The Short Answer
On our estimates, a new turf lawn costs about £12 to £25 per m² laid, with light preparation: £600 to £1,250 for 50m². Stripping the old lawn adds £5 to £10 per m² and levelling with topsoil £10 to £25. A gardener lays about 30 to 35m² a day, once the ground is ready.
Preparation decides how good the lawn is. Turf can be laid at any time of year except on frozen ground, but it needs keeping moist for the first two weeks, and you should keep off it for 2 to 3 weeks.
Lawn cost calculator
Real turf or artificial grass, priced per square metre with the preparation that decides how well it lasts.
Estimated total
£850 to £1,750
| New turf, 50m², laid with light preparation | £600 to £1,250 |
| Stripping the old lawn | £250 to £500 |
Turfing prices
| Area | Laid | With stripping and levelling |
|---|---|---|
| 20m² | £240 to £500 | £540 to £1,200 |
| 50m² | £600 to £1,250 | £1,350 to £3,000 |
| 100m² | £1,200 to £2,500 | £2,700 to £6,000 |
| 200m² | £2,400 to £5,000 | £5,400 to £12,000 |
Preparing and laying
- Preparation: allow about an hour per m² to prepare ground by hand, and poor soil may need new topsoil first.
- Laying: about 30 to 35m² a day per gardener, so a 100m² lawn is about 3 days' work in all.
- Timing: turf grower Rolawn says turf can go down all year round, but never on frozen ground, and needs extra care in hot, dry spells. It has to be rolled out the day it arrives in spring and summer, or within 24 hours in autumn and winter.
Aftercare
Rolawn says to water straight after laying and keep the turf and the soil under it moist for the first two weeks (once or twice a day in warm weather; lift a corner to check), then water more deeply and less often in weeks three and four. Lindum, another grower, advises keeping off it for 2 to 3 weeks while the roots establish.
Turf, seed or artificial?
| Cost | When | Upkeep | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Cheapest | Spring or autumn; germinates in 7 to 21 days | Mowing |
| Turf | £12 to £25 per m² | Any time except frozen ground | Mowing |
| Artificial grass | £55 to £90 per m² | Any time | No mowing |
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Turfing is priced by area and how much preparation the ground needs.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to lay turf per m2?
On our estimates, about £12 to £25 per m² laid, with light preparation. Stripping and levelling add more.
How much should turf cost installed?
About £600 to £1,250 for a 50m² lawn on our estimates, or more with stripping and levelling.
What month should you lay turf?
Any month, according to turf grower Rolawn, as long as the ground isn't frozen; hot, dry spells need extra watering. Seed is best sown in spring or autumn.
How long does it take to lay 100m2 of turf?
About 3 days including preparation; a gardener lays about 30 to 35m² a day.
How long before you can walk on new turf?
Lindum advises keeping off it for 2 to 3 weeks, and Rolawn says to keep it moist for the first two weeks.
How we priced thisView sources (3)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- IndustryWhen to lay turf and seed, Rolawn. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryWatering your turf and soil drainage, Rolawn. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryWhen can you walk on new turf?, Lindum Turf. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
