How to Quote a Landscaping Job in Australia
Landscaping quotes span earthworks, hardscaping, planting and irrigation — miss a slice and the margin's gone. Here's how to quote a landscaping job so every stage is costed and the customer can budget.
A landscaping quote can run from a courtyard tidy-up to a full front-and-back transformation, and the money hides in the parts customers don't picture — the earthworks, the spoil to cart away, the irrigation under the new lawn. Price the visible bits only and site prep eats you alive. This guide covers what a landscaping quote should include, 2026 costs, and how to stage the job so it wins the work.
What a good landscaping quote covers
A good landscaping quote is split into sections, so the customer can see the whole picture and stage it if the budget's tight. Cover every layer of the job:
- Site preparation — clearing, levelling and soil amendment.
- Hardscaping — paving, retaining walls, edging and paths.
- Softscaping — turf, garden beds, plants and mulch.
- Irrigation — automatic drip or spray systems, quoted as standard, not an add-on.
- Drainage — so the new garden doesn't turn into a bog.
- Lighting and clean-up — the finishing touches and carting the mess away.
Landscaping costs in 2026
Landscaping rates cover a wide range because no two sites are the same, but these 2026 figures give you a starting point per square metre before the site-specific costs:
| Element | Installed rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turf laying | $25–$45/m² | Includes soil preparation |
| Paving | $80–$180/m² | Varies with paver and base |
| Garden beds (plants + mulch) | $100–$200/m² | Established planting |
| Drip irrigation | $10–$20/m² | Automatic systems |
All up, a typical front-and-backyard project lands around $15,000–$50,000, while a small courtyard makeover runs $5,000–$15,000. The spread comes down to earthworks, access and the plant and paving choices.
Pricing earthworks and site prep
Site preparation is the part customers never see and tradies most often underquote — it can be 20–30% of the whole job. Get on the site and work out how much earth has to move before you price anything else.
- Bobcat or excavator hire: $80–$120/hour, or $500–$800/day.
- Soil supply: $50–$80/m³ delivered; crushed rock $40–$70/m³.
- Tip fees for green waste and spoil: $150–$300 per load, and you'll often need several.
- Every cubic metre you dig becomes more loose spoil to cart away — budget the trips.
Quoting plants and softscaping
Plants swing a quote more than most tradies expect, so price them by species and pot size rather than a lump figure. The bigger the plant, the bigger the instant impact — and the bill.
| Plant size | Cost each | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tube stock | $3–$8 | Mass planting and ground covers |
| 200mm pot | $12–$25 | Shrubs and feature plants |
| 300mm pot | $25–$50 | Larger established shrubs |
| Advanced tree | $150–$500+ | Instant screening and impact |
Add mulch at $60–$100/m³ delivered and a planting labour rate on top. As a rule of thumb, budget $80–$150/m² for established garden beds.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Quoting without a site visit. You can't judge access, soil type or drainage from a description. Walk the site before you price a cent of earthworks.
- Hiding earthworks in a lump sum. Site prep is a fifth to a third of the job. Give it its own section so it's visible and defensible.
- Forgetting spoil and tip fees. The digging is only half of it — carting spoil and paying tip fees adds up fast. Count the loads.
- Quoting plants vaguely. List species and pot sizes. 'Some plants and mulch' invites the customer to expect more than you priced.
- Treating irrigation as optional. Quote it as standard. Retro-fitting drip lines after the beds are in costs far more than doing it once.
Pro tips for winning more landscaping jobs
- Visit the site to check access, soil type and drainage before quoting.
- Break big quotes into stages so the customer can prioritise and commit.
- Include a simple design sketch — even a hand-drawn plan lifts a quote above a number.
- Offer a good-better-best on materials so budget isn't a straight yes or no.
- Quote plant species and pot sizes specifically, not 'assorted'.
- Send a clean PDF and follow up within 48 hours while the job's fresh.
ServiceYak keeps your turf, paving, planting and earthworks rates in a reusable kit, so you can build a staged, itemised landscaping quote on site and send the PDF while the customer's still in the yard with you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does landscaping cost in Australia?
A full front-and-backyard project usually runs $15,000–$50,000, and a small courtyard makeover $5,000–$15,000. Earthworks, access and your plant and paving choices drive most of the difference.
Should I quote a landscaping job in stages?
Often, yes. Splitting the quote into site prep, hardscaping, planting and irrigation lets a customer commit to what they can afford now and come back for the rest — and you win the work instead of losing it to price.
Do I include irrigation in a landscaping quote?
Quote it as standard. Automatic drip runs about $10–$20/m² and is far cheaper installed before the beds and turf go in than retro-fitted afterward.