What landscaping costs per square foot in 2026, from one published source, and how to turn that into a budget for your own yard.
Landscaping costs vary more than almost any other home improvement project, because the word covers everything from fresh mulch to a rebuilt backyard. The useful question is what a given kind of work costs for a given area.
LotSite has no price data of its own, so the figures on this page come from one source: Angi's cost guide How Much Does Landscaping Cost? [2026 Data] (updated September 23, 2026). It gives landscaping at $4.50 to $12 per square foot, rising as high as $40 per square foot for a tear-out and major remodel, and a national average project of $3,516, which it says is based on 32,752 projects on its platform, with most homeowners paying between $1,248 and $6,067.
What these numbers are. Angi says its figures come from projects on its own platform and surveys of its customers, paired with outside research. That makes them one company's data. They are not an official statistic and they are not a quote for your job. Prices differ by region and by company, so use them to judge whether a quote is in the usual range, and get two or three local quotes.
| Area landscaped | Average cost (Angi) |
|---|---|
| 200 sq ft | $900–$2,400 |
| 500 sq ft | $2,250–$6,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,500–$12,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $9,000–$24,000 |
Source: Angi, "How Much Does Landscaping Cost? [2026 Data]", updated September 23, 2026. Figures are shown as published.
| Type | Average project cost (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Softscaping (plants, grass, beds) | $800–$10,000 |
| Xeriscaping (drought-tolerant planting) | $3,000–$24,000 |
| Hardscaping (patios, walls, walkways) | $300–$30,000 |
Source: Angi, "How Much Does Landscaping Cost? [2026 Data]", updated September 23, 2026. Figures are shown as published.
| Material | Average cost (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Sod | $0.35–$0.85 per square foot |
| Turf | $2–$6 per square foot |
| Grass seed | $3–$10 per pound |
| Topsoil | $12–$55 per cubic yard |
| Rocks or gravel | $40–$100 per cubic yard |
| Mulch | $0.20–$0.60 per square foot |
| Retaining wall blocks | $3–$40 per square foot |
| Pavers | $1–$25 per square foot |
| Patio materials | $1–$35 per square foot |
| Border plants | $2–$50 per plant |
Source: Angi, "How Much Does Landscaping Cost? [2026 Data]", updated September 23, 2026. Figures are shown as published.
Angi says labor makes up 40% to 65% of a landscaping project's cost, and lists these hourly rates.
| Who | Rate (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Landscaper | $50–$100 per hour |
| Landscape designer | $50–$150 per hour |
| Landscape architect | $70–$100 per hour |
Source: Angi, "How Much Does Landscaping Cost? [2026 Data]", updated September 23, 2026. Figures are shown as published.
The area you are working on is the first driver of the total. Setup, equipment and travel are spread over more ground on a large job, so the price per square foot can fall as the job grows while the total rises.
Material prices span a wide range within one category: plain concrete pavers against natural stone, a flat of annuals against a mature tree. Native plants tend to need less water and care once established.
Rocky soil, steep slopes, poor drainage, tree roots and tight equipment access all add labor. A flat, open yard with good soil is the cheapest place to start.
Labor rates differ from one market to the next, and spring and early summer are the busy season in most places. Ask whether a company prices lower in its slow months.
Curved lines, changes in level, water features, outdoor kitchens and custom stonework all cost more than a simple rectangular layout. A design plan costs money up front and can prevent expensive rework.
Retaining walls, electrical work for lighting and irrigation connections can need permits, and the rules vary by jurisdiction, so check with your local building or permit office. Call 811 before any digging to have underground utilities marked; the service is free.
Start with the area you will work on. Measure the yard and subtract the house footprint, driveway, and anything you will not touch. That is the square footage to price. The measuring tool adds up the areas you paint on satellite imagery.
Multiply by a price per square foot, then check it against quotes. Angi's range of $4.50 to $12 per square foot is a starting point for the multiplication, not a quote. A local contractor's number for your scope replaces it.
Phase the project. You do not have to do everything at once. Hardscaping first (patios, walkways, retaining walls), since it sets the structure of the space, then plantings and irrigation, then lighting and finishing touches.
Get three or more detailed quotes. Bids for the same scope can differ widely. Ask each contractor for a line-item estimate that separates materials from labor, so you are comparing the same work.
Keep a contingency. Buried debris, poor soil, drainage problems and roots turn up once digging starts. Ask each contractor how they price surprises, and hold some of the budget back for them.
Enter your address and paint each area on satellite imagery. The tool adds up the square footage of what you painted, which is the number every per-square-foot price gets multiplied by.
Then explore our mulch calculator, sod calculator, or DIY vs. hiring a landscaper guide.