Artificial grass cost in the UK

Artificial grass costs £28–£80 per m² supplied and fitted in the UK, which puts a typical 40m² back garden at £1,120–£3,200 depending on pile specification and ground conditions. Below is what sits inside those numbers, and the eight questions that separate an honest quote from a cheap one.

Four artificial grass pile samples laid out for comparison

How much does artificial grass cost in the UK in 2026?

£28–£80 per m² supplied and fitted. A mid-range 30–35mm pile — the most commonly installed spec in UK gardens — runs £40–£58 per m², so a 40m² back garden is typically £1,600–£2,320. Removing an existing lawn adds £8–£15 per m²; a new MOT type 1 sub-base adds £12–£22 per m². The turf itself is usually under half the bill. Groundworks, access and waste removal are what make quotes differ.

Sources:Our installer dataset

Artificial grass prices by pile specification

Pile height and yarn density drive the material cost. Everything above 30mm looks broadly similar from a first-floor window; the difference is how it recovers underfoot after two years.

Typical UK artificial grass costs supplied and fitted, by pile specification
Specification	Per m² fitted	40m² garden	Notes
Budget pile (20–25mm)	£28–£40	£1,150–£1,650	Thinner, lighter pile. Fine for shade, low traffic and rental properties.
Mid-range pile (30–35mm)	£40–£58	£1,650–£2,350	The most commonly installed spec in UK gardens. Good balance of look and wear.
Premium pile (37–45mm)	£55–£80	£2,250–£3,200	Denser yarn, better recovery underfoot, more realistic multi-tone colour.
Pet or sports spec	£50–£75	£2,050–£3,000	Free-draining backing, shorter pile, often laid over a permeable sub-base.

National market ranges for supply and installation, reviewed August 2026. We hold review and company data rather than quoted prices, so these are indicative bands — not a quote for your garden. Always get three written quotes.

What artificial grass costs by garden size

Supplied and fitted, including a new sub-base but excluding removal of an existing lawn.

Artificial grass installation cost by garden size and specification
Garden	Area	Budget pile	Mid-range	Premium
Small courtyard	20m²	£560–£800	£800–£1,160	£1,100–£1,600
Typical back garden	40m²	£1,120–£1,600	£1,600–£2,320	£2,200–£3,200
Larger family garden	70m²	£1,960–£2,800	£2,800–£4,060	£3,850–£5,600
Big plot or double frontage	120m²	£3,360–£4,800	£4,800–£6,960	£6,600–£9,600

The five things that actually change a quote

If two quotes for the same garden are £700 apart, the difference is almost always in this list — not in the grass.

Removing the old lawn
£8–£15 per m²
Excavating turf and topsoil to 75–100mm, plus skip hire or grab-away.
Access
£150–£600
Rear gardens reached only through the house or a narrow side gate need barrowing by hand.
Sub-base
£12–£22 per m²
MOT type 1 and granite dust, compacted in layers. Skipping this is the usual cause of sinking.
Edging
£12–£28 per linear m
Treated timber is cheapest; aluminium or composite edging lasts longer and stays straighter.
Awkward shapes
+10–20% waste
Curves, islands and trees all increase offcuts, because turf comes in fixed 2m or 4m roll widths.

Eight questions to ask every installer

Ask all eight of the three installers you shortlist. The answers tell you more than the headline number does — and a good installer will enjoy being asked.

1Is the old lawn excavation and waste removal included, or is it a separate line?
2What depth of sub-base, and which materials? “MOT type 1 with granite dust, 75mm compacted” is a real answer; “we prepare the ground” is not.
3What edging is used — treated timber, composite or aluminium — and how is it fixed?
4Is a weed membrane laid under the sub-base as well as over it?
5Is kiln-dried sand infill included, and how much per m²?
6How are joins made — glued seaming tape or stitched — and where will they fall?
7What is the manufacturer's UV warranty on the specific turf being quoted, in writing?
8Who is liable if the surface dips within two years?

Get three local quotes

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Freshly laid artificial grass meeting an aluminium edging rail over a compacted sub-base

Artificial grass cost: common questions

How much does artificial grass cost per m²?

Artificial grass costs £28–£80 per m² supplied and fitted in the UK. Budget 20–25mm piles sit at £28–£40, the common 30–35mm mid-range at £40–£58, and premium 37–45mm piles at £55–£80. Supply-only turf is roughly £10–£30 per m², so more than half of a typical quote is labour and groundworks rather than the grass itself.

How much does artificial grass cost for a 40m² garden?

A 40m² back garden — the most common UK job — usually comes in at £1,600–£2,320 for a mid-range 30–35mm pile, supplied and fitted, including a new sub-base. A budget spec can land near £1,120 and a premium pile with awkward access can reach £3,200. Removing an existing lawn typically adds £320–£600 on that size.

Why do artificial grass quotes vary so much?

Almost never because of the turf. Quotes diverge on groundworks: depth of excavation, whether a proper MOT type 1 sub-base is laid and compacted in layers, the edging material, and whether waste removal is priced in. A quote £600 below the others usually means less excavation, which is exactly what causes dips and standing water in year two.

Is artificial grass cheaper than a real lawn?

Not upfront. Turfing a 40m² lawn costs roughly £400–£800 laid, against £1,600–£2,320 for mid-range artificial grass. Artificial grass wins over time: no mowing, no feed, no seasonal reseeding, and no water bill. Break-even against the running cost of a real lawn is typically eight to twelve years, sooner if you were paying someone to mow.

Does artificial grass add value to a property?

It rarely adds measurable value, and surveyors do not price it as an improvement the way a kitchen or extension is priced. What it can do is shorten time on market for family buyers, and remove a maintenance objection. Front gardens are the exception — some buyers actively dislike artificial grass at the front of a period property.

Are there ongoing costs?

Minimal. Budget for a stiff brush and an occasional top-up of kiln-dried sand every three to five years, at roughly £2–£4 per m². Pet owners tend to rinse more often. A power brush service, if you want one, costs £150–£300 for a typical garden. There is no mowing, feeding or watering cost.

Artificial grass costs in your area

Each town page pairs these national bands with the installers who actually cover it.

Figures are national market ranges for supply and installation, compiled August 2026 from published UK installer pricing. We hold review and company data rather than quoted prices, so treat these as a sanity check on the quotes you receive, not as a quotation. How we source data.