prep complete. 30% on grass laid. 10% on completion (infill, edging, snag list). Anyone asking for full payment upfront is a risk.
Most quality artificial grass drains through its perforated backing. Heavy-rain areas and pet-use areas need additional sub-base drainage. A proper installer assesses drainage at quote time and includes it in the scope if needed.
Standard 50-80sqm backyard: 2-3 days for a 2-person team. Larger lawns (200sqm+): 4-5 days. Putting greens or sport surfaces with contours: 3-5 days. Allow extra time for site prep and existing turf removal.
Get the grass brand, pile height, density (stitches/sqm), backing type, base depth, infill type, edge restraint, and warranty length upfront in writing. Pay via banking app. Verbal cash deals are where 'cheap' lawn installs become $15,000 replace-the-whole-thing jobs after 2 years.
Yes, modern artificial grass installers send quotes via WhatsApp as a PDF with site photos and material samples. Faster acceptance, mobile-friendly review, and the message thread doubles as a written record. Tools like QuoteGenio build the PDF on the installer's phone.
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