Pricing garden builds: per-m² rates for landscapers (2026)
6 min read
A complete garden build in 2026 typically costs € 100 to € 175 per m² including materials and labour; a simple build with mostly lawn and borders starts around € 50 per m². Paving runs € 70–110 per m², planted borders € 40–70 and turf € 15–25. The full build-up is below.
What does a garden build cost per m² in 2026?
Expect € 100–175 per m² for a complete build including materials; simple green builds start around € 50 per m², while a high-end garden with extensive paving, lighting and mature planting runs past € 200 per m².
| Element | Price per m² (excl. VAT) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Groundwork and levelling | € 12 – 25 | Disposal drives the price up fast |
| Paving, supplied + laid | € 70 – 110 | Strongly material-dependent (concrete vs. ceramic) |
| Borders with planting | € 40 – 70 | Plant size sets the upper end |
| Lawn: seeded | € 8 – 15 | Cheap, but slow results |
| Lawn: turf | € 15 – 25 | Instant result |
| Fencing | € 90 – 175 / m | Per linear metre |
| Complete build (average) | € 100 – 175 | Mix of paving and green |
Ranges based on common Dutch landscaping rates, 2026, labour and materials included, excluding 21% VAT.
How do you calculate a build price?
Split the garden into areas (paving, borders, lawn), price each area at its own per-m² rate, and add the fixed items: disposal, machine transport, and a 10-15% risk margin for groundwork surprises.
- Measure areas separately: 24 m² paving + 18 m² border + 18 m² lawn prices differently than '60 m² of garden'
- Material choice first: the gap between concrete and ceramic tiles is € 30+ per m²
- Don't forget fixed items: disposal per m³, machine costs, travel
- Risk margin on groundwork: cables, rubble and poor soil only show up when you dig
- Small-garden surcharge: below ~40 m² the per-m² price rises due to fixed setup costs
Worked example: 60 m² back garden
60 m² with 24 m² of ceramic paving (€ 2,280), 18 m² of borders (€ 990), 18 m² of turf (€ 351), groundwork (€ 1,080) and edging (€ 495) totals € 5,196 excluding VAT - about € 87 per m², fitting a mid-range build.
This is the same example as in our landscaping quote article, fully worked out there as a quote document with a provisional sum and VAT. The lesson: the whole-garden per-m² price is an outcome, not an input. Working backwards ('€ 100 per m², so € 6,000') gets you in trouble at final invoice.
Extra work and risk: where margin leaks
- Soil disposal: one extra truckload costs hundreds - cover it with a provisional sum
- Access: no rear entrance means wheelbarrowing; count those hours
- Plant-size inflation: the client expects 'instant green', your estimate assumed young plants - fix sizes in writing
- Season: spring requests compete on price; steer on lead time instead of discounts
- Post-calculate every build: if your hour estimates are structurally off, adjust your standard times
These prices as a calculator on your site
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Frequently asked questions about garden build pricing
What does a complete 50 m² garden build cost?
Typically € 5,000 to € 9,000 excluding VAT (€ 100–175 per m²), depending on the paving/green ratio and materials. Tile choice makes the biggest difference.
What does laying paving cost per m²?
Including materials and labour, € 70 to € 110 per m² in 2026. Labour only (client supplies tiles) is € 35–50 per m², depending on pattern and sub-base.
What risk margin is common on groundwork?
10 to 15% on the groundwork items, or an explicit provisional sum. Cables, rubble and poor substrates only show up while digging - without a margin, that surprise is yours.
Should design be priced separately?
Yes. A garden design typically costs € 40–70 per m² or a fixed project fee, often (partly) offset when the build is commissioned. Free designs mean working for nothing on every rejection.
Dennis - Founder of Quotira
Dennis builds Quotira, the quote calculator for trade businesses, and writes these guides based on the pricing logic from hundreds of calculator configurations.
Published on July 9, 2026
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