The short answer
National cost guides put artificial turf materials at about $2 to $8 per square foot and professional installation labor at about $4 to $9 per square foot, so a typical installed price works out to roughly $6 to $17 per square foot before extra site prep. Angi reports most homeowners spend about $3,247 to $8,714 on an artificial grass project, with a national average near $5,782.
Where your yard lands in that range depends on the turf you pick, how much ground has to be dug out and rebuilt, and how many curves and cuts the layout needs. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
Typical artificial turf costs by yard size
Materials plus labor at the national per-square-foot ranges above.
| Area | Materials | Labor | Typical installed total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft (dog run, side strip) | $200–$800 | $400–$900 | About $600–$1,700 |
| 200 sq ft (small backyard patch) | $400–$1,600 | $800–$1,800 | About $1,200–$3,400 |
| 500 sq ft (typical backyard) | $1,000–$4,000 | $2,000–$4,500 | About $3,000–$8,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft (large backyard) | $2,000–$8,000 | $4,000–$9,000 | About $6,000–$17,000 |
| Excavation and haul-off (about 3 cu yd) | — | — | About $150–$600 extra |
Ranges from Angi and HomeAdvisor 2026 national data. Small areas often cost more per square foot because of crew minimums.
What drives the price
- Turf quality: Face weight, blade shape and thatch drive the material price; premium, softer products cost more per square foot.
- Yard size and shape: Rectangles are fastest. Curves, planters and cuts around pavers add labor, often $1 to $3 per square foot.
- Removal and excavation: Taking out existing grass, rock or weeds and hauling it away adds to the job.
- Base build-up: A compacted crushed-rock base under the turf is what keeps it flat and draining; deeper base means more material and labor.
- Infill: Sand, coated sand or cooling and pet-odor infills vary in price.
- Irrigation changes: Capping or converting sprinkler zones to drip for nearby plants is usually a separate line.
- Access: Narrow side gates or no equipment access means more hand work.
San Tan Valley considerations
Heat is the first thing most East Valley homeowners ask about. Any artificial turf gets hot in direct Arizona sun, so ask installers about lighter-colored or heat-reducing products, infill options, and placing turf where it gets afternoon shade from the house or a patio cover. Those choices can change the material price.
Ground prep matters here too. Many desert yards have hard, compacted soil and sometimes caliche, and summer monsoon storms can dump a lot of water at once. A properly graded and compacted base with good drainage is what prevents puddles and low spots, and it's a big part of why one quote can be well above another.
San Tan Valley is largely unincorporated Pinal County, so for most backyards the rules that matter come from your HOA. Arizona law (A.R.S. 33-1819) generally stops an HOA that allows natural grass from banning artificial turf, but it can set reasonable rules on appearance, quality, location and coverage. Check your CC&Rs and submit any required architectural request before work starts.
Ways to save on artificial turf
- Compare quotes on the same turf product, base depth and infill so you're not comparing different jobs.
- Use mid-range turf in the backyard and save premium products for the front yard where looks matter most.
- Keep the layout simple: fewer curves and cutouts mean less waste and labor.
- Combine turf with decomposed granite or rock borders instead of covering every square foot.
- If you can, remove plants or old landscaping yourself before the crew arrives (confirm with the installer first).
- Ask whether the installer reuses or caps irrigation lines as part of the price.
Call (520) 866-0331 for a free estimate
Sources checked 2026-10-29: Angi: artificial grass installation cost (2026); HomeAdvisor: artificial grass cost; Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1819 (artificial turf in HOAs). National figures are adjusted by local labor, materials and site conditions; treat every number here as a planning range, not a quote.