As a guide, landscaping cost in Adelaide starts from around $5,000 for a single smaller job, such as 30 square metres of basic paving or 70 square metres of instant lawn. A small backyard build typically starts from around $13,000, and a complete garden build costs well above that. All of those figures include GST.
Every job is still quoted on its own, because access, soil and the materials you choose can move the price a long way. This guide puts our guide prices for the common jobs in one place, then covers what changes them, using gardens we've built.
Landscaping Cost for Common Jobs
These are the guide prices from our service pages. The last column divides each price by its area, so treat it as a floor, not a calculator: a smaller area still carries the setup, delivery and base work, so it costs more per square metre.
| Job | Guide price | Roughly per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Basic paving, 30 m² | from around $5,000 | about $170 |
| Natural stone paving, 30 m² | around $13,000 | about $430 |
| Instant lawn, 70 m², prepared and laid | from around $5,000 | about $70 |
| Merbau decking, 10 m² | around $6,800 | about $680 |
| Retaining wall, 10 m long and 1 m high | $6,500 to $11,500 | $650 to $1,150 of wall face |
| Automated irrigation for a small lawn | from around $2,000 | |
| Garden lighting, 5 lights | from around $1,700 | |
| All figures include GST, as at October 2026. | ||
What a Small Backyard Build Costs
Our usual example of a small backyard build is 30 square metres of lawn, 25 square metres of mid-priced paving, a brick mowing edge, basic irrigation, 35 plants and mulch. That typically starts from around $13,000.
A garden that brings several jobs together under one design sits above that. In Oaklands Park, the old pine deck came out and Merbau went in. Behind it we laid a brick paved path on a compacted quarry rubble base, with concrete haunching along both edges to stop the pavers moving into the lawn and beds. The job also took in subsurface irrigation across four zones, a Male Sterile Kikuyu lawn and 15 plant species, all drawn up as a full landscape design before work started.
Features add to the price the same way. As a guide, a large rendered firepit seating area like the one we built in Aberfoyle Park runs to around $40,000, while a smaller curved seat wall like the one in Port Noarlunga is around $12,800. Our garden features page has both.
What Changes the Price
- Materials. The same 30 square metres of paving starts from around $5,000 in basic concrete pavers and runs to around $13,000 in natural stone. Decking is the same: Merbau is the most affordable hardwood, and Jarrah, Spotted Gum and Blackbutt all cost more for the timber itself.
- Access. If a machine can't get in, soil and materials move by hand or with smaller gear, and that takes longer. On a steep Glen Osmond block the neighbours agreed to a path up to the backyard, so a tracked dumper and an excavator could get in.
- Slope and levels. A sloping block usually needs steps or retaining walls, and a wall retaining more than 1 metre of ground generally needs council approval and an engineer's design. Working with the slope rather than against it, as in Aberfoyle Park, keeps that down.
- Digging and soil removal. Taking out an old lawn, gravel or paving makes spoil. If it can't be spread on site, it's carted away and the tip fees go into the price.
- Plant sizes. A tube stock plant and an advanced tree of the same species are very different prices, and a planting plan can lean either way.
Do You Need to Pay for a Design?
Not to get a price. A full set of plans from a landscape designer can cost $5,000 or more, and that's money that could go into the garden instead. If you already know what you want, a free quote covers it: usually about 15 minutes on site to measure up, then a written quote.
If you'd like help working out what to build, that's paid time on site. The $220 (incl. GST) Project Consultation is one hour talking through ideas, materials and options, and the $220 is refunded if you go ahead with construction. The $495 (incl. GST) Design Consultation is 1.5 hours and finishes with a concept sketch plan. Full plans beyond that are our landscape design service, priced on application.
Keeping the Cost Down
- Tell us your budget upfront. Most people don't know what each part of a job costs, and knowing what you're comfortable spending lets us put together options that fit it, rather than a quote that doesn't.
- Choose concrete pavers over natural stone, and Merbau over the dearer hardwoods, where the look matters less than the price.
- Keep retaining walls to 1 metre or less where the levels allow.
Landscaping Cost FAQ
How much does landscaping cost in Adelaide?
As a guide, a single smaller job such as 30 square metres of basic paving or 70 square metres of instant lawn starts from around $5,000, and a small backyard build from around $13,000, both including GST. A complete garden build costs well above that.
How much does landscaping cost per square metre?
It depends on the job. Working from our guide prices, basic paving starts from about $170 per square metre, natural stone paving is about $430, instant lawn about $70 and Merbau decking about $680, including GST. A smaller area costs more per square metre, because the setup and base work don't shrink with it.
How much does landscaping cost for a small yard?
A small backyard build with 30 square metres of lawn, 25 square metres of mid-priced paving, a brick mowing edge, basic irrigation, 35 plants and mulch typically starts from around $13,000, including GST.
How much does landscaping a new home cost?
A new home usually needs everything at once: lawn, paving, irrigation, planting and often retaining walls. That makes it a complete garden build, which costs well above the $13,000 small backyard figure. We quote it once we've seen the site.
Do I need plans before I can get a price?
No. If you know what you want, a free quote covers it. A full set of plans from a landscape designer can cost $5,000 or more. If you'd like help deciding what to build, our $220 Project Consultation is refunded if you go ahead with construction.
General information only. Every site is different, so get advice for yours before you start work. Prices are a guide only, as at the date published. See our disclaimer.
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