How the landscaping price calculator is calculated
price = hours × rate + (materials + equipment and disposal) × (1 + markup) + other services
Worked example: a 2,000 sq ft planting and mulch job
These are the example defaults loaded above: 6 labor hours per 1,000 sq ft at $55, $600 of materials, $80 of equipment and disposal, a 25% markup and a $100 flat service.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labor, 12 hours at $55 | $660.00 |
| Materials at cost | $600.00 |
| Equipment, fuel and disposal | $80.00 |
| Markup at 25% on $680.00 | $170.00 |
| Other services | $100.00 |
| Job price | $1,610.00 |
| Per 1,000 sq ft | $805.00 |
Every default in the calculator is an example so you can see a result straight away. None is a market average. Replace each with your own costs and rates.
Hours per 1,000 square feet
Landscape work does not scale with area alone, so the calculator asks for crew hours per 1,000 square feet and multiplies. Mowing, bed prep, planting and hardscape each have a very different figure. Use the one from a job you have already timed, and run the calculator once per type of work if a job mixes them.
Markup on what you buy
Plants, mulch and stone cost you time to source and haul. A markup on those costs pays for it. Labor is left alone here because your hourly rate should already carry your overhead and profit.
Mixed jobs
For a job that is part maintenance and part installation, price each part with its own hours and materials, then add the two job prices on one estimate.
Turn this into an estimate or invoice
The button under the result carries these lines into the document generator, ready to edit. To price the whole job section by section with waste and a deposit, open the cost estimator set up for landscaping. For landscaping designs and presets, see the landscaping invoice page.
Related calculators
- Service price calculatorPrice any service from time and costs
- Contractor invoice calculatorLabor, materials and job costs into an invoice
Questions people ask
How do I price a landscaping job?
Estimate labor hours from the area, multiply by your rate, add materials and equipment with your markup, then add any flat-fee services.
How many labor hours per 1,000 square feet should I use?
Use a figure from your own timed jobs. It varies widely between mowing, planting and hardscape, so the default is only an example.
Does the markup apply to labor?
Not here. It applies to materials and equipment. Set your hourly rate high enough to cover your overhead and profit on labor.
Why is disposal a separate line?
Hauling green waste or old material costs real money and is easy to forget. Its own line keeps it in the price.
Are the default numbers market rates?
No. They are examples so the calculator shows a working result. Replace every one with your own.
How do I turn this into an estimate?
Use the button under the result to carry the labor, materials and services into an estimate, quote or invoice.