How do I find a realistic price per square foot for sod, mulch, or pavers?

Call two local suppliers and ask for delivered prices on the quantity you need. Edit each row of the calculator with the better quote — defaults are just a starting point.

What if I’m doing the labor myself?

Set the labor percentage to 0. Add lump-sum extras for any tools you need to rent (sod cutter, plate compactor, mini-excavator).

Why is contingency separate from labor?

Labor is predictable; contingency covers unpredictable things — broken irrigation lines, weather delays, a price jump in mulch. Keeping them separate makes it easier to track scope creep.

Should I include permits?

If your municipality requires a landscape or grading permit, add it as a lump-sum extra so it flows through labor and contingency lines correctly.

Does the metric unit toggle convert prices and areas?

Yes. When you flip from sq ft to m², the tool converts each row’s area and price-per-area so the per-row totals stay the same.

Landscaping Cost Calculator

Budget sod, mulch, gravel, pavers, and extras with editable per-area pricing, labor, and contingency.

Written by Golam Rabbani, Founder & Lead Engineer

This interactive tool requires JavaScript. Read the formula and worked example below; you can compute the result by hand.

How to use this landscaping cost calculator

Choose imperial (sq ft) or metric (m²) and pick your currency.
Edit the default materials list — each row has a name, price per area, and area.
Add lump-sum extras like trees, shrubs, or irrigation.
Adjust the labor % (default 30) and contingency % (default 10).
Press Calculate to see the materials subtotal, labor, contingency, and grand total.

About this landscaping cost calculator

The landscaping cost calculator turns your area-by-material plan into a defensible budget. For each material it multiplies the price per square foot (or per square meter) by the area you’ll cover, sums them with any lump-sum extras, then layers on a labor percentage of materials and a final contingency to cover surprises.

For example: 500 sq ft of sod at $1.20, 300 sq ft of mulch at $0.85, 100 sq ft of pavers at $12, plus $500 in trees and $800 for irrigation. Materials = (500 × 1.20) + (300 × 0.85) + (100 × 12) + 500 + 800 = 600 + 255 + 1,200 + 500 + 800 = $3,355. Labor at 30 % = $1,007. Subtotal = $4,362. Contingency at 10 % = $436. Grand total ≈ $4,798.

Default prices are US contractor averages from 2024 catalogs and should be replaced with local supplier quotes. The labor percentage is a back-of-envelope multiplier — heavy hardscape jobs often exceed 50 %. Use the contingency line for the unknowns that always show up: a tree root, a clay pocket, or a price bump between bid and dig.

FAQ

How do I find a realistic price per square foot for sod, mulch, or pavers?: Call two local suppliers and ask for delivered prices on the quantity you need. Edit each row of the calculator with the better quote — defaults are just a starting point.
What if I’m doing the labor myself?: Set the labor percentage to 0. Add lump-sum extras for any tools you need to rent (sod cutter, plate compactor, mini-excavator).
Why is contingency separate from labor?: Labor is predictable; contingency covers unpredictable things — broken irrigation lines, weather delays, a price jump in mulch. Keeping them separate makes it easier to track scope creep.
Should I include permits?: If your municipality requires a landscape or grading permit, add it as a lump-sum extra so it flows through labor and contingency lines correctly.
Does the metric unit toggle convert prices and areas?: Yes. When you flip from sq ft to m², the tool converts each row’s area and price-per-area so the per-row totals stay the same.