Are you a home or business owner considering an artificial grass installation for your Arlington, TX property?
If so, you’re likely wondering how much it will cost?
On average, installing artificial grass for a residential or commercial property will cost $12 per square foot.
The cost will be higher or lower, ranging from $6 – $20 per square foot depending on the quality of materials and labor costs.
That means installing artificial grass on a 500-square foot lawn will cost between $3,207 and $6,990.
While that might seem like a high cost, once it’s installed your maintenance costs are reduced to pretty much $0.
The cost of maintaining a natural grass lawn for a year is around $1,000 or more.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS COST PER 500 SF
National Average Cost — $5,860
Minimum Cost — $3,065
Maximum Cost — $10,350
Average Range — $3,207 to $6,990
In this guide, we’ll explore the cost of artificial grass installation in Arlington, TX.
We’ll discuss the factors that influence the cost, including labor and material costs.
Additionally, we’ll compare the ongoing maintenance costs of artificial grass vs. natural grass.
By the end of this guide, you should have a good idea of what to expect in terms of cost for your artificial grass installation.
How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost?
With artificial grass, as with most products, you get what you pay for in terms of product quality.
The lower-end cost to install artificial grass is around $6 per square foot.
For higher-end or name-brand turf products from companies like SYNLawn, K9 Grass, Foreverlawn, etc. you can expect to pay around $10 – $15 per square foot.
Aside from the cost of turf products, there are a number of factors that influence the cost of an artificial grass installation.
Artificial Grass Installation Cost Factors
There are several factors that affect the cost of artificial grass, including:
- Project Size
- Type of Turf or Turf Product
- Installation Complexity
- Labor
- Installation Extras [Base Material, Infill, Drainage Membrane, Edging, Etc.]
As you can see above, the cost of installing artificial grass ranges significantly from project to project and is influenced by a number of factors.
It may help to see how much you can expect to pay for different size installations.
The table below provides an overview of turf installation costs for projects ranging from 200 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS INSTALLATION COSTS FOR DIFFERENT SIZE PROJECTS
| Square Feet | Total Installation Cost |
|---|---|
| 200 | $1,226 – $4,140 |
| 500 | $3,065 – $10,350 |
| 1,000 | $6,130 – $20,700 |
| 2,000 | $12,260 – $41,400 |
| 5,000 | $30,650 – $103,500 |
| 8,000 | $49,040 – $165,600 |
| 10,000 | $61,300 – $207,000 |
More and more home and business owners in Arlington, TX are choosing to make the switch to artificial grass.
Installing artificial grass may be more expensive than a natural grass installation, but the ongoing maintenance costs for synthetic grass is so much lower than alternative ground covers.
Artificial grass doesn’t necessitate watering, fertilizing, trimming, weeding, or mowing, making it far more cost-effective long term.
Now that we’ve looked at the total cost of artificial grass installations for a range of project sizes, let’s drill down into the components that make up the total cost.
How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost Per Square Foot?
Artificial grass cost around $2 to $8 per square foot.
Purchasing artificial grass directly from the manufacturer or online retailer doesn’t include the most important part, installation.
Installing artificial grass properly requires an experienced and professional crew of turf installers, which costs from $4 to $13 per square foot.
The $2 to $8 cost of artificial grass plus $4 to $13 for labor gives us the $6 to $20 per square foot average mentioned at the beginning of the article.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS COST PER SQUARE FOOT
| Item | Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Grass & Materials | $1.80 – $7.50 |
| Labor | $4.33 – $13.20 |
| Total Cost | $6.13 – $20.70 |
Calculating the cost per square foot of artificial grass should include “wastage.”
Wastage is the pieces of turf that are cut away to fit around curves, edges, and obstacles.
The general rule is to add 15% to the total square footage.
What Are The Labor Costs to Install Artificial Grass?
Properly installing artificial grass is not a simple and easy task.
It will require special equipment and the most important non-tangible factor, experience.
The labor cost of installing artificial grass ranges from $4 to $13 per square foot, with most homeowners spending $7.50 per square foot.
A 1,000 square foot lawn will take a professional and experienced crew of 4 – 5 people 1 – 3 days to complete depending on how much prep work is required.
Artificial Grass Cost By Material Type
Turf products are manufactured using three different plastics: polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene.
The three materials are made into spools of yarn that are used to create the individual components of artificial grass.
This includes the individual turf fibers, turf backing, and thatch fibers.
Each material has different features and properties that are combined to create different turf products.
Below is a brief overview of the three materials, along with a description of their most common use cases.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is the most commonly used plastic in artificial grass because of how much it looks and behaves like natural grass.
It does not absorb water and is resistant to pet odors.
However, it has a low melting point (248 – 266 F°) and is susceptible to damage from the sun.
Most quality turf products will have UV stabilizers incorporated to help mitigate this problem.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is the least expensive of the three materials.
The thin fibers and overall softness of the material make it a popular choice for the “Thatch” fibers found on most turf products.
It doesn’t hold up to high traffic at tall pile heights as well as the other materials do.
Like polyethylene, it’s also moisture resistant.
A quality polypropylene product will also have UV stabilizers.
Nylon
Nylon is the strongest, springiest, most sun-resistant material available, and is also the most expensive.
Perfect for high-traffic areas, nylon requires the least maintenance.
Nylon turf products are most commonly used in putting green turf products and on sports fields.
It absorbs more liquid than the other materials, making it prone to staining and odors from pet urine.
It can also cause “turf burn” injuries because it’s stiffer than other materials.
The table below shows the range of pricing per square foot of each of the three materials.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS COST BY MATERIAL TYPE
| Material | Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Polypropylene | $1.80 – $7.50 |
| Polyethylene | $2.60 – $3.70 |
| Nylon | $5.09 – $5.66 |
How Much Artificial Grass Do I Need?
The amount of artificial grass required for your project will depend on the square footage of the area you want to install it on as well as the shape.
To help with determining the size of your installation, we put together a detailed guide on how to measure for artificial grass and calculate square footage.
For spaces with curves or other obstacles, it helps to divide the space into squares or rectangles when measuring the dimensions.
You simply multiply the length and width of each square or rectangle to determine the square feet.
Add the square footage of each square or rectangle to get your total square footage.
Don’t forget to add 15% for wastage to your square footage total.
It’s better to over-estimate the square footage, as you’ll be pleasantly surprised when the final cost is less than you anticipated.
Artificial Grass Material Costs
To install artificial grass at your home or business, you’ll need more than just rolls of turf.
The cost of materials for artificial grass range from $2 – $8 per square foot.
Most homeowners will spend $4.26 per square foot for the actual grass.
That cost varies depending on the type of turf product you’d like to install, and that price is for the rolls of turf only.
Installing artificial grass will require some or all of the materials outlined below.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS MATERIAL COSTS
| Material | Average Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Artificial Grass Material | $4.25 |
| Class II Road Base | $0.40 |
| Infill Material | $0.56 |
| Edging or Bender Board | $0.15 |
| Seam Tape, Nails, Stakes, Adhesives | $0.35 |
| Weed Barrier | $0.09 |
Adhesives or Fasteners
Artificial grass doesn’t have a root system like natural grass and will therefore need to be secured to the ground.
Adhesive costs around $0.06 per square foot.
Each gallon container is $13.90 and covers 25 square yards (225 square feet).
Seam Sealer is $48 for one gallon, which will cover 800 LF.
If using rolls 15 feet wide, one gallon will cover up to 18,000 square feet.
Edging / Bender Board
If the space you’re planning to have artificial grass installed doesn’t have a clean solid edge, one will need to be created using bender board.
It creates an edge against which the base can be compacted and secured.
Edging kits can be purchased for $21 to $148, or about $0.15 per square foot depending on the size and shape of your yard.
Weed Barrier
Weed barrier fabric prevents any weeds from growing through your new synthetic lawn.
One roll of fabric typically covers 1,500 square feet and costs around $90.
Infill Material
Infill plays an extremely important role in artificial grass.
The most common infill material is silica sand, which is evenly distributed over the turf to act as a ballast and weigh it down.
In addition to keeping to turf in place, the infill also protects the turf backing from the sun and keeps the individual turf fibers standing upright.
Sand is relatively inexpensive at $5 per 50 lb. bag.
The recommended amount to use is 1.5 – 4.5 lbs. per square foot.
The price for enough sand to do an average-size yard can run from $1,207 – $3,622.
Seam Tape
Seam tape will run you about $48 for the average-sized yard.
Class II Road Base
Class II road base is composed of crushed rocks which are installed as a base surface.
The base provides a solid and even surface for the artificial grass and is porous enough to allow water and pet urine to drain efficiently.
The least expensive option costs $0.40 per square foot.
Foam Padding / Underlayment
A foam padding can be installed underneath the artificial grass to provide additional protection from falls.
Most homeowners find this to be overkill and usually opt out of installing the foam padding.
The foam padding underlayment costs $2.75 per square foot.
Preparing for Turf Installation
The most labor-intensive part of an artificial grass installation is the pre-installation site prep.
You can’t just throw some artificial grass on top of any surface.
Prior to installing artificial grass, the area will need to be properly prepared to ensure that your turf will look and perform its best for years to come.
As a turf installer, we handle this as part of the installation process and it’s included in the “Labor Costs” covered above.
Pre-installation site prep involves the following:
- Remove all rocks, stumps, leaves, and sticks.
- Cap or relocate sprinkler heads
- Remove existing grass using a sod cutter or bobcat
- Excavate and remove 2 – 4 inches of soil
- Add Class II Road Base and spread evenly
- Compact base using a plate compactor
We’ve covered the individual costs of each component of an artificial grass installation.
Now it’s time to compare the cost of artificial grass vs. real grass to see which option is the most cost effective and will deliver the best ROI.
Artificial Grass vs. Real Grass Cost Comparison
The most common objection that we hear to artificial grass is the cost.
While the upfront cost of an artificial grass installation can be a lot, it should be thought of as a long-term investment.
The cost of artificial grass is also a lot more reasonable and understandable when viewed alongside the cost of maintaining a natural grass lawn.
When comparing artificial grass vs. real grass you have to look beyond the upfront cost and take into account the maintenance costs of natural grass.
Installing artificial grass will cost $12 per square foot on average while installing sod is only $1.35 per square foot.
The disparity in price is significant.
However, when we include the annual cost of maintaining a natural grass lawn, artificial grass pays for itself in 6 years or less.
The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of the annual maintenance costs of artificial grass vs. real grass for a 500-square-foot lawn.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS VS. REAL GRASS [500 sq. ft. lawn]
| Artificial Grass | Real Grass | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | $5,860 @ $11.72 / sq. ft. | $675 @ $1.35 /sq. ft. |
| Watering | $0 | $90 / year |
| Fertilizing | $0 | $100 / year |
| Maintenance | $0 | $650 / year |
| First Year Total | $5,860 | $1,515 |
| Annual Costs | $0 | $840 |
| Total Cost After 3 Yrs. | $5,860 | $3,195 |
| Total Cost After 6 Yrs. | $5,860 | $5,715 |
Return on Investment
According to the costs in the table above, you’ll see a return on your investment in artificial grass in 6 years.
Considering that artificial grass lasts 15 – 25+ years when properly installed and cared for, you’ll be able to enjoy the time, money, water, and energy savings for a decade or two!
Artificial Grass vs. Real Grass: Care & Maintenance Cost Comparison
As mentioned above the biggest cost with artificial grass is upfront for the installation.
The cost of natural grass is in the maintenance.
Maintaining an artificial grass lawn is as simple as fluffing the fibers with a stiff bristle broom every week, or every other week depending on foot traffic.
You may also have to rake or pick up any leaves or solid debris that fall onto your turf.
The only real expense for artificial turf maintenance is replenishing the infill once a year.
If you have dogs that use the lawn, hosing down areas where they urinate will help wash away any residual urine.
All told, the cost in time and money for maintaining an artificial lawn is quite low.
Natural grass is much cheaper to install but is costly to maintain — in both time and money.
For example, the average American homeowner spends 70 hours per year on lawn maintenance.
That’s almost 9 workdays!
Some of us don’t even get that many vacation days!
In addition to spending long, hot weekend hours caring for your lawn, you get to pay for the privilege.
Here’s a breakdown of the annual equipment, fuel, and chemical costs to maintain a 1,000 square-foot artificial lawn versus a natural grass lawn over a 25-year period.
Artificial Grass Maintenance Costs
Power brushing: $175 (annually)
Spraying w/ hose: $6 a month (0.25 inches bi-weekly) = $72 annually
Infill replenishing: $100 minimum (annually)
Total Annual Costs: $281
Total 25-Year Costs: $7,025
Natural Grass Maintenance Costs
Mowing/edging: $780 annually ($30 per week for 6 months)
Spring/fall cleanup: $100
Fertilizing: $80
Aeration: $70
Weed abatement: $35
Sprinkler repair: $180
Leaf cleanup: $190
Watering: $567 (assuming watering for 6 months)
Total Annual Costs: $2,002
Total 25-Year Costs: $50,050
Common Residential Turf Applications
Droughts are becoming increasingly severe.
The negative environmental impact of natural grass lawns is widely accepted as fact.
As a result homeowners throughout Arlington, TX are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to natural grass lawns.
Inevitably, the majority of them settle on artificial grass as the solution.
The versatility of artificial grass means that it can be used just about anywhere you can image in and around your home.
If you aren’t sure where to start, you should check out our detailed guide on how to choose the best artificial grass for your space.
Below are examples of the most common residential turf applications.
Pet Turf / Artificial Grass for Dogs
The most common reason that homeowners choose to install artificial grass is because of dogs.
As much as you love your dog, it’s pretty frustrating how easily they destroy natural grass.
Whether its the brown spots from dog urine, digging holes, or tracking dirt and mud into the house, dogs and natural grass don’t mix.
Pet-friendly artificial grass is designed specifically for the abuse that dogs dish out.
Quality pet turf products are equipped with a fully permeable backing that allows for more efficient drainage.
Dog urine and rainwater pass right through the turf and into the sub-base.
The best fake grass for dogs products are infused with antimicrobial additives during the manufacturing process.
Antimicrobial additives help to combat the odors and bacteria that can build up from urine.
To learn more about how you might use artificial grass for your pup, you should check out our post about dog run ideas & creating a dog potty area.
Backyard Putting Greens
An increasingly popular addition to many Arlington, TX homes is a backyard putting green.
You can work on your short game any time of the day or night and have a unique feature to entertain guests.
A custom-designed golf green is a perfect addition to any backyard landscape.
Backyard putting greens provide family-friendly entertainment and improved aesthetics.
Additionally, it will increase the value of your home.
Artificial turf backyard putting greens have become so popular because they can be customized to your specifications and are maintenance-free once installed.
Artificial Grass Lawns
Many homeowners have come to recognize the futility of maintaining a natural grass lawn.
The water and maintenance requirements are simply too much, especially when it can be replaced with a lush, evergreen alternative that’s easy to maintain.
Advances in manufacturing technology have resulted in turf products that are so true-to-life, that it’s difficult to even tell the difference between real grass and artificial grass.
Unlike natural grass, you won’t have a die-off in the heat of summer or have to endure a seasonal change in color or lushness as it heads towards fall and winter.
Artificial grass lawns remain green and full year after year, regardless of the season.
Swimming Pool Area Turf
Children can’t help but run when they’re around pools.
The area around swimming pools is often slippery and dangerous.
Swimming pool area turf is a great way to improve the aesthetics of your yard while also making it safer.
The materials used to manufacture artificial grass are able to withstand splashes from chlorinated or saltwater.
Pool chemicals have no effect on artificial grass, and the water drains through the turf and back into the pool.
Installing artificial grass around your pool or on your pool deck provides a safe, non-slip ground cover for every member of your family.
Roof, Deck, Patio or Outdoor Living Space Turf
Outdoor living spaces like rooftops, decks, patios, and balconies are often difficult if not impossible to landscape.
Choosing to use artificial grass for your roof, deck, patio, or other hard surface areas comes with many benefits and advantages over traditional lawn solutions.
The main reason most people decide to use artificial grass on their porch is for aesthetics and feel.
It’s no big secret that adding a little natural-looking grass to your otherwise drab concrete makes everything more inviting for friends, family, and other guests.
Besides, resting your feet on clean lush grass beats concrete any day!
Artificial grass can transform a drab space into a lush, green oasis that’s both pet and kid-friendly.
Children’s Play Areas & Playground Turf
The safety of their children is a common concern of homeowners looking for an alternative ground cover for play areas.
Artificial grass for play areas provides a lush, soft ground cover that can absorb the impact of falls.
For added protection, you can also include a foam pad under the turf.
In our experience, most homeowners choose not to have the extra padding installed.
They generally find that artificial grass offers more than enough protection from falls for their children.
Wrapping Up Our Artificial Grass Cost Guide
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the cost of artificial grass and the factors that influence the cost of an artificial grass installation.
If you are ready to get started on your artificial grass journey, we recommend you explore our website a bit.
There are a lot of specifics to understand about artificial grass.
We want to provide you with information and resources to educate yourself on the many features and options available.
Learn about:
We have artificial turf products for every situation, free quotes, and world-class customer support.
Let’s get an expert on your side to help you put together the perfect installation plan.
We have teams of the best artificial grass installers in Arlington, TX.
We are happy to help you explore this decision by answering any of your questions.
Feel free to fill out a form to contact us or simply give us a call at: (682) 332-2700.
