Detailed price guide for paving, decking, turfing, fencing, and full garden makeovers in the UK — with interactive cost estimator.
| Project Type | Cost Range | What's Typically Included |
|---|---|---|
| Small garden tidy-up | £500 – £1,500 | Clear, weed, refresh borders, basic planting |
| Small garden makeover | £1,500 – £4,000 | New lawn, paving, fencing, planting |
| Medium garden makeover | £2,000 – £8,000 | Full redesign, new lawn, patio, borders |
| Large garden redesign | £8,000 – £20,000 | Full landscape design, structures, planting |
| Premium garden transformation | £20,000 – £50,000+ | Bespoke design, hard landscaping, water features, lighting |
| Element | Unit | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete paving slabs | per m² | £50 | £80 | Budget choice, many styles |
| Indian sandstone paving | per m² | £80 | £130 | Very popular, natural look |
| Porcelain paving | per m² | £100 | £180 | Low maintenance, modern |
| Granite setts / cobbles | per m² | £100 | £200 | Period / premium look |
| Softwood decking | per m² | £80 | £120 | Pressure-treated pine |
| Hardwood decking | per m² | £120 | £180 | Balau, iroko — long-lasting |
| Composite decking | per m² | £150 | £250 | Trex, Millboard — minimal maintenance |
| Turfing (supply & lay) | per m² | £10 | £30 | Includes ground prep |
| Seeding | per m² | £3 | £10 | Slower but cheaper |
| Artificial grass | per m² | £60 | £120 | Includes base preparation |
| Fence (close-board) | per metre | £50 | £100 | Supply and fit, per panel length |
| Fence (featherboard) | per metre | £60 | £120 | More durable than panel |
| Raised beds (timber) | each | £200 | £600 | Softwood, 1.2m x 2.4m approx |
| Raised beds (sleeper) | each | £300 | £800 | Hardwood railway sleepers |
| Small tree removal (<5m) | per tree | £200 | £400 | Excl. stump grinding |
| Large tree removal (>10m) | per tree | £700 | £1,500 | Excl. stump grinding |
| Stump grinding | per stump | £50 | £200 | Depending on size |
Most garden landscaping work falls under permitted development rights and does not require planning permission. However, there are important exceptions:
Standard garden landscaping services are subject to 20% VAT. Most trade landscapers charge VAT on their invoices if their turnover exceeds the VAT registration threshold (£90,000 from April 2024). Always check whether quotes are inclusive or exclusive of VAT — a significant difference on larger projects.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on walls shared with neighbours. For garden boundary matters, the general rule is that the fence belongs to whoever is responsible for it (check your property title deeds — often marked with a "T" on the boundary plan). You are responsible for maintaining your side of a shared boundary. Always speak to neighbours before replacing shared fences and confirm cost-sharing arrangements in writing.
Garden landscaping costs vary widely by project scale. A small garden tidy-up costs £500–£1,500. A medium garden makeover (new lawn, patio, planting) costs £2,000–£8,000. A large full garden redesign costs £8,000–£25,000+. Premium bespoke garden transformations with water features, outdoor kitchens, and professional planting schemes can exceed £50,000 for large properties.
Paving costs (supply and lay) in 2025: budget concrete slabs £50–£80/m², Indian sandstone £80–£130/m², porcelain paving £100–£180/m², and premium granite setts £120–£200+/m². The total cost also depends on the sub-base requirement (typically 100mm MOT Type 1 hardcore plus 50mm sharp sand), edging, and garden access. A 20m² patio typically costs £1,500–£3,500 installed.
Garden decking installation costs £80–£250/m² fully installed depending on material. Pressure-treated softwood (pine) decking: £80–£120/m². Hardwood decking (Balau, Iroko): £120–£180/m². Composite decking (Trex, Millboard): £150–£250/m². Composite has higher upfront cost but requires virtually no maintenance and lasts 25+ years, compared to 10–15 years for treated softwood.
Most garden landscaping does not require planning permission. Exceptions include: front garden paving over 5m² with impermeable materials (use permeable materials to avoid this), fences over 2m (or over 1m adjacent to a highway), and any work in conservation areas or on listed buildings. Always check for Tree Preservation Orders before removing trees. Contact your Local Planning Authority for free pre-application advice if unsure.
Turfing costs £10–£30/m² (supply and lay) including ground preparation. For a typical 50m² rear garden that is £500–£1,500. Grass seeding is cheaper at £3–£10/m² but takes 6–12 weeks to establish fully and needs careful protection from frost and heavy rain initially. For a quick result or a garden used by children or pets, turfing is typically the better choice.
The most cost-effective garden upgrades are: painting existing fences (fence paint £15–£30 per tin); adding gravel paths or borders (£2–£5/m² for gravel); building raised beds from reclaimed scaffold boards (£50–£100 each); buying bare-root plants in winter (80% cheaper than pot-grown); reseeding patchy lawn areas rather than full returfing; planting structural shrubs (box, yew, pittosporum) that provide year-round structure; and adding solar garden lighting (from £20 per pack).
Tree removal costs depend on the tree's size and location. A small tree under 5m: £200–£400. A medium tree 5–10m: £400–£800. A large tree over 10m or in a difficult location: £800–£1,500+. Stump grinding adds £50–£200. Always check whether the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) before removal — removing a TPO tree without consent can result in an unlimited fine. Your local authority planning department can check for TPOs.