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Here in Arizona, we proudly own the title of the sunniest state in the USA.
Synthetic grass makes sense for a lot of reasons, but it can be a big investment.
How do you know you're getting a fair deal on your new turf?
Let's look at some average prices, then we’ll talk about what we usually charge here at Apex Turf.
Including materials and labor, you can expect to pay between $5 and $20 per square foot to have artificial grass installed. Huge range right?!
These are industry standard prices of turf installers in the Phoenix Metro, and don't necessarily reflect what we charge.
For that, we've got a sweet little artificial grass price calculator below, that'll give you a pretty good idea of our artificial grass pricing.
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Every outdoor space is different, and so is the cost to install artificial grass. The final price depends on more than just square footage. Things like pets, soil prep, foot traffic, your contractor, and turf quality all play a role.
While there are lots of factors that go into the final price, one of the biggest factors (unfortunately) is contractor markup.
Some contractors are charging double (or more) what the turf and labor actually cost.
Apex Turf does something called “open-book” estimates.
This means when we do an estimate, we show you the prices that we pay for everything (labor, materials etc). We then add a fair markup of 25%.
This keeps everything competitive, transparent, and helps homeowners make informed decisions.
Often overlooked, the shape of your lawn is something that can affect price a lot.
All artificial turf, no matter the manufacturer, comes in 15 ft wide rolls. That means if your lawn is 15 feet wide, you're going to get a smokin' deal!
But more often than not, people have a space that isn't a perfect 15 foot rectangle. This means there will be some cut waste.
Artificial turf also has a "grain" which means all pieces of turf must be facing the same direction, so the fibers look natural and uniform.
Having pets increases the cost of your artificial turf for two reasons:
True pet turf is more expensive than regular landscape turf.
Pet turf has a mesh backing, and drains extremely quickly. Regular artificial turf has holes punched in the backing every few inches. If you have pets doing their business on your lawn, you want it to drain away as quickly as possible!
Pet infill is more expensive than regular infill.
Pet infill such as K9 Sand or Envirofill, are designed specially for pets. They don't soak up urine, and they usually have anti-microbial and odor control coatings. Regular infill such as silica sand is porous, and can soak up and hold onto urine smells. Not good!
With that being said, you can expect pet turf to add $1.50-$3 per sq ft to the final price of your install.
Almost all artificial grass in 2025 comes with a warranty between 10 and 16 years. This applies to both domestic (USA made), and imported synthetic grass products.
It's important to note that these warranties are for the turf itself, not for the installation. They are also prorated, which means that your turf value (and warranty amount) becomes less each year that passes.
It's important to ask your estimator what their warranty on labor is. Most companies offer a 2 year labor warranty (the legal minimum warranty set out by the AZ Registrar of Contractors).
Here at Apex Turf, we offer an industry leading labor warranty with every install. We also offer an optional 15 year extended labor warranty.
There is a lot to unpack with synthetic grass warranties, so we will be writing an entire article on that in the future. Stay tuned!
The quality of artificial grass is a complex topic. Keep in mind that all artificial grass installers are able to purchase the same materials.
Some turf companies will lead you to believe that they have the best artificial turf in the world. Some may even have a different colored backing or "special features" never seen before.
There is not a single artificial grass installer in Phoenix that owns their own billion-dollar manufacturing facility.
Apex Turf doesn't have loyalty to any one turf manufacturer, and because we buy so much turf every year, we have access to great pricing across almost all turf brands.
Obviously, adding extra landscaping such as landscape rock, planting, irrigation, lighting, and pavers all add cost.
The most common addition would be a paver border or paver steppers. While not essential, we find a lot of homeowners opt to add pavers in one way or another.
Paver borders nicely frame your lawn, while paver steppers break up the turf, and help keep the blades from flattening out in areas that get a lot of foot traffic.
Pavers and other landscaping add-ons can increase the cost of your overall project, so it's definitely something to keep in mind when budgeting.
Removing existing dirt, grass or landscape rock adds to the cost.
Good drainage is important, and sometimes that means hauling off existing dirt before we even start preparing the base.
If you have a bare backyard, that makes our job that much easier (and cheaper on your part)!
On every install, we bring in crushed rock called "minus", which we then compact for a solid base.
If you need areas raised up, and we have to haul in more than our standard 2" of minus, that can also add to the final cost.
How your turf is going to be used will also affect artificial turf costs.
High-traffic areas typically require a more durable turf with a shorter pile height that handles wear and tear better, and won't allow the grass blades to "flatten out" as easily.
For places like front yards, where you don't typically get a lot of foot traffic, you can go with a longer pile height, which gives artificial turf that lush, full look.
Synthetic grass designed for high foot (or paw) traffic can be more expensive, which can increase the final cost.
Having a backyard putting green is a lot of fun, and can add value to your home.
While a basic three hole putting green is relatively affordable, when we start talking about things like breaks, bunkers/sand traps, chipping areas, fringes... It can start to add up.
The raw materials for a putting green aren't necessarily more expensive than a regular lawn, but there's more labor costs when installing a quality putting green.
The labor is where most of the additional cost comes from.
That being said, to have a synthetic turf putting green installed in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, you can expect to pay between $12 and $18+ per sq ft.
Want to see how much a putting green at your home would cost?
Get Your Free, No-Pressure, Measure & Quote: (480) 935-6228
While the upfront cost is higher, the long-term savings in switching to artificial grass are often forgotten when making the switch. These savings will only apply if you're converting from natural grass.
The average Arizona lawn uses about 55 gallons of water per square foot, per year. For a 1,000 sq ft yard, that’s roughly 55,000 gallons annually.
With residential water rates in Arizona cities ranging from about $2 to $6+ per 1,000 gallons (usually tiered, climbing as usage increases), a 1000 sq ft lawn could be costing you $100–$300+ a year in water bills alone.
And that’s on top of the strain it puts on the already stressed Colorado River, our region’s primary water source.
Natural grass takes work. Mowing, edging, fertilizing, aeration, and winter overseeding.
Even if you DIY, the equipment, fuel, seed, and fertilizer all add up.
If you hire it out, professional lawn care in the Phoenix area is $100–$150 a month on the low end. That's $1,200-$1,800 per year in lawn maintenance savings.
With artificial turf, you skip almost all of that. We recommend a clean and power broom every 1-3 years.
Most Arizona cities offer rebates to help cover the cost when home and business owners swap real grass for artificial turf.
These rebates are a great way to lower your upfront investment and help conserve water, but every city’s requirements are a little different.
For example, Phoenix and Scottsdale both offer a rebate of $2 per square foot of real grass removed.
Each city has its own set of rules, so check out our article on Arizona artificial turf rebates if you want to find out more!
The City of Mesa did a study in 2018 looking at the ROI of artificial grass.
If you pay for maintenance, water, winter over-seeding and occasional sprinkler repairs, your artificial grass will pay for itself in about 5 to 6 years.
This break even point is assuming you pay $9 per square foot for your artificial grass installation.
This doesn't take into consideration paying less for your fake grass installation, or any kind of city rebate.
Being in an HOA usually doesn’t raise the artificial grass cost, but it can influence the installation process.
Most HOAs in the Phoenix area allow artificial lawns, though they almost always require you to submit an approval request.
That usually means providing turf samples, photos, and a simple layout showing where the grass will go.
As far as the price of artificial grass goes, the materials and labor don’t change just because you’re in an HOA.
The only time turf prices might shift is if your HOA requires a specific quality turf that’s more expensive, or certain add-ons like a paver border.
At Apex Turf, we don’t charge extra for helping with HOA approvals.
We have worked with dozens of HOA's across AZ, and will provide all the samples and documentation you need, so your turf installation project gets approved quickly and efficiently.
In the Phoenix area, the average price of artificial grass installation usually falls between $5 and $20 per square foot.
That wide range comes from the many factors that affect the cost, including the quality turf you choose, how much prep work your yard needs, whether you have pets, and the size and shape of the lawn.
Some homeowners are surprised by the higher upfront cost compared to natural grass, but keep in mind that artificial lawns are low-maintenance, save thousands of gallons of water every year, and can actually save money in the long run.
Yes, there are rebate and incentive programs in Arizona (especially in the Phoenix metro cities) that can help offset part of the cost when removing natural grass or switching to more water-efficient landscaping.
But, many of these are designed for turf removal rather than direct rebate for installing artificial turf, so it’s important to read the requirements carefully.
If you want to know more, check out our article on turf rebates in Arizona, where we break down each city's requirements, and how much you are entitled to.
When people ask how much does artificial turf cost, they’re often wondering if the price covers just the turf itself or the full installation process.
In almost every case, the cost of artificial turf installation in Phoenix includes both materials and labor.
That means you’re paying for:
All of the prices we mention in this article are out the door prices, everything included.
For most backyards, maintenance and upkeep is minimal.
Periodically rinsing it off (especially if you have pets), and removing leaves and debris is about all that needs to be done by the homeowner.
Having your turf professionally brushed and cleaned every 1-3 years is also a great idea.
Professional turf cleaning services in Phoenix typically run $100–$200 per visit.
Apex Turf doesn't currently offer any cleaning services, however we do have some great companies we would be happy to recommend.
Most artificial lawns in Arizona last between 12 and 20+ years, depending on the durability of materials used, whether it's designed for high-traffic areas, and how well it’s maintained.
Higher-use areas like dog runs or putting greens may need replacing sooner, while a yard that’s mostly for looks can last closer to two decades.
