Landscaper pricing in Chicago
What landscapers charge in Chicago (typically $50-$100/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
No credit card required
Chicago landscaper pricing
What landscapers should charge in Chicago
Chicago landscape work is dominated by Chicago-area native and prairie restoration plantings, lakeshore parkway maintenance, North Shore estate gardens, alleyway-access urban backyards, and snow removal subsidiary. ILCA (Illinois Landscape Contractors Association) certification is the trust signal. Chicago city ordinances mandate stormwater management on certain renovations; permeable pavers + native plantings qualify for credits. Snow removal extends to 8-month main season + 4-month winter snow.
Hourly rate
$50-$100
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
$35-$75
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common landscaper jobs in Chicago
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in USD.
Site visit and consultation
What's included
Most established landscapers consult free for jobs over $3,000. Concept design with drawings is usually charged.
Lawn install (per square metre)
What's included
Includes site prep, irrigation drop-in (optional), soil top-up, and instant lawn rolls. Seed-establish is cheaper but slower.
Paving (per square metre)
What's included
Includes excavation, sub-base, sand bed, pavers, and edging. Natural stone, porcelain, and patterned laying cost more.
Retaining wall (per linear metre)
What's included
Depends on height and material (block, gabion, sleeper). Excavation, drainage, and engineering for >1.2m walls extra.
Garden bed preparation (per sqm)
What's included
Includes excavation, compost, mulch. Excludes plants. Edging adds $20-40/linear metre.
Tree planting (advanced 100L+)
What's included
Includes tree, planting hole, stake, mulch, and 30-min watering setup. 500L specimen trees run higher.
Irrigation install (per zone)
What's included
Includes mainline, valve, drippers or rotators, controller wiring. Pump and tank install extra.
Garden maintenance (weekly visit)
What's included
Includes mow, edge, weed, blow. 1-hour visit. Pruning and fertilising on a separate schedule.
Full backyard redesign (medium plot)
What's included
Hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting. 3-6 week duration. Plant stock 25-40% of cost.
Chicago quote factors
What to factor into your Chicago landscaper quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a landscaper in Chicago. Humid continental. Cold snowy winters (December-March, polar-vortex events to -20°F+), hot humid summers (July-August often above 90°F), heavy snow (35-45"/year). Lake-effect snow common on lakeshore. Freeze-thaw cycles (60-80/year) drive concrete, masonry, and roofing deterioration. Polar-vortex frozen pipes and ice dams drive winter emergency demand.
Native and prairie restoration specification
Chicago-area native and prairie restoration (native asters, milkweed, prairie dropseed, big bluestem, switchgrass, oak, ironwood, dogwood, serviceberry) drives premium designer work and qualifies for Chicago stormwater credits. Quote native-only packages at $25-$80/sqft installed. Chicago Wilderness Alliance partnership + Chicago Botanic Garden certifications differentiate at premium tier.
Lakeshore and North Shore designer tier
Streeterville, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North, West Loop, North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Lake Forest) customers expect designer gardens. Quote design fee 12-20% of project cost ($15,000-$85,000+ for full project). Lakeshore parkway maintenance (mandatory by city) on top.
Chicago stormwater management ordinance
Chicago city ordinances mandate stormwater management on most renovations and new construction. Permeable pavers, rain gardens, native plantings qualify for credits. Quote stormwater management design (rain gardens $5,000-$25,000, permeable paver pathways $15-$40/sqft, native plantings $25-$80/sqft) as separate line. MWRD coordination for larger projects.
Snow removal subsidiary
Chicago landscapers typically extend to snow removal (8-month main season April-November + 4-month snow December-March). Quote snow removal subscription ($500-$2,500/season residential, $5,000-$50,000+ commercial) as recurring revenue. Same crew, same trucks, year-round work. State per-event vs flat-rate vs hybrid pricing on every contract.
Alleyway-access urban backyards
Chicago two-flat, three-flat, and bungalow housing often has alleyway-only access to backyards. Quote alleyway-access challenges (no truck access, manual material haul) at premium $10-$40/sqft over standard. State material staging plan on every contract; clients in pre-1940 housing expect this premium.
ILCA certification trust signal
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) certification is the regional trust signal at premium tier. State 'ILCA certified' on quotes; provides design and installation credentials, business standards, and continuing education. Annual dues $500-$1,500; recovered in 3-5 premium bookings.
Sample quote
A real Chicago landscaper quote you can copy
Backyard patio + garden makeover, 80sqm site, mid-range finish. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Site excavation, removal of old lawn, soil grading
Concrete paver patio (28sqm, 400x400 charcoal)
Retaining wall, sleeper, 8m long x 600mm high
Lawn rolls (35sqm, premium Sir Walter buffalo)
Garden beds prep + planting (15sqm, mixed natives 200-300mm pots)
Irrigation install (2 zones, drippers + pop-ups, smart controller)
Mulch, edging, finish (40m linear edging, 4m³ pine bark)
Project labour (12 days, 2-person team)
FAQ
Chicago landscaper pricing questions, answered
Common questions about landscaper pricing in Chicago, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
Design and consulting $125-$350/hour for premium designer work. Installation labor $65-$165/hour. Project pricing: standard Chicago gardens $25-$80/sqft installed, lakeshore and North Shore designer gardens $50-$165/sqft. Design fees typically 12-20% of project cost. Snow removal subscription $500-$2,500/season residential, $5,000-$50,000+ commercial.
Chicago-area native and prairie restoration: native asters, milkweed, prairie dropseed, big bluestem, switchgrass, indian grass, native oak (white, red, bur), ironwood, dogwood, serviceberry, native viburnum. Qualifies for Chicago stormwater credits. Avoid invasive ornamentals (Norway maple, burning bush, callery pear).
Yes, Chicago city ordinances mandate stormwater management on most renovations and new construction. Quote stormwater management design (rain gardens $5,000-$25,000, permeable paver pathways $15-$40/sqft, native plantings $25-$80/sqft) as separate line. MWRD coordination for larger projects. Native plantings qualify for credits.
Yes, Chicago landscapers typically extend to snow removal (8-month main season April-November + 4-month snow December-March). Quote snow removal subscription ($500-$2,500/season residential, $5,000-$50,000+ commercial) as recurring revenue. Same crew, same trucks, year-round work.
Chicago two-flat, three-flat, and bungalow housing often has alleyway-only access. Quote alleyway-access challenges (no truck access, manual material haul) at premium $10-$40/sqft over standard. State material staging plan on every contract; clients in pre-1940 housing expect this premium.
Hourly rates are $50 to $95 in the US, £28-65 in the UK, A$55-110 in Australia, R180-500 in South Africa, and C$45-95 in Canada. Most landscapers prefer fixed-price quotes for projects over $2,000 because hourly invites scope creep.
The big variables are material grade (concrete vs natural stone), plant size (4L vs 100L), and how much earthwork is included. A 'cheap' quote usually uses budget materials and small plants that look sparse for years. Compare the materials list, not just the total.
Site walks and concept conversations are usually free for jobs over $3,000. A scaled drawing with plant schedule and hardscape detail takes 4-8 hours and many landscapers charge $300-1,500 for that. Worth it because the drawing becomes the contract.
For jobs over $5,000, get 2-3 quotes. Compare the plant schedule, hardscape materials, irrigation spec, and establishment guarantee. The cheapest quote often skips drainage, irrigation, or guarantee.
Most shrubs need 6 months of regular watering to establish; trees need 12-18 months. Lawn rolls knit in 4-6 weeks. Quote a maintenance plan covering at least the first 3 months so the investment does not die in summer.
Keep going
More landscaper resources
The full international pricing guide, ready-to-send templates, and the main landscapers page.
Full landscaper pricing guide
International rates across 8 countries, plus all common jobs and a 10-question FAQ.
QuoteGenio for Landscapers
Send branded quotes and invoices from your phone in 2 minutes. Built for landscapers.
Landscaper Quote Template
Landscaper quote with plant handling, irrigation, debris, and minimum-visit charges.
Testimonials
Trusted by tradespeople in Chicago
Real landscapers and other tradies in Chicago use QuoteGenio to quote and invoice from their phone.
“Everything is in one place now. Quotes, invoices, and payments. I do not have to chase paperwork anymore, which saves me a lot of time.”
Liam Smith
Builder · New York City
“Steel fabrication quotes are technical. Clients appreciate when line items are clear and VAT is shown properly. Feels more like dealing with a real business.”
Matthias Schulz
Steel Fabricator · Hamburg
“Simple, fast, and easy to use. I can create and send quotes in minutes without overcomplicating things.”
Sophie Williams
Freelancer · Glasgow
Read more
Guides on pricing and quoting
Long-form posts from the QuoteGenio blog that go deeper on quote writing, pricing strategy, and getting paid.
What a Free Quoting Tool for Tradespeople Should Do
Not every free quoting tool for tradespeople earns its keep. A plain checklist of what to look for, what to avoid, and what tradies actually use.
Convert a Quote to an Invoice in One Tap, No Retyping
The one-tap convert flow eliminates the retyping, the duplicate invoice numbers, and the mismatched line items that cost tradies hours each week.
Voice to Quote: Dictate a Job, Get Priced Line Items
Hold the mic, describe the job in your own words, release. The AI drafts a priced quote. What Voice to Quote is, when to use it, and when not to.
Free forever plan
Start quoting faster. Win more jobs.
Create professional quotes in minutes, send instantly, and stay on top of your work without the admin slowing you down.
Free to start. No credit card required.