Average Turf Installation Cost: $3,000 and $10,000
Material costs can vary from $8 to $18 per square foot. Professional installation, including labor and material, ranges from $10 to $15 per square foot.
For most homeowners, prices range between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on yard size, location, turf type, and prep work required.
Good grass in your lawn would make your home look very attractive, give you outdoor living space, and add value to your property. Turf installation forms a trendy landscaping improvement of new construction sites and existing houses in Canada since it gives a swift change of spare or faded outdoor areas. Regardless of the side you lean on, whether natural sod or artificial turf, the installation process may vary greatly in cost due to various factors affecting it.
In this guide, we take a closer look at turf installation costs in Canada as a way to assist you in planning your project and understanding where your money will be spent.
There are broadly two options available in the turf installation. The first is the natural sod, which is the living roots of grass obtained from a commercial sod farm. The second one is artificial turf, which is an artificial solution made to look and feel like real grass, but it does not require constant care.
Natural sod provides you with a lawn that looks green immediately, though it needs frequent care in terms of watering, mowing, fertilising, and aerating of your lawn, depending on seasonal changes. Although the artificial grass costs more to put in, it does not have to be mowed or watered and will stay green all throughout the year.
The cost to install turf in Canada typically falls between $6 and $20 per square foot. That means for a standard lawn area of around 500 square feet, homeowners may spend anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the choices made.
The artificial turf costs a lot initially, but a lot less in terms of maintenance in the long run as opposed to natural grass, which may come at a lower cost when used initially. The turf options are, however, not the only costs as there are extra costs related to the preparation of the site, grading, the cost of putting the turf, labour, and maintenance.
Natural turf is also referred to as sod; it is a rolled-out carpet consisting of grass that is pre-grown. It offers immediate foliage and is widely used because of its silky texture and natural appearance. In Canada, the total cost of sod installation generally ranges from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the size of your yard and other factors.
Sod Installation Cost Breakdown:
For a 1,000 square foot yard, your all-in price could be $2,000 to $4,500 for natural turf installed professionally.
Artificial grass is an unnatural variant of the real one, resembling the growth of natural grass. It is perfect for people wishing to have a low-maintenance yard that looks good throughout the year, even in regions with poor soil or ineffective sunshine.
In Canada, artificial turf installation usually costs between $10 and $20 per square foot, with the average homeowner spending around $6,000 to $12,000 for a typical backyard.
The Cost of Artificial Turf and Breakdown:
Although artificial turf is very costly on the initial purchase, it will save thousands of dollars in the long term since it does not require water or fertilizer, it does not need to be mowed, and no weeding needs to be done.
For sloped or curved areas, add around $1 to $3 per square foot to your base installation cost. This is because of additional labour to fix the turf in ensuring that it does not shift or move with time. It might also involve the use of pre-cut pieces of turf, and those might lead to wastage, as well as the cost of the material.
Artificial turf can also be ideal in highly shady locations, as natural grass might not find abundant sunshine to grow. However, you'll still need a proper base layer with adequate drainage to prevent water pooling, which can cost an extra $300 to $600 for the average backyard.
Complex patterns (e.g., the edge of a bed around stepping stones or a play area, or a pool) may need some special fitting and edging. Expect to pay an additional $500 to $1,000 or more, depending on how much custom work is required.
This is how the prices tend to grow along with the size of the lawn:
Small back yard( 300 sq ft):
Natural sod – $1,000 to $2,000
Artificial turf – $3,000 to $6,000
Medium yard (750 sq ft):
Natural sod – $2,000 to $3,800
Artificial turf – $6,000 to $12,000
Big backyard (1,200 sq ft)
Natural sod – $3,500 to $5,000
Artificial turf – $10,000 to $20,000
The price of the installation of turf also changes depending on your place of residence. Higher labour rates are found in bigger cities with higher costs of living. The following is the analysis of how turf prices can vary in the main regions of Canada:
Ontario (Toronto - Ottawa)
Demand and labour costs are the cause of higher prices of turf installation in Ontario. Expect to pay around $7 to $18 per square foot. It can get high when installing artificial turf and in the Greater Toronto Area.
Vancouver, Victoria (British Columbia)
Vancouver-area homeowners often pay $8 to $20 per square foot, partly due to environmental regulations and transport costs. Due to the water conservation regulations, artificial turf has become a trend across this region.
Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton)
Turf installation costs in Alberta are slightly lower, ranging from $6 to $15 per square foot. The popularity of natural sod could be attributed to the fact that the growing season is shorter.
Quebec (Montreal, Quebec City)
Prices here are moderate, with most homeowners paying $6 to $16 per square foot, depending on site conditions and material choice.
Artificial turf is relatively expensive as compared to natural sod, yet it lasts longer and requires very minimal maintenance. It has variation in the height of the pile, blend of colour, and drainage technology, and even the choice of synthetic grass affects the price.
If your yard needs significant clearing, grading, or soil replacement, costs can increase by $500 to $3,000, depending on the extent of work needed.
Where heavy machinery or rolls of turf are not easily delivered, manual handling will need extra labour. This has the potential of increasing labour costs by 15 to 25 percent.
Artificial turf needs to be well-drained. Installing drainage layers or edging may add $1,000 to $3,000, especially in sloped areas or where water collects.
Too much work must be done in complicated garden designs, flower borders, or curvy spaces, which demand special cutting and additional labour. The features add 10-20 percent to the costs compared to the usual rectangular lawns.
A question on the minds of most homeowners is whether they will save on DIY turf installation. Although you can, it is only recommended that you do it when you have landscaping experience.
Self-Installation of a Sod
In the case of natural turf, you can save labour costs by laying your sod. Nevertheless, you will still have to hire or purchase solutions such as a sod cutter and soil roller. Anticipated price:
For a 500 square foot lawn, DIY sod installation might cost $700 to $1,200, saving you around $1,000 to $2,000 in labour.
DIY Installation and Artificial Turf
It is a more complicated process to install synthetic grass by yourself. You will have to carry out digging of the soil, create a foundation, compact it correctly, and seal turf edges. Poor levelling or drainage could cause a lifelong problem.
Installation of DIY artificial turf 500 sq ft yard can be a:
While it’s cheaper upfront at $3,000 to $5,000, any mistake can end up costing you more to fix later.
The cost of the long-term maintenance of the grounds should be put into consideration when making decisions between natural and artificial turf. Natural grass needs proper maintenance like watering, fertilizing, mowing, aerating, and controlling pests. In Canada, lawn care services range from $50 to $100 per visit, depending on lawn size and the services included.
Annually, the maintenance of natural grass can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,500, especially if professional services are used regularly throughout the spring and summer months.
Maintenance in artificial turf is very minimal as opposed to grass. It is normally enough to brush now and then, wash with water, and remove the leaves. You may spend $100 to $300 per year on basic upkeep tools or cleaning services.
Natural Grass
Sod lawns need frequent watering, fertilising, mowing, and prevention of weeds. Maintenance costs average around $500 to $1,500 per year, depending on lawn size and whether you hire a gardener.
Artificial Grass
Man-made turf is very easy to take care of. Sweeping, cleaning, and refilling infill granules should only be done occasionally. Annual maintenance costs are usually under $200, and some homeowners go years without spending anything.
Although the cost of artificial turf is higher initially, savings may be huge in the long-term run. Over 10 years, artificial turf may cost $7,000 to $12,000, while natural grass could cost $10,000 to $15,000, including water, fertilisers, lawn care services, and equipment.
Synthetic turf can be an investment that produces a sufficient reward in case you intend to occupy your home in the long term, and you want low-maintenance landscaping. But, say you like the actual smell and sight of grass, and you do not mind the cost of attendance, then you should go for sod as it is the cheaper option.
Increasing your backyard living space can be achieved by installing turf, be it a natural, lush lawn or a low-maintenance artificial lawn, at a low cost in Canada. You should always call around and get quotes on landscape costs offered by multiple local landscapers and ensure that the costs include all preparation of sites and materials. If you decide to go with natural grass or use artificial turf instead, selecting a high-quality installation will be worth it, as you end up with a beautiful and practical lawn.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.
