Landscape edging, also known as landscape curbing, creates a beautiful border for your landscape, garden, or flower bed. A typical landscape edging project costs $1,235, with a price range of $730 to $1,720, depending on materials, labor, and other factors.
On the low end of the pricing spectrum, you could spend as little as $350 for professionally installed landscape curbing. If you want to use more high-end materials, the cost may be as high as $3,700. Prices will vary based on the size of the project, the style of curbing you decide to go with, and other factors we will cover.
In this article:
- Average Cost of Landscape Edging
- Cost Estimator By Size
- Other Factors that Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
- Cost by Location
- FAQs
Average Landscape Edging Cost in 2023
| National Average Cost | $1,235 |
| Typical Price Range | $730 – $1,720 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $350 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $3,700 |
These numbers are based on projects averaging 180 linear feet or curbing. Regional differences in labor and material costs will push your prices higher or lower, of course.
You might pay closer to the low-end cost if you opt to install cheaper materials such as brick or even plastic. Taking the DIY approach to landscape edging will also save you a lot of money. But, if your budget allows for costs upwards of $3,700, you could hire a professional to install curbing with more high-end materials, such as granite.
Landscape Edging Cost Estimation by Size
Your lawn or garden’s size plays an important role in determining the final cost of your edging project. Simply put, the larger the area, the higher the price of the job. The average cost of landscape edging by size is roughly $4 to $11 per linear foot. So, for 180 feet of edging, you may pay a total cost of $720 to $1,980, depending on materials and labor.
Other Factors that Affect Cost
Landscape edging prices can vary widely depending on a number of factors. Here is a look at those factors.
Cost of Common Materials
The edging materials you choose will largely depend on your taste, but know that some of the high-end options will cost you. The most popular materials are brick, stone, and concrete. In addition, concrete curbing can include precast blocks laid along a path or freshly poured concrete for a more custom design.
Poured concrete will generally be more expensive than precast concrete. And precast concrete edging is easier to alter than poured concrete once it’s in place becomes it comes in sections that can be replaced. You can simply shift the blocks to your desired configuration.
| Material | Average Price Range (labor included) |
| Brick | $7 – $13 per square foot |
| Stone | $11 – $40 per linear foot |
| Concrete (precast) | $7 – $13 per square foot |
| Concrete (poured) | $9 – $17 per square foot |
| Steel | $8 – $15 per square foot |
Straight vs. Curved
Gardens, lawns, and other landscapes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Installation is obviously easier if you’re edging straight walkways and sidewalks.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to install curbing along a winding path or curved garden, you’ll pay a higher price in labor for the planning and design.
The Complexity of the Landscape
Intricately designed landscapes can add visual appeal to your property. However, they can also increase the cost of edging. If contractors must work around ponds, exotic plants, trees, and statues, more planning will have to go into the project.
The type of land you’re working with also plays a role in determining your landscape curbing cost. Is it hilly? Does the property need to be graded? Challenging contours in the property add complexity to the project and may drive up the cost.
There are also considerations such as retaining walls and drainage that must be accounted for when dealing with certain types of landscapes.
When contacting a professional contractor for a quote, be sure to discuss the contour of your property.
Curb Cutting
If your landscape project includes a driveway or walkway that connects to a public road or sidewalk, you’ll need to consider the cost of curb cutting. This means adding an “apron” to separate your property from the public road.
Curb cutting designs can employ simple materials like asphalt, or they can make use of decorative stonework. You can expect to pay around $2 to $10 per square foot for curb cutting depending on the size of your edging and the materials used.
Cost of Related Services
While you’re at it, you might want to tackle other landscaping projects, including:
- Designing a landscape
- Installing landscape lighting
- Putting in a retaining wall
- Adding a raised garden bed
Designing a Landscape
A beautiful landscape can be visually stunning and increase the value of your home, and a professional designer can show you how to take it to the next level.
You can expect to pay $2,200 to $6,180 per project for a professional landscape designer, or around $50 to $150 per hour. The price will cover designs of intermediate complexity. The landscaping materials and labor costs are not included in the design costs.
Installing Landscape Lighting
If you go to the expense and effort of edging your garden or yard, you want people to see it even when the sun goes down. The average cost of landscape lighting is roughly $2,000 to $4,500 for professional installation. You can spend as little as $50 or as much as $1,500 if you do it yourself with supplies from your local garden center.
Putting in a Retaining Wall
When you install landscape edging around a slope, there is a risk that the soil will shift or erode around it. So, you may need to consider installing a retaining wall to hold everything in place.
The cost of a retaining wall depends on a number of factors. However, the typical range is between $3,500 and $9,400 for a professionally installed retaining wall.
Adding a Raised Garden Bed
A raised garden bed can be a cost-effective way of elevating your landscape in more ways than one. Good garden design can give your home large amounts of curb appeal with simple measures. The total cost of a raised garden bed depends partially on whether you choose a premade kit, build it from scratch, or hire a professional for the installation.
- Typical price range of raised garden bed kits: $104.18 – $210.06
- Average cost of materials for a DIY project: $18.39 per square foot
- Professional installation costs: $38 – $93 per hour for carpenters, $40 – $70 per hour for brick masons
Pro Cost Vs. DIY Cost
Hiring a professional contractor to handle your landscape curbing project will make the job more time efficient. However, you will have to contend with the price of labor, which can increase the total cost of your project.
If you are savvy with DIY work, installing landscape curbing blocks on your own is possible. Poured concrete landscape curbing tends to be a more complex undertaking with a slim margin for error, so it’s generally advised to hire a contractor to handle that type of work.
The following table breaks down the costs of tools and materials to give you an idea of what you might pay for DIY landscape edging based on an average area of 180 linear feet.
| DIY Equipment | Average Cost |
| Garden Spade | $12 |
| Hammer | $18 |
| Mortar Mix | $7 per 60lb. bag |
| Work Gloves | $18 |
| Pruning Shears | $15 |
| Wheelbarrow | $60 |
| Mulch | $4 per 2 cubic feet |
| Plastic Landscape Edging Kit | $17 for 20 ft. kit |
| Steel Landscape Edging | $15 per 4 ft. section |
| Clay Bricks | $0.80 ea. |
| Total DIY Cost (Plastic Kit) | $456 |
| Total DIY Cost (Steel Edging) | $978 |
| Total DIY Cost (Brick Edging) | $688 |
So, you see you can edge your garden or yard yourself for between $456 and $688, which is well below the average professional installation cost of $1,235. Steel edging requires higher quality material, so the average DIY price is slightly higher than professional.
As with a professional installation, the cost of a DIY landscape edging project depends on the type of edging you choose. If you can find edging materials and tools for less than the average prices listed here, you can complete your landscape edging project more cheaply.
Cost of Landscape Edging by Location
Your location can also impact your landscape curbing costs. Local codes and even homeowners association restrictions mayl affect how intricate you can make your curbing. Some areas have limitations on the sort of tools and materials you can use. For example, a cement mixer for poured concrete may be fine in an urban area, but residential neighborhoods may not allow it.
In addition, contractors must abide by different tax laws and codes that determine the labor costs that get passed on to homeowners. The cost of living varies across the country, so professionals also have to take those variables into account when giving estimates.
FAQ
No-dig edging is typically the type that provides the least amount of hassle. You can install no-dig edging by simply pounding in stakes. This is a contrast to brick or poured concrete, which requires more complex and time-consuming procedures.
With proper care and maintenance, brick edging can last up to 10 to 20 years. You may need to reseal it every 2 to 3 years, though. Concrete edging can last 10 to 30 years, and steel edging can last even longer.
For a professional, the length of time depends on the size of the area. However, it rarely takes longer than an hour. Once poured, the concrete will take several weeks to fully cure, though most of the curing occurs in the first 24 to 48 hours.
Final Thoughts
Whether you decide to hire a professional contractor or take the DIY route, landscape edging is a great way to make your lawn, garden, flower bed, or walkways look neater. The national average landscape curbing cost is $1,235, with a typical price range of $730 – $1,720. At the absolute minimum, you could pay $350 for landscape edging, while a more complex project can cost upwards of $3,700 on the high end.
You could pay a more budget-friendly price if you decide to take the DIY route. However, even if you have the time and tools necessary, large areas can be time-consuming. Hiring a local landscaping professional may be the most effective choice for you.
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Image Credit: stonescape / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
