Artificial Turf Cost: $5–$20 per Square Foot in 2026

Why does artificial turf cost so much?

Artificial turf runs $5 to $20 per square foot installed, with most sources landing on roughly $10 per square foot as a reasonable national average (Thumbtack, CostMyYard). For a full residential yard, that translates to a typical project total of $3,000 to $7,500, with reported national averages of $4,259 to $4,569 (Fixr, Thumbtack). The price covers more than just the turf itself: materials alone only run $2 to $8 per square foot, with the rest going toward base preparation and labor, which together can equal or exceed the cost of the turf product (Fixr, CostMyYard). That’s a meaningful jump over natural grass sod, which typically costs less than $1 per square foot to install (Thumbtack) — the tradeoff is a product built to last years without watering, mowing, or reseeding.

What affects the cost?

A handful of factors explain most of the spread between a $3,000 yard and a $7,500-plus one:

• Turf grade. Economy-grade turf runs $6 to $10 per square foot installed, mid-grade landscape turf runs $9 to $14, and premium pet-rated turf runs $12 to $20 (CostMyYard).
• Fiber material. Polypropylene is the most economical option at roughly $2 to $6 per square foot for material alone, polyethylene runs $2.50 to $4, and nylon — the most durable — runs $5 to $6 (Fixr).
• Base preparation. Removing old grass, sod, or concrete and installing a compacted gravel base for drainage adds to the total before turf ever goes down (Thumbtack).
• Yard size and shape. Cutting turf around curves, garden beds, and obstacles adds labor time on top of the base per-square-foot rate (Fixr).
• Labor. For a 600 square foot yard, labor alone typically runs $1,000 to $3,500, often landing close to half the total project cost (Fixr, CostMyYard).
• Location. Regional labor rates matter — a 500 square foot mid-grade job runs about $4,095 to $6,370 in states like Alabama or Texas, compared to $5,760 to $8,960 in Hawaii (CostMyYard).

How to lower your artificial turf cost

• Choose economy or mid-grade turf where it fits the use case. Economy turf at $6 to $10 per square foot is a reasonable choice for low-traffic decorative areas, saving several dollars per square foot over premium pet-rated products (CostMyYard).
• Compare fiber types, not just grade. Polypropylene material runs as low as $2 per square foot versus $5 to $6 for nylon — for areas that don’t need maximum durability, the cheaper fiber can still hold up fine (Fixr).
• Handle demo yourself where safe. If you can remove old sod or grass ahead of the installer’s visit, you may be able to negotiate down the base-prep portion of the quote (Thumbtack).
• Get quotes sized to your actual square footage. Per-square-foot rates drop on larger jobs, so an accurate measurement before quoting avoids overpaying on a padded estimate (Fixr).
• Ask what’s included in the per-square-foot price. Some quotes bundle base material, equipment, and disposal into one rate while others itemize each step — comparing apples to apples on your quotes matters more than chasing the lowest headline number (Homewyse).

Prices vary by region, yard size, and turf grade, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and confirm whether base prep, old grass removal, and disposal are included before comparing bids.