What to include in a landscaping estimate
Landscaping covers everything from a $50 mowing visit to a $20,000 patio, so the estimate has to make clear what the customer is actually getting. Include:
- Your business details: name, phone, email, and license number if your area requires one.
- Customer name and property address, and which areas of the yard are included.
- Measurements: square feet of lawn or beds, cubic yards of mulch or soil, linear feet of edging or wall.
- A plant list with the type and size of each plant (for example 3-gallon shrubs).
- Materials: mulch type and color, stone, sod, pavers.
- Site prep: removing old plants or turf, grading, weed barrier.
- Haul-away of debris, and any equipment fees.
- Timeline and weather, plus any plant guarantee and its watering conditions.
- Deposit and total.
How to price landscaping and lawn care
Maintenance and lawn care
Price recurring work per visit (mowing, edging, blowing) or as a monthly or seasonal package. On the estimate, show the price per visit and how many visits are included, so the customer can see the yearly cost.
Installs and projects
Add up materials and plants, labor hours, equipment, disposal and your margin. Price by the unit where you can: per cubic yard of mulch, per square foot of sod or pavers, per plant.
Working out mulch
Cubic yards = square feet of bed × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27. For example, 300 sq ft of beds at 3 inches deep is 300 × 3 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.8 cubic yards, so you would order 3.
The price list in the tool above uses example US prices. Replace them with your own.
Example: front yard refresh estimate
| Item | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spring clean-up | 1 | $250.00 |
| Mulch installed (per cubic yard) | 4 | $360.00 |
| Plant shrub (each) | 6 | $360.00 |
| Yard debris haul-away (per load) | 1 | $150.00 |
| Total | $1,120.00 | |
| Deposit to book (30%) | $336.00 |
These numbers are only an example. Real prices depend on the property, the plants and materials, and your area. For small maintenance jobs you can set the deposit to 0.
Before you dig
Get underground utilities marked before planting trees, installing posts or digging for patios. In the US you can call 811 for a free locate service; other countries have similar services. Mention it on the estimate: it shows the customer you work safely.
Estimate vs. quote vs. invoice
An estimate fits jobs where the ground may hide surprises, such as rock or old roots. A quote fixes the price for a clear design with named plants and materials. An invoice is the bill, including regular monthly lawn care bills. The tool above switches between all three without retyping.
Tips to win more landscaping jobs
- Offer packages, such as basic mowing, mowing plus beds, and full care.
- Add a seasonal upsell like aeration or fall clean-up as an optional line.
- Include a simple sketch or photos for install work.
- Send the estimate the same day, especially in spring when customers book fast.
Frequently asked questions
Is this landscaping estimate template free?
Yes. Make and download as many estimates as you like. Free PDFs include a small line at the bottom saying they were made with QuoteToolbelt.
Can I use it for lawn care estimates?
Yes. Add "Lawn mowing (per visit)" and "Edging and trimming (per visit)" from the price list and set the quantity to the number of visits.
How do I price mulch or sod in the tool?
Pick the per-cubic-yard or per-square-foot line from the price list and enter the amount as the quantity. The tool multiplies it by your rate.
Should I offer a plant guarantee?
Many landscapers guarantee plants for a set time if the customer waters them as instructed. If you offer one, write the period and conditions in the notes.
How long should a landscaping estimate be valid?
30 days is common, since plant and material prices change with the season. The tool sets 30 days by default.