Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total turf installation cost
$9,200
Turf material
$3,600
Base + prep
$2,400
Installation labor
$2,560
Installed cost per sq ft
$11.50
Payback vs live lawn
10.2
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How to use this
- 1Enter turf area (sq ft).
- 2Enter turf material rate ($/sq ft).
- 3Enter base rate at 3 inch ($/sq ft).
- 4Enter compacted base depth (in).
- 5Enter infill rate ($/sq ft).
- 6Enter install labor rate ($/sq ft).
- 7Enter annual water + lawn care savings ($).
- 8Read your total turf installation cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Artificial turf is priced per square foot installed, and the base preparation under it is roughly half the cost. A proper install means excavating three to four inches, laying and compacting crushed rock, adding a weed barrier, then seaming, nailing, and infilling the turf. Turf grade itself ranges from thin builder-grade at a few dollars per square foot to dense pet-rated and landscape-grade products several times that. This calculator prices turf, base, infill, and labor, then estimates annual water and maintenance savings so you can see a payback period. 2026 US national averages land near $8-$18 per square foot installed, with pet systems and small complicated yards at the top of the range.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Turf area: 800 sq ft
- Turf material rate: 4.5 $/sq ft
- Base rate at 3 inch: 3 $/sq ft
- Compacted base depth: 3 in
- Infill rate: 0.8 $/sq ft
- Install labor rate: 3.2 $/sq ft
- Annual water + lawn care savings: 900 $
Results
- Total turf installation cost: $9,200
- Turf material: $3,600
- Base + prep: $2,400
- Installation labor: $2,560
- Installed cost per sq ft: $11.50
- Payback vs live lawn: 10.2
What each field means
Inputs
- Turf area (sq ft)
- The turf area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 800 sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 50–20000 sq ft.
- Turf material rate ($/sq ft)
- The turf material rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 4.5 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1.5–15 $/sq ft.
- Base rate at 3 inch ($/sq ft)
- The base rate at 3 inch used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 3 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.5–10 $/sq ft.
- Compacted base depth (in)
- The compacted base depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 3 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–8 in.
- Infill rate ($/sq ft)
- The infill rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 0.8 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–4 $/sq ft.
- Install labor rate ($/sq ft)
- The install labor rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 3.2 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–12 $/sq ft.
- Annual water + lawn care savings ($)
- The annual water + lawn care savings used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 900 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–8000 $.
Results
- Total turf installation cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Turf material
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Base + prep
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Installation labor
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Installed cost per sq ft
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Payback vs live lawn
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How long does artificial turf last?
Quality landscape turf carries 15-20 year warranties and typically looks good for 10-15 years with periodic brushing and infill top-ups. UV exposure and heavy traffic paths are what wear it out first.
Is turf actually cheaper over time?
It depends on your water rates and whether you pay for mowing. In high-water-cost regions with a paid lawn service, payback often lands in the six to ten year range; in cheap-water areas with DIY mowing it may never fully pay back.
Do I need special turf for dogs?
Yes — pet systems use a more permeable backing and often a mineral infill that resists odor, and the base is usually built for faster drainage. Expect roughly $1-$3 per square foot more than standard landscape turf.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Artificial Turf Installation Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/artificial-turf-installation-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/artificial-turf-installation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artificial Turf Installation Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Artificial Turf Installation Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/artificial-turf-installation-cost) (2026).