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How to price landscaping jobs
To price a landscaping job, build it in five parts: (1) walk and measure the site, (2) cost the labour hours, (3) cost materials with a markup, (4) add equipment, overhead and profit, and (5) present a clear written quote.
The steps
- Walk and measure the site. Measure areas in square feet, note access, slopes and disposal needs, and list every task — demo, prep, install, cleanup. Debris haul-away and poor access are the two costs most often missed.
- Cost the labour. Estimate crew hours per task using your own production rates (e.g. sod at 150–200 sq ft per worker-hour) and multiply by your loaded labour cost — wages plus taxes, insurance and downtime, not bare pay.
- Cost the materials. Price plants, sod, gravel, pavers and soil at your supplier cost, add 10–15% for waste, then apply a 20–35% markup to cover sourcing, delivery and handling.
- Add equipment, overhead and profit. Charge for machine time (skid steer, dump trailer) and dump fees, add your overhead percentage for the truck, insurance and admin, then a 15–25% profit margin. Break-even pricing is how landscaping businesses die.
- Write the quote. Show labour, materials, equipment and disposal as separate lines with a total, exclusions (e.g. irrigation repair, permit fees) and an expiry date. Itemised quotes win more work and stop scope creep.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Remove old lawn & haul away (800 sq ft) | $480 |
| Soil prep & fine grading — 6 crew-hrs @ $90 | $540 |
| Sod — 800 sq ft delivered (materials + markup) | $640 |
| Install & roll sod — 5 crew-hrs @ $90 | $450 |
| Equipment & dump fees | $220 |
| Subtotal | $2,330 |
| Tax (8%) | $186 |
| Total | $2,516 |
FAQs
How do I price landscaping jobs?
Measure the site, cost crew hours at your loaded labour rate, add materials with a 20–35% markup, then equipment, overhead and a 15–25% profit margin — and present it as an itemised written quote.
How much should I mark up landscaping materials?
20–35% is standard, on top of a 10–15% waste allowance. The markup pays for sourcing, pickup, delivery coordination and the risk of damaged or short-shipped stock.
Should landscaping quotes be per square foot or itemised?
Use square-foot rates to sanity-check your total, but present the quote itemised by task. Clients trust line items, and it protects you when they add work mid-job.