How to price a landscaping job
- Measure the area. Length × width for each lawn or bed, in square feet. Add the pieces together.
- Estimate crew-hours. Divide the area by your own production rate from past jobs, then add fixed time for edging, trimming, loading and cleanup.
- Labour cost. Crew-hours × what an hour of labour really costs you (pay plus payroll costs). A crew of two halves the time on site, not the crew-hours.
- Materials. Bulk mulch, soil or stone by the cubic yard, plus plants, fabric and edging.
- Job costs. Equipment and fuel, dump or disposal fees, and travel.
- Price to margin. Price = direct cost ÷ (1 − target margin). Add sales tax on top — it isn't revenue.
Mulch formula: cubic yards from square feet
Cubic yards = square feet × depth (inches) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. A 324 sq ft bed at 3 inches deep needs 324 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = exactly 3 cubic yards. The calculator rounds up to the half yard because that's how bulk material is usually sold — check your supplier.
Worked example (sample figures)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labour: 324 sq ft ÷ 108 sq ft/h + 1 h cleanup = 4 crew-hours × $25 | $100 |
| Mulch: 3 yd³ × $40 | $120 |
| Equipment and fuel | $30 |
| Disposal | $10 |
| Direct cost | $260 |
| Price at 50% margin: $260 ÷ 0.50 | $520 |
| Estimated gross profit | $260 |
These figures illustrate the method — they aren't market rates for your area. Gross profit is before overhead (truck, trailer, insurance, unbilled time) and before income tax.
Recurring lawn care
Price one visit from its measured time, then multiply by visits per month: weekly ≈ 4.33, every two weeks ≈ 2.17. Many lawn care businesses bill a flat monthly amount across the season — the calculator shows that approximate monthly total and the gross profit behind it.
Want to check a price a customer suggested? Use Price first mode in the profit margin calculator, or read markup vs margin so a 40% target really means 40%.
Common questions
How do I price a landscaping job?
Estimate the crew-hours from the area and your own production rate, add fixed time for edging, cleanup and loading, multiply by your labour cost per hour, then add materials, equipment and fuel, disposal and travel. Price that direct cost to your target margin: price = direct cost ÷ (1 − margin).
How much mulch do I need?
Cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27. For example, 324 sq ft at 3 inches is exactly 3 cubic yards. Round up to the unit your supplier sells, and check the supplier's own coverage figure.
How do I price weekly lawn mowing?
Time how long each property takes, price one visit from that time plus equipment, fuel and travel, then multiply by visits per month. Weekly service averages about 4.33 visits a month (52 weeks ÷ 12).
What should a landscaping estimate include?
The areas and services included, materials with quantities (for example cubic yards of mulch), plant list, disposal of debris, exclusions such as irrigation repairs, schedule or visit frequency, validity period, payment terms, subtotal, tax and total.