Artificial Grass Prices and What Affects Them

If you’ve ever considered never moving your lawn again, you’ve probably wondered about the price of artificial grass. This is one of the most frequently asked questions. As with almost everything, there are various factors to consider that will have an impact on how much you can expect to pay. Cheaper options are available, but they come with their own drawbacks.

This article will look at the different types of synthetic turf available and give rough costs for what you can expect to pay. It will also look at what affects the artificial grass price and what other costs are involved. While you could technically fit faux turf yourself, the skip hire and manual labour might put you off entirely.

Interested to see how much you’d pay for artificial turf? Use our quote comparison tool to find out. It only takes a minute.

Typical Artificial Grass Price

When it comes to a pristine lawn all year round, fake turf is the only solution. If you’re looking for the total cost of a synthetic lawn, including installation of the sub-base and labour, you can pay around £45–£80 per square metre. While this is suitably vague, it’s hard to gauge the exact artificial grass price without knowing the size and shape of your garden.

For a high quality installation in a 30m² space, the price of artificial grass will be around £2,400. Cheaper options are available, and the actual turf will be much less than this. One of the biggest factors that contributes to cost is the type of synthetic fibre you choose.

Types of Synthetic Fibre

Artificial lawns come in three main types: nylon, polypropylene and polyethylene. The manufacturing process for each of these types is slightly different, but they can range from £10 to £50 per m².

Depending on the project for your outside space, you can mix and match different fibres. It can often be more beneficial to do this as you can then benefit from the advantages of various shapes and textures.

The materials you choose can be the difference between standard, mid-range and top-end installations. Naturally, the price of artificial grass will go up the better the material.

Standard Range

Standard range artificial grass is priced between £9 and £14 per m². This can depend on the options of thickness and realism. If you’re after the cheapest option, this will be mostly made of polyethylene.

The budget option is useful for areas of your lawn that don’t receive much sunlight or for places that don’t have high use. It can be better for places you’re not so bothered about too. There’s no point paying an inflated price for artificial grass to include areas that won’t be used much.

Mid-Range

Mid-range artificial grass can be anything from £14–£24 per m². Mixing different fibres can give you a better quality lawn that will last longer than standard options. Otherwise, middle ranges of synthetic turf are usually made from polypropylene.

If you’re choosing grass between the low and high ends, you’re looking for slightly more realism and more of a natural feel. The thicker the pile, the higher the artificial grass will be priced.

Top-End

Top-end artificial grass is way above the other two levels. At £45-£80 per m², it focuses on realism, thickness and endurance. The higher price tag may cause you to flinch, but the main advantage of paying out for quality is that it will last much longer. High end fibres normally incorporate nylon into their structure.

When you choose the very best synthetic turf, it might be a mixture of many different fibres and a variety of shapes. This makes it look and feel more realistic than any other option and gives you quality you can rely on. It will not only look good but last under heavy wear. This makes the artificial grass price quite reasonable.

Looking for inspiration for fitting artificial grass in your garden?

What Factors Affect the Cost?

• Garden size

• Garden shape

• Existing surface

• Waste material

The fibres have a strong bearing on the price of artificial grass, but the biggest factors that affect how much you pay include the size and shape of your garden. The ground also needs to be in a good condition first, or you’ll have to pay for excavation works. You also need to factor in any waste.

Garden Size

Garden size will dictate how much material you need and how much labour will be involved. Although the cost per metre squared will go down the more turf you buy, installation costs will go up.

Paying the high artificial grass price for a larger garden is inevitable, unless you’re cutting corners by choosing cheaper alternatives for some areas. In the end, more time needs to be dedicated for bigger gardens, so the installation could stretch over a couple of days.

Garden Shape

When it comes to the dimensions of outdoor spaces, standard rectangular or square shapes work best. This is why you tend to see uniform installations with right angles. While it is possible to work with irregular shaped gardens, it’s more involved when it comes to labour. Non-standard installations for artificial grass are priced higher.

Existing Surface

It’s much easier and more straightforward for synthetic turf to be laid on a flat surface. While slopes can be incorporated, the underlying structure needs to be in good condition first. This could include fitting a suitable sub-base, depending on the state of your existing surface. If water pools already, you’ll need to dig it up.

You can expect the price for artificial grass to be higher if you need to add suitable drainage. Once installed, water needs to drain through to prevent surface pooling and waterlogging. This could mean doing the following:

1. Removing the topsoil

2. Preparing the base layer

3. Putting a weed membrane down

4. Adding sand

5. Evening it out

6. Adding a shock-absorbing layer (if necessary)

Once the foundations are in place, your fake lawn can then be laid on top.

Waste Material

Standard widths of artificial turf come in 2m or 4m rolls. While non-standard widths are available, this is pretty rare. What this means is that you will inevitably have some waste material left over once your garden is covered. It’s just a case of mitigating waste and loss when paying the price for artificial grass.

Fresh turf rolls are preferable to using different cut-offs, as this reduces the visibility of joint lines. It’s also far less likely to come away from the ground and be damaged. This means that you’ll have to budget for an additional roll when planning your installation.

Installation Costs

If we separate the price of artificial grass and labour, you can start to calculate how much you might pay for your installation.

According to Checkatrade, the day rate for labour can be anything from £300–£600. With the synthetic turf included, this can work out from £45/m² to £80/m², but will vary depending on the type of fibre you’ve settled for.

While these are average costs, you might also be charged an hourly rate on top of the daily labour rate. At the end of the day, it’s their specialist equipment and time you’re paying for in the artificial grass price.

Calculating Costs

When it comes to measuring your garden and the price of artificial grass installation, you should try and be as realistic as possible. A typical 30m² garden can be completed in a day, but bear in mind that the ground may need preparation beforehand. If you have a larger garden, you should factor in the costs spreading across a few days.

Additionally, any waste needs to be removed. Labourers can get preferential prices on removal costs, especially if a skip is needed. However, this cost may then be passed onto you. The bigger and more invasive the installation, the more you can expect the costs to rise.

Is Fitting Artificial Grass a DIY Job?

While it is technically possible to fit synthetic grass yourself, it’s far easier to use a professional installer. You might be tempted to lower the price of an artificial grass installation by going down the DIY route, but this isn’t advised unless you’re in the business.

Professionals are always advised because they can guarantee:

• Correct sub-base

• Perfectly level surfaces

• Even cuts

• Seamless joints

• Secure fixing to the ground

• Professional equipment

• A helpful team

You can lower the price of artificial grass by fitting it yourself, but you’ll have to put in a lot of time and effort. More money may also need to be put into waste removal, such as the hiring of a skip.

Overview of Artificial Grass Prices

To recap, the actual price of artificial grass only contributes to a much smaller overall cost. The bulk of what you pay will be in the installation, especially if you choose to have more luxurious fibres.

Take a look at the breakdown by range in the interactive graph below.

Additional Costs Associated With Artificial Grass

One of the most important aspects of synthetic grass installations is the introduction of an infill. This is designed to help weigh down the fabric, keep it cool, prevent damage and help the fibres stand up straight. While this might happen during the installation, you can always do it later to prolong the life of your lawn.

You might have a discounted artificial grass price if you don’t have an infill, but the benefits it brings are worth the cost. The sand or silica prevents rippling, increases fire resistance, prevents static, improves drainage and also helps to promote the growth of weeds. If you choose this option, you might be given a spare bag alongside the installation.

Silica sand is more rounded than kiln dried options, which then doesn’t damage your lawn when it’s used. Sand infills with more jagged edges will degrade your lawn much faster, even creating a more uncomfortable surface to walk on.

As far as the price for artificial grass silica infills are concerned, you can spend £5–£40 for every 20–25kg bag. Different manufacturers offer various versions of this, but the recommended amount is 4kg for every square metre. This will need to be brushed in and then settled by the weather.

Ready for a Synthetic Lawn?

Providing you look after your artificial turf, it can last 15 years or longer, giving you a better investment. Higher quality grass will generally last longer, but a little maintenance will always help, no matter what type of artificial grass you have.

If you’re ready to get quotes for artificial grass prices, click on the button below. You’ll receive tailored quotes from local suppliers.