Measure your lawn area
Project area: 500 sq ft
Turf vs sod, honestly
| Consideration | Artificial turf | Sod lawn |
|---|---|---|
| Water use | None once installed, apart from occasional rinsing. | Ongoing irrigation year-round, heaviest in late summer. |
| Base preparation | Existing surface removed, compacted permeable base, seaming, nailing and infill. | Soil prep and amendment, grading to drain, then sod laid and rolled. |
| Irrigation | Spray zones are usually capped; a rinse bib or hose access is enough. | Needs working spray or rotary coverage with head-to-head spacing. |
| Maintenance | Brushing, debris blowing, occasional infill top-up. No mowing. | Mowing, edging, fertilizing, aeration and overseeding of thin areas. |
| Heat and sun | Surface gets hot in full afternoon sun; shade or lighter infill helps. | Stays cool underfoot but browns fast if irrigation coverage is uneven. |
| Rebates | Synthetic turf typically does not qualify for water agency turf rebates. | A live lawn is what rebate programs generally pay you to remove. |
Your planning range
$7,500–$15,500
This is a preliminary planning estimate, not a proposal or contract. Final pricing comes from a site visit.
Your selected scope
- Artificial turf, installed500 sq ft$6,000–$11,000
- Removing the existing lawn or surface500 sq ft removed$1,500–$4,500
What's moving your number
- Project area — 500 square feet of finished lawn surface.
- Artificial turf — Most of the cost is underneath — demolition, compacted permeable base and precise seaming.
- Existing surface removal — Old lawn, concrete or bark has to come out and go to the dump before anything new goes down.
Recommended next steps
- Confirm the area by measuring the widest points and rounding up.
- Check how the area drains today — turf and sod both fail on a flat, compacted subgrade.
- Decide how the lawn gets used: pets, kids, shade, or mostly visual.
- Book a free walkthrough and we'll confirm base depth, drainage and irrigation on site.
Real lawn and turf projects
Completed Staples Landscaping work with the same materials or features. Scope and budget differ from project to project.
Kearny MesaBusiness Park RefreshPlanter replanting, drip conversion, walkway repair, lighting- HillcrestButterfly Bliss Native MeadowFull front-yard native meadow conversion with weaving entry path and pollinator planting
- MiramarCommercial Frontage LandscapeFrontage planting, concrete entry apron, irrigation rebuild
Related reading
Turf and sod questions
- How do I measure my lawn area?
- Multiply length by width in feet for a rectangle. For an irregular shape, break it into two or three rectangles, measure each and add them together. Round up slightly — material is ordered with waste.
- How much does artificial turf cost in San Diego?
- Our published installed range is $12 to $22 per square foot, which includes demolition, permeable base, seaming, nailing and infill. Pet systems with a specialty deodorizing infill sit at the top of that range.
- Is artificial turf cheaper than a sod lawn?
- Turf costs more to install and nothing to water. Sod costs less up front and carries water, mowing and fertilizer for as long as you keep it. Over the life of a yard, the crossover depends on your water rate and how much lawn you actually use.
- Does artificial turf drain?
- It does when the base is built for it — a compacted permeable base with the right cross-fall. Turf laid on unprepared clay is how you end up with standing water and odor. On flat lots we look at drainage as part of the same scope.
- What are the alternatives to both?
- Kurapia, dymondia, native grass meadows and ornamental grass planting all give you softness and low water without a synthetic surface. Our lawn alternatives guide compares them honestly for San Diego conditions.
- Does this tool give a quote?
- No. It gives you a measured area, a comparison and a planning range where we have published installed pricing. Every real number comes from a site visit.
Next step
Not sure which one your yard wants?
Tell us how the space gets used and we'll give you a straight answer at the walkthrough.
Licensed California landscape contractor · CSLB #1159370