OUTDOOR
Artificial Turf Cost: Per Square Foot in 2026
Estimate artificial turf installation cost per square foot — with the free landscaping calculator.
Artificial turf means a green yard all year with zero mowing. The upfront cost is real, but so are the savings. Here's the real 2026 number.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Artificial turf runs $7–$20 per sq ft installed in 2026 (average $15–$19). Materials run $5–$20 per sq ft; labor $3.45–$12. A 500 sq ft lawn runs $3,500–$10,000. Budget turf starts at $2–$5 per sq ft.
What it costs
Materials run $5–$20 per sq ft (budget turf $2–$5). Professional installation runs $3.45–$12 per sq ft including base prep, drainage and seams. A typical 500 sq ft yard runs $3,500–$10,000 installed.
- Materials: $5–$20 per sq ft
- Labor: $3.45–$12 per sq ft
- Installed total: $7–$20 per sq ft
- 500 sq ft yard: $3,500–$10,000
Is it worth it?
Turf saves water, fertilizer, gas and 100+ mowing hours a year — typical payback in 2-5 years where water is expensive. It lasts 10-20 years with brushing and infill top-ups. It runs hotter than grass in summer and pets need more cleanup.
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