Turf Prices Per Square Metre
Turf prices vary depending on the type, the supplier, and the time of year. Here's what you can realistically expect to pay:
Standard Utility Turf
£3-5 per m² The most popular choice for back gardens. A blend of ryegrass and fescue that handles moderate foot traffic and looks good year-round. This is what most people mean when they say "turf."
Hard-Wearing / Family Turf
£4-6 per m² Higher proportion of durable ryegrass cultivars. Designed for gardens with children, dogs, and regular use. Slightly coarser texture but recovers quickly from wear.
Shade-Tolerant Turf
£5-7 per m² Fescue-dominant blends bred for lower light conditions. Worth the premium if your garden has significant shade from trees or buildings. Using standard turf in shade is false economy — it'll thin out within a year.
Fine Ornamental Turf
£6-10 per m² The show lawn turf — dense, fine-leaved fescue and bent grass. Looks stunning but needs more maintenance. Only worth the investment for front lawns or gardens where appearance is the priority.
Wildflower Turf
£8-15 per m² Pre-grown meadow turf with native wildflowers already established. A premium product, but it's the only way to get an instant wildflower meadow. Growing from seed takes 2-3 years to look established.
Delivery Costs
Typical Delivery Charges
- Orders over 30-50m²: Free delivery from most online suppliers
- Smaller orders: £30-60 delivery charge
- Pallet surcharge for difficult access: £20-50 extra if the delivery lorry can't get close to your property
Important Delivery Considerations
Turf arrives on pallets, and a pallet of turf weighs approximately 1 tonne. Most suppliers deliver on flatbed lorries with a forklift or crane attachment to offload. You need a hard, level surface near the road for the pallet — a driveway works perfectly.
If there's no driveway access, some suppliers offer "hand-balled" delivery where the rolls are carried individually, but expect to pay £50-100 extra for this service.
Timing matters: Turf is a perishable product. In summer, turf left on a pallet for more than 24 hours starts to heat up and deteriorate. In cooler months you have 2-3 days, but ideally you should lay it the day it arrives.
Labour Costs
DIY vs Professional
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. But there are good reasons to hire a professional:
- Large areas (100m²+) are physically demanding
- Ground preparation on heavy clay or stony soil may need machinery
- Getting levels right around paths, patios, and drainage is skilled work
Professional Landscaper Rates
- Ground preparation only: £15-25 per m² (includes clearing, levelling, adding topsoil)
- Turf laying only (on prepared ground): £8-15 per m² (includes turf supply)
- Full service (prep + turf + aftercare advice): £25-40 per m²
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.
Getting Quotes
Always get at least three quotes. Ask specifically what's included — does the price cover topsoil? Removing old turf? Skip hire for waste? A quote that looks cheap might exclude significant costs.
Total Project Cost Examples
Small Front Garden (20m²)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Turf (utility, 22m² with 10% extra) | £66-110 |
| Topsoil (2 bulk bags) | £60-100 |
| Pre-turf fertiliser | £10-15 |
| Delivery | £30-50 |
| DIY Total | £166-275 |
| Professional Total | £500-800 |
Medium Back Garden (60m²)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Turf (utility, 66m² with 10% extra) | £198-330 |
| Topsoil (6 bulk bags) | £180-300 |
| Skip hire for old turf/waste | £200-250 |
| Pre-turf fertiliser | £15-25 |
| Delivery | Free (over minimum) |
| DIY Total | £593-905 |
| Professional Total | £1,500-2,400 |
Large Garden (150m²)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Turf (hard-wearing, 165m² with 10% extra) | £660-990 |
| Topsoil (15 bulk bags) | £450-750 |
| Skip hire | £200-250 |
| Rotavator hire (weekend) | £80-120 |
| Pre-turf fertiliser | £25-40 |
| Delivery | Free |
| DIY Total | £1,415-2,150 |
| Professional Total | £3,750-6,000 |
How to Save Money on Turf
Order in Bulk
Most suppliers offer better per-metre pricing on larger orders. If your neighbour is also thinking about re-turfing, ordering together can drop the price significantly.
Time Your Purchase
Autumn is often slightly cheaper because demand drops — everyone wants turf in spring and prices reflect that. Some suppliers run end-of-season deals in October/November.
Do the Prep Yourself
The biggest saving is doing the ground preparation yourself and hiring a landscaper only for the laying (or doing that yourself too). Ground prep is labour-intensive but doesn't require specialist skills — just a strong back and a free weekend.
Skip the Premium Turf Unless You Need It
Standard utility turf at £3-5/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 kids play on it. Buy what suits your actual conditions.
Improve Your Soil Instead of Buying Expensive Turf
A £4/m² turf on well-prepared soil will outperform a £8/m² turf on rubbish soil every time. Spend your budget on proper ground 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 might need to arrange your own transport (a trailer or large van), but the per-metre price can be 20-30% lower than online suppliers.