Garden LandscapingCost Calculator

Garden landscaping costs in the UK in 2026 range from £3,000 for a small garden redesign to £30,000+ for a large, fully-landscaped garden with premium materials. A typical medium-sized garden (50 m²) with patio, lawn, fencing and planting costs £8,000–£18,000. Costs depend heavily on the features chosen, materials specified, and whether the garden requires significant groundworks or drainage work. London and the South East typically add 25–35% to these figures.

Patio costs in the UK in 2026 range from £40–£150 per m² installed depending on the material. Concrete slabs cost £40–£70/m². Block paving costs £60–£100/m². Natural stone (sandstone, limestone) costs £80–£150/m². Composite decking costs £90–£160/m². A typical 20 m² patio therefore costs £800–£3,000 for concrete slabs up to £1,800–£3,200 for natural stone. Groundworks, sub-base preparation and edging add to the cost if the ground is uneven or requires drainage work.

Standard timber fence panels and posts cost £80–£150 per linear metre installed in the UK in 2026, including supply of panels, posts, gravel boards and installation. A typical 10-metre garden fence costs £800–£1,500. Composite fencing costs £150–£250 per linear metre — much more expensive but maintenance-free and longer lasting. Metal or wrought-iron fencing costs £200–£600 per linear metre. Removing and disposing of old fencing adds £10–£20 per panel.

Laying new turf costs £8–£20 per m² in the UK in 2026, including ground preparation, topsoil, turf and labour. Seeding a lawn is cheaper at £3–£8/m² but takes longer to establish. A typical 50 m² lawn (turfing) costs £400–£1,000. Ground preparation is the main variable — a lawn on level clean soil is straightforward, but removing an existing paved area or dealing with compacted or contaminated soil adds significantly to cost. Ongoing maintenance (mowing, feeding, aeration) adds to the lifetime cost.

Most garden landscaping work does not require planning permission. However, planning permission may be required for: fences or walls over 1 metre high adjacent to a highway, or over 2 metres high elsewhere; outbuildings, sheds or garden rooms over a certain size; significant changes to a listed building's curtilage; work in a conservation area that would affect the character of the area; or removal of protected trees (a Tree Preservation Order, or TPO, requires consent). Always check with your local planning authority if you are unsure.

A small garden landscaping project (patio, turfing, fencing) takes 3–7 days. A medium garden with multiple features takes 1–3 weeks. A large comprehensive garden redesign with significant groundworks, drainage, planting and hard landscaping can take 4–8 weeks. The most time-sensitive phase is planting — spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best times for most planting work. Paving and hard landscaping can be done year-round, weather permitting.