You have a few landscaping quotes in front of you and the prices are wildly different. A low price often means something is missing, not that the cheaper firm is better or worse. To compare them fairly, you need to look past the final total and check what each landscaper actually plans to do.
Landscapers price per project after a site visit, as no two gardens are the same. The main cost drivers are the total area, the groundwork required, changing the ground levels and the materials you choose. Access is another major factor that changes the price. A job where all the heavy materials must be carried by hand through a terraced house takes much longer and costs considerably more.
Waste removal makes a huge difference to the final bill. Digging out a new patio generates a lot of heavy soil and old paving that must be removed. A quote that includes professional waste removal and skip hire will look much higher than one that leaves the soil piled up in a corner of your garden.
Location also changes the price you pay. Typical 2026 figures show that London and the South East run about 15 to 30 per cent above average. Prices in the North, Wales and Scotland run slightly below average. Always check whether VAT is included in the bottom line, because it changes what you pay.
Quote or estimate
Citizens Advice suggests you try to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders before you decide on one. You should get the price in writing and ask first whether a trader charges for providing quotes. A quote is a fixed price that the landscaper must stick to. An estimate is just a rough guess, so you might end up paying more once the job begins.
A trader can only charge more than a quote in very specific situations. They can increase the price if you request extra work, or if they tell you about extra work and you agree to pay for it. They can also amend the bill if they made a genuine calculation or writing mistake. Otherwise, the price written on a quote is the price you pay.
A good quote should include a fixed total price rather than a daily rate. It needs to show a clear breakdown of the work and materials with separate costs. The document must state how long the price is valid, whether VAT is included and when the price could change. Citizens Advice also notes that written contracts do not need legal wording, but they should cover timings, tidying up, materials and equipment, subcontractors and payment.
The roles in a landscaping project
Before you compare the figures, you need to know exactly what kind of professional you are hiring. A garden designer produces the plan for the space. A landscaper or landscape contractor builds it. A gardener maintains the space once the heavy work is finished.
The work itself falls into two distinct categories. Hard landscaping is the built part of a garden, which includes patios, paths, walls, steps, decking, fencing and drainage. Soft landscaping is the living part, covering soil preparation, laying turf, planting and adding trees. Design fees are usually separate from the build cost, and larger landscaping jobs are usually paid in stages as the work progresses.
What every quote should state
This table shows the eight essential points you should check on every landscaping quote you receive.
|
Item to check |
What to look for in the quote |
|---|---|
|
Area and levels |
Exact measurements of the space being cleared or built. |
|
Excavation depth |
How deep they will dig to remove old soil or paving. |
|
Sub-base depth |
The thickness of the foundation layer beneath the surface. |
|
Named materials |
Specific make, type and colour of paving, timber or turf. |
|
Drainage |
Where water will run off and how it will soak away. |
|
Waste removal |
How spoil is taken away and who pays for the skip. |
|
Access and timings |
How materials get in, working hours and expected duration. |
|
VAT and totals |
A fixed total price stating clearly whether VAT is included. |
These points help you compare quotes like for like. Local quotes will differ based on your specific garden, but a professional document will always cover these basics so you know exactly what you are buying.
The groundwork to compare
The groundwork nobody sees is where corners get cut most often. A reliable quote states the exact excavation depth and the sub-base depth. A sub-base is a layer of compacted crushed stone, often called MOT Type 1, laid under paving and artificial grass. It provides a stable, load-bearing layer that stops the surface above from sinking into the soft soil.
If a quote is unusually cheap, the landscaper might be planning a thin sub-base or skipping it entirely. A thin or missing sub-base is a known cause of sinking paving. Excavating soil and importing crushed stone takes time and costs money, so checking the sub-base depth is one useful way to see whether a quote is good value.
A professional quote also details the falls. Falls are the slight slope that sheds water away from your house and towards a drainage area. Without correct falls, rainwater pools on the surface of a patio or runs towards the house. Drainage must be planned before any surface is laid to protect your home from damp.
Materials named or vaguely described
A cheap quote often uses vague terms like decking or paving slabs. A detailed quote tells you exactly what you are buying. For decking, the quote should distinguish between softwood, hardwood and composite boards. It must also detail the frame beneath them, as a frame that is not up to the job can fail before the boards do.
The quote should also state whether surfaces are permeable or impermeable. Permeable surfaces allow water to soak through into the ground below. Impermeable surfaces block water, meaning it must be directed into a separate drain or a permeable border.
If you are buying materials yourself to save money, this must be agreed in writing. You take on the responsibility for ordering the right amounts, checking for damage on delivery and ensuring the materials arrive before the landscaper needs them. If your delivery is late and halts the job, ask in advance who bears the cost.
Rules, schemes and protections
Landscaping is not a licensed trade in the UK, so vetted membership and evidence of past work matter. The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) says its Accredited members are vetted on workmanship, skill and health and safety. The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) says members are assessed, regularly inspected and TrustMark accredited. TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme.
For the planning stage, the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers (SGLD) is the professional body for designers. Membership of these bodies is a good sign of a professional firm, but it is not a guarantee. You still need to check their past work and get everything in writing.
Planning rules in England apply to many garden projects, and these rights apply to houses rather than flats or maisonettes. Decking is permitted development if it is no more than 30cm above the ground and, together with extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than 50 per cent of the garden. Fences and walls can be up to 1 metre high next to a road or its footpath and 2 metres elsewhere.
Paving more than 5 square metres of a front garden with an impermeable surface that does not drain to a permeable area needs planning permission. Permeable surfacing does not need permission. Listed buildings need consent for significant work.
Trees are also protected by law. A Tree Preservation Order makes it an offence to cut down, lop, uproot or damage a protected tree without the council giving consent. Work on trees in a conservation area normally needs six weeks of notice to the council. If you are unsure about any of these rules, check with your local council.
Deposits, stage payments and paying safely
You should avoid paying everything upfront for a landscaping project. Citizens Advice says if a deposit is unavoidable you should keep it as low as possible and do not agree to more than 25 per cent. You should get a receipt for any money you hand over and pay by debit or credit card where you can.
Larger jobs should be paid in stages as the work progresses. This means problems can be fixed before you make the final payment. You might also be able to cancel within 14 days of agreeing the work or signing a written contract. If you asked for work to start within that period, you may have to pay for some or all of it.
Any trader who carries waste away from your property must be a registered waste carrier. This is a legal requirement and the register is public on the government website. You can ask for their registration number and check it online before you hand over any money.
Red flags in a quote
Some quotes contain clear warning signs that the work will be poor. You should reject any trader who relies on these practices.
- Doorstep callers offering cheap paving or leftover materials from a job down the road.
- Cash deals with no written specification or contract.
- Quotes that do not name the specific materials being used.
- Thin or missing sub-base layers beneath paving or artificial grass.
- Slabs laid on dabs of mortar instead of a full bed.
- Artificial grass laid straight onto soil without a proper stone base.
- Paving laid completely flat with no fall to shed water.
Laying slabs on dabs of mortar instead of a full bed is a shortcut that leaves hollow spots under the paving. Ask the landscaper to confirm in writing that the slabs will be laid on a full bed.
Common questions
What happens if the work is poor?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, work must be done with reasonable care and skill. If a trader fails this you can ask for a repair. If they cannot or will not fix it, you can seek a partial or full refund.
Do I need a designer or just a landscaper?
A designer is useful if you are changing the whole layout, adding complex planting or struggling for ideas. If you already know exactly where you want a new patio or fence, a landscape contractor can usually price and build the job straight away without a formal design.
Why do quotes state that prices might change?
A good quote states how long the price is valid and when the price could change. If you wait beyond that date, the price may be different, so ask each landscaper to confirm the dates in writing.
Who is responsible for checking planning rules?
Planning rules differ by project and by area, so check with your local council if you are unsure. Agree in writing who will check the rules before work starts, and whether that is part of the quote.
Next steps to choose a landscaper
Comparing quotes is much easier when you know what to look for. Use this checklist to make your final decision before you agree to any work.
- Read through each quote to ensure it is a fixed total price and not an estimate.
- Check that the excavation depth, sub-base and falls are clearly stated.
- Confirm that waste removal is included in the total price.
- Look for evidence of past work and vetted trade membership.
- Check whether VAT is included in the final figure.
If you are still unsure about the prices you have been given, read the detailed breakdown of typical garden landscaping cost figures. You can also read the advice on how to choose a landscape gardener safely. Once you have a clear plan and know what to ask for, you can find a landscaper near you to request your three written quotes.
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