How Much Does Turf Cost? UK Price Guide

Price Comparison by Grade

What You Get at Each Price Point

Budget turf (£2.50–3.50/m²) is typically a basic ryegrass blend, often sold by turf farms clearing surplus stock. It's perfectly viable grass, but the variety mix may not be ideal for your conditions. The rolls may be thinner (less soil attached) and the grass slightly less dense. For a back garden that just needs to be green and functional, it does the job.

Standard utility turf (£3.50–5/m²) is what most people mean when they say "turf." A blend of perennial ryegrass and fescue that handles moderate foot traffic and looks good year-round. This is the right choice for the majority of domestic projects. The quality difference between a £3.50 and a £5 roll is usually the specific cultivars used — more expensive rolls tend to use newer, finer-leaved ryegrass varieties.

Hard-wearing / family turf (£4–6/m²) contains a higher proportion of durable ryegrass cultivars, often including smooth-stalked meadow grass for its self-repairing properties. Designed for gardens that take punishment — children playing, dogs running, regular barbecues. Slightly coarser texture than utility turf but noticeably tougher.

Shade-tolerant turf (£5–7/m²) uses fescue-dominant blends bred for lower light conditions. If your garden has significant shade from trees, fences, or buildings, this is worth the premium. Using standard turf in shade is false economy — it'll thin out within a year. That said, no turf survives in deep, permanent shade (less than 2–3 hours of light daily).

Fine ornamental turf (£6–10/m²) is the show lawn turf — dense, fine-leaved fescue and bent grass blends. Looks exceptional when well maintained but demands more frequent mowing and feeding. Only worth the investment for front lawns, ornamental gardens, or areas where appearance is the top priority and foot traffic is light.

Wildflower turf (£8–15/m²) is a specialist product with native wildflowers pre-grown into a fine fescue base. It's the only way to get an instant wildflower meadow. Growing a meadow from seed takes 2–3 years to look established, so the premium buys you time. Managed completely differently from a lawn — mown once or twice a year, never fed.

What To Check Before Ordering

Factors That Affect Delivery Cost

Route and pallet network terms. Distance matters, but it is not the only factor. Some turf suppliers use pallet networks, so the real delivered price depends on postcode, pallet space, delivery route, and supplier terms.

Access difficulty. Turf arrives on pallets, and a loaded pallet can be very heavy. Most pallet deliveries need a hard, level surface near the road — a driveway is ideal. If the lorry cannot get close, the supplier may refuse the delivery, apply different terms, or need a different delivery arrangement.

Manual handling. If there is no vehicle access at all, do not assume the driver will carry rolls through the house or down the garden. Ask the supplier what is included before ordering.

Day of the week. Some suppliers charge more for Saturday delivery. Weekday morning deliveries are usually the cheapest option and give you the most daylight hours for laying.

Turf is Perishable

This is worth emphasising: turf is a living product. In summer, turf left on a pallet for more than 24 hours starts to heat up internally and deteriorate. The centre rolls can reach 50°C+. In cooler months you have 2–3 days, but ideally you should lay it the day it arrives. Don't order turf for Friday delivery if you're not laying until Sunday.

Can You Lay Turf Yourself?

Yes. Laying turf is one of the more achievable garden projects for a competent DIYer. The ground preparation is the hard part — the actual laying is straightforward once the ground is ready. See our how to lay turf guide for the full process.

That said, there are good reasons to hire a professional:

• Areas over 100m² are physically demanding (you're carrying and laying over a tonne of turf)
• Ground preparation on heavy clay or stony soil may need machinery (rotavator, mini digger)
• Getting levels right around paths, patios, and drainage is skilled work
• If you're removing an old lawn, the waste disposal alone can be a significant job

Professional Landscaper Rates

Expect a minimum charge of £300–500 for very small jobs — it's not economical for a landscaper to mobilise equipment for a 10m² patch. For anything under 30m², DIY is usually the sensible option unless you have mobility issues.

Getting Quotes

Always get at least three quotes. Ask specifically what's included:

• Does the price cover topsoil, or is that extra?
• Who removes the old lawn, and where does the waste go?
• Is skip hire included?
• What turf variety are they using, and where are they sourcing it?
• Do they guarantee the turf will establish?

A quote that looks cheap often excludes significant costs. A £15/m² "all-in" quote that doesn't include topsoil or old lawn removal could end up costing more than a £30/m² quote that covers everything.

Small Front Garden (30m²)

Average Back Garden (50m²)

Large Garden (100m²)

Extra-Large Garden (200m²)

Topsoil

If your existing soil is poor, thin, compacted, or full of rubble (common on new-build properties), you'll need to import topsoil. Budget £30–50 per bulk bag (approximately 0.75m³). A typical 50m² lawn needing 100mm of topsoil requires roughly 7 bags — that's £210–350 just for soil.

Removing the Old Lawn

Stripping old turf creates a lot of waste. A 50m² lawn produces roughly 2–3 cubic metres of old turf and soil. Options:

• Skip hire: £200–250 for a standard builder's skip
• Turf cutter hire: £50–80 per day (makes the stripping much easier)
• Composting on site: Free, but you need space and 6–12 months for it to break down

Equipment Hire

Most domestic gardens can be prepared with a garden fork, rake, and wheelbarrow. A rotavator is worth hiring for anything over 40–50m² — it saves hours of manual digging.

Watering

New turf needs watering daily for 2–3 weeks. If you're laying in summer, that's a lot of water. A 50m² lawn needs roughly 25 litres per square metre per watering — that's 1,250 litres per day. On a water meter, this adds roughly £5–10 to your water bill over the establishment period. Not a huge cost, but worth knowing.

Edging

If you want a crisp edge between lawn and borders (and you should — it makes the whole garden look sharper), budget for:

• Metal lawn edging: £3–5 per metre
• Plastic edging: £1–2 per metre
• Brick or stone mowing strip: £8–15 per metre (including materials and mortar)

Aftercare Products

• Pre-turf fertiliser: £10–20
• First lawn feed (6–8 weeks after laying): £15–30
• Lawn seed for any thin spots: £5–10

Do the Prep Yourself

This is the single biggest saving. Professional ground preparation costs £15–25/m², which on a 50m² lawn is £750–1,250. The work is physically demanding but doesn't require specialist skills — just a strong back, a weekend, and a willingness to get dirty. Hire a rotavator for large areas to save time.

Order in Bulk

Most suppliers offer better per-metre pricing on larger orders. Some drop the price by £0.50–1/m² above 50m². If your neighbour is also thinking about re-turfing, ordering together can push you into a cheaper price bracket and share the delivery cost.

Time Your Purchase

Spring (March–May) is peak season and prices reflect the demand. Autumn turf is often slightly cheaper because fewer people are buying. Some suppliers run end-of-season deals in October/November — the turf is just as good, and autumn is actually the best time to lay it.

Choose the Right Grade

Standard utility turf at £3.50–5/m² looks perfectly good in the vast majority of gardens. You don't need shade turf if your garden gets sun. You don't need ornamental turf if the children play on it. Match the turf to your actual conditions and save the premium for where it matters.

Improve Your Soil, Not Your Turf Grade

A £4/m² utility turf on well-prepared soil with good topsoil will outperform a £8/m² premium turf on poor, compacted ground. Every time. If you have a limited budget, spend it on soil preparation and decent topsoil — that's where the real value is.

Buy Direct from a Turf Farm

If you live near a turf farm, buying direct cuts out the middleman. You'll need to arrange your own transport (a trailer or large van — remember, a pallet weighs a tonne), but the per-metre price can be 20–30% lower than online suppliers. Some farms also offer collection discounts.

Consider the True Cost of DIY Failure

Cheap turf poorly laid on unprepared ground will fail within a year. Then you're buying turf again, hiring a skip for the dead lawn, and starting over. The cost of doing it once properly is almost always less than doing it twice cheaply. Don't cut corners on ground preparation to save £200 — it'll cost you £500 when you have to redo the whole job.

When is turf cheapest?

Autumn (September–November) typically has the lowest prices due to lower demand. Some suppliers also discount in late spring if stock is high. Avoid buying in March–April when demand peaks — prices can be 10–15% higher than the rest of the year.

Is cheap turf worth buying?

Sometimes. Budget turf (£2.50–3.50/m²) from a reputable supplier is fine for large areas where appearance isn't critical. But very cheap turf from unknown sources can be poorly grown, contain weeds, or use inferior grass varieties. Ask what cultivars are in the blend before buying.

How much does it cost to turf a typical UK garden?

For a 50m² back garden, expect to spend £550–800 for a DIY project including turf, topsoil, skip hire, and materials. With a professional landscaper, the same project costs £1,250–2,000.

Can I claim turf costs against tax?

Not for domestic gardens. If you're a landlord turfing a rental property, the cost may be allowable as a maintenance expense — check with your accountant. For commercial properties, landscaping can sometimes be claimed as a business expense.

Is turf or seed cheaper?

Seed costs £0.50–2/m² versus £3–9/m² for turf. But ground preparation costs are identical, and seed requires more ongoing maintenance. For a detailed comparison, see our turf vs seed guide.

Use our turf calculator to get an estimate for your specific project, or browse turf suppliers in your area.