How much does it cost to landscape a small garden?

The short answer

Fantastic Services' 2026 guide puts a small garden refresh, such as new turf, planting and a simple path, at £2,500 to £8,000 for the rest of the UK and £4,000 to £12,000 in London and the South East. Individual elements cost much less.

A 20 m² garden, element by element

MyJobQuote's guide (updated 27 August 2026, based on homeowner quotes) gives these approximate totals for a 20 m² garden:

• Turf: £260 to £400
• Artificial grass: £1,300 to £1,600
• Patio: £1,600 to £2,400
• Decking: £2,000 to £2,500

Its per-square-metre rates are turf £13 to £20, artificial grass £65 to £80, patio £80 to £120 and decking £100 to £125. It notes that tree planting costs £150 to £450 per tree and raised vegetable beds £150 to £400 each.

Fantastic Services gives whole-project prices instead: patio installation £1,500 to £3,000 and decking £3,000 to £6,500 for the rest of the UK.

Labour

MyJobQuote gives landscaper rates of £30 to £60 an hour, or £110 to £180 a day. Fantastic Services puts a landscaper at £200 to £400 per person per day (London £300 to £450) and a two-person team at £320 to £600. The guides disagree, so ask each landscaper what their quote assumes.

Design fees

Fantastic Services gives a concept and planting plan for a small garden at £600 to £1,500 and a full design package at £1,500 to £4,500. MyJobQuote gives £600 to £4,500 for garden design overall. Design is usually separate from the build price.

What can be extra

• VAT, if the landscaper is VAT-registered: MyJobQuote says they may add 20%.
• Waste removal: about £200 (MyJobQuote) unless the landscaper includes it.
• Drainage, outdoor electrics and water features (Fantastic Services).
• Premium materials beyond the standard specification.

MyJobQuote suggests a 10 to 15% contingency for problems such as poor drainage or tree roots.

Plan before you pay

Our guide to planning a garden layout covers how to decide what you need before you get quotes.

See it first

Upload a photo of your garden to GlowUpp to see AI-generated ideas, then get quotes for the same plan. These figures come from published UK cost guides, several of them from trade and quote-comparison sites, so treat them as planning benchmarks, not quotes. Prices vary by region, property, specification and time, and GlowUpp does not set or guarantee them. Always get itemised written quotes. Always ask a qualified professional before moving gas, electrics or plumbing, or changing anything structural, and check your lease or local rules if you rent or live in a conservation area.