Things to know
Design and build are two different skills with two different risks, so price them separately. A concept plan with revisions is a fixed-fee creative service. The hard landscaping that follows is a build with its own labour and materials risk. Quoting them as one number makes it harder to explain why a customer's "just change the patio shape a bit" request either is or isn't already covered.
Plant guarantees need a clear boundary, not a vague promise. State "all plants guaranteed 6 months, subject to the customer following the supplied watering schedule." That protects you from a claim on a tree that died from neglect, while still giving the customer real confidence in your work. Most disputes here come from an unstated assumption about who's responsible for aftercare, not from bad plants.
Weather is the one variable you can't quote around, so don't try. A note that the timeline is "subject to weather conditions, particularly for groundworks and concrete curing" sets the right expectation. You're not promising a fixed completion date you can't control, which matters most on multi-week projects that span a change of season.
Quote ongoing maintenance as a separate follow-on document instead of bundling a year of upkeep into the build price. A garden redesign and its aftercare are different commitments with different cancellation expectations. Separating them means a customer who wants to maintain the garden themselves isn't paying for a service they never intended to use.
Typical landscaper line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Garden design (concept plan) | per design | £300–£1,200 |
| Porcelain patio laid on full mortar bed | per m² | £90–£160 |
| Sandstone patio laid | per m² | £80–£140 |
| Turf, supply + lay incl. preparation | per m² | £12–£25 |
| Raised sleeper bed | per linear metre | £80–£180 |
| Excavation + muck-away | per tonne | £40–£80 |
| Planting, supply + plant (border) | per m² | £30–£80 |
| Garden lighting (low-voltage) | per point | £80–£180 |
Common landscaper jobs and how to price them
- Patios
- Per m² with excavation, sub-base, laying method and pointing specified.
- Full garden redesigns
- Design fee, then a staged build price for hard and soft landscaping.
- Lawns and turfing
- Per m² including ground preparation and topsoil.
- Planting schemes
- Plant schedule with sizes and a stated establishment guarantee.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Permeable surfacing rule (front gardens, England) — paving more than 5m² of a front garden with an impermeable surface needs planning permission unless water drains to a lawn or border. Specify permeable paving or a soakaway where relevant.
- Waste carrier registration — removing soil, rubble or green waste from a client’s property needs registration with the Environment Agency (or SEPA/NRW). Construction and demolition waste needs the upper tier.
- Party wall and boundary issues — raising ground levels or building retaining walls on a boundary can affect neighbours. Note who has confirmed the boundary line.
Payment terms landscapers commonly use
- Design fee paid upfront and deductible from the build if commissioned.
- Build: deposit for materials (often 25–40%), stage payment at the end of hard landscaping, balance on completion.
- Plant guarantees conditional on the customer’s watering: state it in the terms.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for landscapers
VAT
Landscaping is standard-rated at 20% once registered. Landscaping on a new-build dwelling site, done as part of building the home, can be zero-rated in some cases — check before quoting.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Landscaping done as part of a new housing development or other construction project is within CIS, so a contractor deducts CIS from your labour.
Routine garden work for homeowners is outside CIS.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Design, hardscaping, softscaping line items
- Plants & materials breakdown
- Machinery hire row
- Maintenance follow-up notes
- PDF or tracked share link
Full guide
How to Start a Landscaping Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
In England, if you are paving more than 5m² with an impermeable surface that drains onto the road, yes. Permeable paving, or directing water to a border or soakaway, avoids it.
Yes. Charge the design separately and, if you want to win the build, offer to deduct it from the build price. That protects you if the customer takes your plan to a cheaper installer.
Many landscapers guarantee plants for a season, on condition that the customer waters them. Put the condition in writing. Plant failures are usually about aftercare.
State the depth of compacted MOT Type 1 and the laying method, such as a full mortar bed. Quotes that leave this out are often cheaper because they skimp on it.
Yes — list design as its own line. Customers expect to pay for design separately from build, and it sets expectations if they want revisions.
Add a note: "Timeline subject to weather conditions." Avoid promising a fixed completion date in the quote itself.
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