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How much does landscaping cost?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out landscaping or sprinkler work reported a median of $2,500; the typical range (middle half of 923 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $1,000 to $5,500.

When the household did the landscaping or sprinkler work itself: a median (840 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $700.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What is the landscaping cost?

The survey joins two jobs in one item, "Added or replaced landscaping or sprinkler system", so new beds and plantings and an in-ground irrigation system share the range above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

This is the most evenly split job on these pages: 50 percent of the landscaping and sprinkler jobs with a reported cost were hired out, against 87 percent of roofing jobs.

Water drives yard design. EPA WaterSense says residential outdoor water use in the country is nearly 8 billion gallons a day, mostly for landscape irrigation, and that the average household uses more water outdoors than for showers and laundry combined.

Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense, Outdoors, read 16 October 2026.

How much will landscaping cost with a sprinkler system?

WaterSense says experts estimate as much as half of that outdoor water is wasted through overwatering, and describes two kinds of labelled controllers: weather-based ones that adjust the schedule to local conditions and soil moisture sensors that skip watering when the soil is wet enough.

Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense, Irrigation Controllers, read 16 October 2026.

Pressure matters as much as timing. WaterSense notes that sprinklers are often installed where system pressure is higher than the nozzle needs, which causes misting, fogging and uneven coverage.

Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense, Spray Sprinkler Bodies, read 16 October 2026.

In Florida, section 373.185 of the state statutes says a deed restriction, covenant or local ordinance may not prohibit an owner from using Florida-friendly landscaping, which it defines around the right plant in the right place, efficient watering and less runoff.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 373.185 (Florida-friendly landscaping), read 16 October 2026.

What changes the average landscaping cost?

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page