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San Diego Landscaping Cost Calculator

Real installed ranges for San Diego County — adjusted for the three things that actually move a landscape budget: access, soil and finish level.

Build your scope

Enter the quantities you are considering. Leave anything at zero to exclude it.

sq ft

$18$34 per sq ft. Includes excavation, compacted base, bedding, cuts, polymeric joints and edge restraint. Details

sq ft

$26$48 per sq ft. Mortar-set over a reinforced slab runs at the upper end; sand-set with planted joints at the lower end. Details

sq ft

$12$26 per sq ft. Broom finish at the low end; stamped, colored or exposed aggregate at the high end. Details

sq ft

$12$22 per sq ft. Includes demo, permeable base, seaming, nailing and infill. Pet systems sit at the top of the range. Details

sq ft

$8$20 per sq ft. Soil prep, plants at 5- and 15-gallon sizes, mulch and initial establishment. Details

sq ft covered

$3$6 per sq ft covered. Valves, mainline, drip lateral and a smart controller. Retrofits cost less than new mainline runs. Details

face ft (length × height)

$45$110 per face ft. Face footage, not linear. Engineering, drainage and geogrid are included at the higher end. Details

linear ft

$130$280 per linear ft. Block core with veneer or stucco finish and a stone or poured cap. Details

fixtures

$260$480 per fixture. Per-fixture cost including transformer, wire, trenching and brass fixtures. Details

features

$3,200$12,000 per feature. Wood-burning masonry at the low end; gas with electronic ignition and stone veneer at the high end. Details

linear ft of counter

$950$2,400 per linear ft of counter. Framed and veneered island with counter, plus gas, water and electrical runs. Details

sq ft covered

$55$145 per sq ft covered. Wood at the low end; steel, louvered or motorized systems at the high end. Permit typically required. Details

linear ft

$28$65 per linear ft. Catch basins, solid pipe, channel drains and a legal discharge point.

sq ft removed

$3$9 per sq ft removed. Existing concrete, lawn or old hardscape. Reinforced slabs and poor access push this higher.

Site access
Soil & grade
Finish level

Cost questions we get every week

How much does landscaping cost in San Diego?
Most full backyard renovations in San Diego land between $45,000 and $150,000, with focused projects — a patio, a turf lawn, a planting refresh — often falling between $12,000 and $40,000. Access, soil and material selection move the number more than square footage alone.
How much does a paver patio cost in San Diego?
Installed paver work generally runs $18 to $34 per square foot. A 400 square foot patio typically lands between $7,200 and $13,600 before access or soil factors.
What drives landscape costs up the most?
Access is number one. If material has to be wheelbarrowed or hand-carried instead of driven in, labor hours climb across every phase. After that: soil conditions requiring deeper base or rock excavation, grade changes needing structural retaining, and material selection.
Do you charge for the design?
Yes, design is a paid phase — typically $2,500 to $9,500 depending on scope — and we credit it toward the build when you move forward with us. It buys you drawings you actually own and a construction cost you can trust.
Is this calculator a quote?
No. It is a planning range built from typical San Diego installed costs so you can budget realistically before the first conversation. A real number requires a site visit — grade, drainage, access and soil are things nobody can estimate from a screen.

Want the real number?

A site visit resolves the things a calculator cannot see — drainage, grade, existing base and what is actually under your yard. Licensed and insured, CSLB #1159370.