How much does turfing cost in the UK?
Turfing costs £10 to £30 in the UK, typically around £18 per m². What moves the price most is total area in square metres, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
A new turf lawn is priced by the square metre supplied and laid, and most of the cost is the ground preparation underneath rather than the turf itself.
Turfing cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your turfing in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Need to know how much material to order? Try the topsoil calculator or turf calculator.
Turfing cost breakdown
Typical turfing costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £10 to £30 per m² |
| + Remove old lawn and heavy ground prep | add £5 to £15 per m² |
| + New topsoil added | add £4 to £10 per m² |
| 25 m² | £250 to £750 |
| 50 m² (typical) | £500 to £1,500 |
| 100 m² | £1,000 to £3,000 |
What's included in the price?
Typical turfing prices include:
- Turf, supplied and laid
- Basic ground preparation and levelling
- Rolling and initial firming
What changes the price?
The things that move turfing prices most:
Total area in square metres
Removing an old lawn and how much ground preparation is needed
Whether topsoil has to be brought in
Turf grade, from budget to premium hard-wearing
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, turfing typically costs around £25 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £18. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £15.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £10 | £20 | £30 |
| London | £15 | £25 | £40 |
| South East / South West | £10 | £20 | £35 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £10 | £15 | £30 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Turfing cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £10 | £15 | £25 |
| Birmingham | £10 | £20 | £30 |
| Bristol | £10 | £20 | £35 |
| Cardiff | £10 | £15 | £30 |
| Edinburgh | £10 | £20 | £30 |
| Glasgow | £10 | £15 | £25 |
| Leeds | £10 | £15 | £30 |
| Liverpool | £10 | £15 | £30 |
| London | £15 | £25 | £40 |
| Manchester | £10 | £15 | £30 |
| Newcastle | £10 | £15 | £25 |
| Sheffield | £10 | £15 | £30 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for turfing, not quotes.
Turf prices are fairly consistent nationally; access and ground condition matter more than location.
Common questions
How much does it cost to turf a garden?
Turfing costs roughly £10 to £30 per m² supplied and laid in the UK, typically around £18. So a small 50 square metre lawn is about £500 to £1,500, most often near £900. The turf itself is only part of it: clearing the old lawn, adding topsoil and levelling the ground is where most of the cost and the quality of the result sits.
How much is one square metre of turf?
The turf alone is roughly £3 to £8 per square metre from a supplier, depending on grade. The £10 to £30 per m² figure people quote for a lawn is the supplied-and-laid price, which includes clearing and preparing the ground, levelling and laying, and that preparation is what makes the lawn take well rather than the turf itself.
Is it cheaper to turf or lay artificial grass?
Real turf is far cheaper on the day: £10 to £30 per m² laid, against £40 to £90 per m² for installed artificial grass, because artificial needs a full sub-base. Turf is the budget choice and gives a real lawn, but it needs mowing, feeding and watering. Artificial costs several times more upfront and pays that back in near-zero maintenance over 15 years or so. See our artificial grass cost guide for the comparison.
When is the best time to lay turf?
Autumn and spring are ideal, because the ground is warm and damp and the turf roots quickly with little watering. You can actually lay turf almost year round as long as you keep it watered and avoid frozen or waterlogged ground, so October is not too late at all. High summer is the hardest time because new turf dries out fast and needs daily watering to survive.
Do I need to prepare the ground before turfing?
Yes, and skimping here is the main reason new lawns fail. The old lawn or weeds are removed, the soil is dug or rotavated, levelled and firmed, and poor soil is topped with fresh topsoil. This preparation is most of the £10 to £30 per m² cost. Laying turf straight onto compacted or uneven ground gives a bumpy lawn that struggles to root, so it is worth paying for the prep.
How long does it take for new turf to establish?
A typical lawn is laid in a day, but it needs 2 to 4 weeks to root before normal use, and should be watered daily in dry spells during that time. Keep off it as much as possible for the first two to three weeks. It will take a full growing season to thicken up and look fully established, so a spring or autumn lay gives the best head start.
Is it cheaper to lay turf yourself?
Yes, laying turf yourself can save a fair share of the £10 to £30 per m2 cost, since much of that is labour and ground preparation. You still pay for the turf rolls and any topsoil. The hard part is the prep, clearing, levelling and firming the ground, because turf laid on lumpy or poorly drained soil never knits well. On a small, flat lawn it is a realistic weekend job.
Does new turf add value to a home?
A tidy lawn helps a house sell and lifts kerb appeal, but at £10 to £30 per m2 it is a modest cost that rarely shows as a separate figure in a valuation. Fresh turf mainly makes the garden look cared for on viewing day. Lay it because you want a usable lawn while you live there, not as an investment that pays back the spend.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.