The short answer
In the UK, artificial grass typically costs around £10 to £35 per square metre for the grass alone (supply-only), with budget grades at the lower end and dense, realistic premium grades at the upper end. For a fully fitted lawn, a supply-and-fit price of roughly £40 to £80 per square metre is common once you include excavation, the sub-base, a weed membrane, edging, sand infill and labour. Small or awkward gardens cost more per metre because fixed costs spread over fewer metres, while large open lawns are cheaper per metre. The grass product is usually a minority of the total cost — groundwork and labour often make up the larger share.
Per-square-metre is the way most UK suppliers quote artificial grass, but the headline rate only covers the grass itself. The installed cost depends heavily on the base and labour, so it helps to separate the two.
Artificial grass per m2
- Grass supply-only~£10–£35 per m2
- Fitted (supply-and-fit)~£40–£80 per m2
- Budget gradeThinner pile, lower density
- Premium gradeDenser, more realistic, longer warranty
- Biggest cost driverSub-base and labour, not the grass
What you actually pay per square metre
When a supplier quotes a price per square metre, it is worth asking exactly what that figure includes. There are two very different numbers in common use:
- Supply-only (grass roll only): this is the cost of the artificial turf itself, bought by the metre or as a roll. Typical UK pricing runs from roughly £10 per square metre for thin budget grass up to £30 or more for dense, realistic premium products with a soft, multi-tone pile.
- Supply-and-fit (installed): this includes the grass plus everything needed to lay it properly — removing the old surface, building a stone sub-base, laying a weed membrane, fixing edges, joining and pinning the grass, and brushing in a sand infill. Installed prices commonly fall in the £40 to £80 per square metre range.
The gap between the two is the groundwork. On a typical garden the base and labour can cost as much as, or more than, the grass — which is why a cheap roll of grass does not by itself make a cheap lawn.
| Grade | Typical supply-only (per m2) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ~£10–£15 | Thinner pile, lower stitch density, shorter warranty |
| Mid-range | ~£15–£25 | Good density and realism, decent warranty, suits most gardens |
| Premium | ~£25–£35+ | High density, soft multi-tone pile, realistic look, longer warranty |
Indicative UK supply-only ranges for guidance only; actual prices vary by supplier, pile height, density and quantity. The fitted cost adds base materials and labour on top.
Why the installed price is higher than the roll price
A durable artificial lawn is built on a prepared foundation, and that foundation carries real cost in both materials and time. The main components added on top of the grass are:
- Excavation and disposal: the existing turf or surface is dug out to make room for the sub-base, and the waste is carted away. Skip hire and tipping fees add to this.
- Sub-base materials: typically a layer of compacted crushed stone (such as MOT Type 1) topped with a finer grano or sharp-sand laying course to create a smooth, free-draining bed.
- Weed membrane: a geotextile layer laid under the base and grass to suppress weed growth.
- Edging and fixings: timber, composite or metal edging to hold the perimeter, plus galvanised pins, jointing tape and adhesive for seams.
- Infill: kiln-dried sand brushed into the pile to weight the grass, keep blades upright and improve durability.
- Labour: the skilled time to dig, level, compact, lay and finish the lawn — usually the single biggest line on a quote.
What moves the per-metre price up or down
Several factors shift where a given garden lands within the typical ranges:
- Area size: larger lawns are cheaper per square metre because fixed costs (access, set-up, edging runs) spread over more area. Small gardens have a high per-metre rate.
- Grass grade and pile: denser, taller, more realistic grass costs more per metre but tends to look better and last longer.
- Existing surface: laying over soil and old turf needs full excavation; laying over an existing flat, solid base such as concrete can reduce groundwork.
- Access and shape: narrow access, slopes, and intricate shapes with lots of cutting and edging push labour up.
- Region: labour rates are generally higher in London and the South East than in other parts of the UK.
- Drainage needs: heavy clay soil or poor natural drainage may need extra base depth or a soakaway, adding cost.
Because of these variables, the realistic way to budget is to treat the per-metre rate as a starting band and expect the final fitted figure to depend mainly on the groundwork your particular garden needs.
Reading a per-metre quote so you compare like for like
The biggest source of confusion in artificial-grass pricing is that the same headline rate can describe very different jobs. Two quotes at, say, £50 per square metre may not be comparable at all if one includes a full sub-base build and the other assumes you have prepared the ground. When you receive a per-metre figure, it pays to break it down into the parts it should cover before judging whether it is good value:
- Grass specification: ask for the pile height, the stitch density or face weight, the yarn type and the warranty length. A higher per-metre rate buys little if the grass is thin; a similar rate can represent good value if the grass is dense and well backed.
- Excavation depth: confirm how deep the dig is and whether spoil removal and skip hire are included. A shallow dig keeps the price down but can compromise the base.
- Sub-base build-up: check the stone type (such as MOT Type 1), the laying course (grano dust or sharp sand) and the compacted depths. This is where corners are most often cut.
- Membrane, edging and infill: make sure a weed membrane, perimeter edging and kiln-dried sand infill are all in the price rather than added later.
- Finishing and guarantee: ask whether the installer guarantees the workmanship and for how long.
Once each quote is described in these terms, the per-metre numbers become meaningful. A quote that looks cheap per metre but omits proper excavation, a full sub-base or sand infill is not really cheaper — it is a different, lesser job. Comparing the full specification behind the rate is the only reliable way to know which quote represents the better value for your garden.
Frequently asked questions
Is the per-square-metre price just for the grass?
It depends who is quoting. A supply-only price (roughly £10–£35 per m2) is for the grass roll alone. A supply-and-fit price (roughly £40–£80 per m2) includes excavation, the stone sub-base, a weed membrane, edging, sand infill and labour. Always confirm which one you are being quoted.
Why is artificial grass cheaper per metre for big gardens?
Fixed costs such as access, set-up, waste disposal and edging runs are spread over more square metres on a large lawn, so the rate per metre falls. Small gardens carry those same fixed costs over fewer metres, which pushes the per-metre figure up.
Does premium grass cost much more to install?
The installation labour and base are broadly similar whatever grade of grass you choose, so the main difference is the roll price itself. Moving from a budget to a premium grass might add £10–£20 per square metre to the supply cost, while the groundwork stays much the same.
Sources & further reading
- Checkatrade — artificial grass cost guide
- MyJobQuote — cost of artificial grass
- HouseholdQuotes — artificial grass cost guide
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published cost guides and are intended as guidance, not a quotation.