Itemize your installed turf cost by area, grade, base & region
Measure each rectangle of lawn (length × width) and add them up. This is the single biggest cost driver — it sets turf, base, infill, and labor.
Turf ships in 15 ft rolls, so irregular shapes leave more unusable scrap — that's why waste (and per-foot cost) climbs on small or curvy jobs.
Have a real product quote? Put the face price in override to replace the grade estimate. Infill ballasts the turf & keeps blades upright.
Base is the compacted crushed-rock sub-base for drainage: ~3 in for lawns, ~4 in for pet runs / high traffic.
Edging anchors the turf at borders — leave blank to auto-estimate from the area. Labor is the biggest single line and swings most by region.
Estimated installed cost
$0
per sq ft
Artificial Turf Cost Estimator — guide & how to use
Planning estimate only — get 2–3 written itemized bids. This is not a quote. It excludes irrigation cap-off/removal, French-drain/drainage systems, tree-root removal, retaining walls, permits, and HOA fees — add those separately. Real bids vary about ±10–15% with site access, slope, drainage, and local dump/permit fees. Use this to sanity-check your bids, not to replace them. All math runs privately in your browser.
What it does
This estimator turns your area, shape complexity, turf grade,
infill, base depth, surface to remove, and region
into an itemized installed cost range. It breaks out turf material, base/sub-base, infill, edging, and
labor & site prep, shows the per-square-foot cost, and reveals the
materials-vs-labor split so you can see that the turf itself is rarely the expensive part.
How to use it
Enter the area to cover in sq ft (add up each lawn rectangle).
Pick your shape complexity, turf grade, and infill.
Set the base depth (3 in lawn / 4 in pet) and the surface to remove.
Optionally add edging length (or leave blank to auto-estimate) and pick your region.
Read the installed range, the $/sq ft, and the line-item breakdown.
How the math works
Turf material = area × (1 + waste) × turf $/sq ft. Grade defaults: polypropylene $4.00, polyethylene $4.50, nylon $6.00 (midpoints of researched ranges). Waste: simple 10%, curves 18%, irregular 30%.
Base/sub-base = area × depth(in) × 0.003333 ton/sq ft/in × 1.15 (compaction waste) × $55/ton delivered. Rule of thumb: ~1 ton of crushed rock per 100 sq ft per 3 in compacted.
Infill = area × infill $/sq ft (silica $0.50, rubber $0.90, antimicrobial pet $1.50).
Edging = edging linear ft × $2.50. Blank auto-estimates as 4 × √area (the perimeter of a square of that area).
Labor & site prep = area × ($6.50 base + surface add) × region × depth-labor × small-project. Surface add: grass $0, hard surface +$3.50 (demo + haul-off), bare/prepped −$2.00. Depth-labor = 1 + 0.10 × (depth − 3) over 3 in. Small-project multiplier: <200 = 1.40, 200–499 = 1.20, 500–1,499 = 1.05, 1,500+ = 1.00. Region: rural ×0.78, suburban ×1.00, metro ×1.30.
Subtotal = turf + base + infill + edging + labor. Headline range = subtotal ×0.90 (low) to ×1.15 (high), reflecting the ±10–15% real-world quote spread.
Worked example
A 500 sq ft lawn, some curves (18% waste), polyethylene ($4.50),
silica sand infill, 3 in base, removing grass/soil, edging
auto, suburban region:
Money rounds to the nearest $1 at the end only; per-sq-ft figures round to $0.01. Your tool output may differ by a dollar or two from hand-math because the calculator carries full precision throughout.
Accuracy notes & assumptions
This is a planning estimate, not a quote. Real installer bids vary ±10–15% (built into the range) based on site access, slope, drainage, irrigation removal, and local dump/permit fees not modeled here.
Prices are calibrated to US 2025–2026 data. Installed all-in commonly runs $13–$19/sq ft, with small projects up to ~$30+/sq ft. If your result lands outside ~$10–$30/sq ft, re-check your inputs.
Turf grade prices are midpoints of published material-only ranges (PP $2–6, PE $3–5, nylon $5–7). Your actual product may differ — use the override field for a real quote.
Labor is the largest and most regional variable ($3–$10/sq ft). The region selector is a coarse proxy; a ZIP-accurate bid will differ.
Base tonnage uses the industry rule of ~1 ton per 100 sq ft per 3 in compacted, +15% for compaction waste. Rock density and delivery fees vary locally.
Does NOT include: irrigation cap-off/removal, drainage/French-drain systems, tree-root removal, retaining walls, permits, or HOA fees. Add separately.
Always get 2–3 itemized written bids; use this tool to sanity-check them, not to replace them.
Common mistakes this avoids
Comparing only the turf face price between quotes — that's typically just 25–35% of installed cost; base prep and labor dominate.
Forgetting the waste factor — 15 ft rolls mean you buy 10–30% more material than the area you cover, especially on small/irregular yards.
Underestimating small-project cost per foot — a 150 sq ft pet area can run nearly double the $/sq ft of a 1,500 sq ft lawn.
Skipping or under-speccing the compacted base — leads to settling, puddling, and wrinkles; the base IS the install.
Assuming infill is optional — it ballasts and supports the blades; leaving it out shortens turf life.
Treating the estimate as a firm price — budget a 10–15% contingency for site surprises.
Ignoring demolition cost when removing concrete/pavers — that adds several dollars per sq ft plus haul-off fees.
Choosing nylon everywhere for "durability" when polyethylene is the residential standard and far cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much does artificial turf cost to install?
Installed turf commonly runs about $13–$19 per square foot for residential projects, up to $30+ for small or irregular jobs. A 500 sq ft lawn lands roughly $6,500–$16,000 installed. The turf material is usually only a quarter to a third of that — base, infill, and labor make up the rest. This tool itemizes it all and gives a range.
Why is the turf material such a small part of the cost?
The turf face price is typically only 25–35% of installed cost. The compacted base, infill, edging, demolition/haul-off, and labor dominate. That's why two quotes with the same turf can differ by thousands — the difference is the prep and labor.
Why do small turf projects cost so much more per square foot?
Fixed costs — crew mobilization, equipment delivery, dump runs — spread over fewer square feet. Turf also ships in 15 ft rolls, so small/irregular areas leave 20–30%+ scrap you still pay for. A 150 sq ft pet area can run nearly double the per-foot cost of a 1,500 sq ft lawn.
Which turf grade should I choose?
Polypropylene is cheapest but wears fastest (low-traffic decorative). Polyethylene is the residential sweet spot — soft, realistic, durable enough for most lawns and pets. Nylon is most durable and most expensive, worth it only for high-traffic or commercial use. Don't overpay for nylon you don't need.
Do I really need a base and infill?
Yes. The compacted crushed-rock sub-base (~3 in lawns, 4 in pet/high-traffic) provides drainage and prevents settling, puddling, and wrinkles. Infill ballasts the turf and keeps blades upright; skipping it shortens turf life. This tool includes both by default.
Is this an exact quote?
No — it's a planning estimate. Real bids vary ±10–15% (reflected in the range) and exclude irrigation cap-off, French drains, tree-root removal, retaining walls, permits, and HOA fees. Always get 2–3 itemized written bids and use this to sanity-check them.
Is it really free?
Yes — 100% free, and everything runs in your browser.