Quoting a landscaping job seems straightforward — until you realise you have underpriced a full garden redesign, forgotten to include disposal costs, or lost a customer because your quote arrived three days after they needed it.
This guide covers everything you need to know about quoting landscaping work professionally — from how to calculate your price correctly to how to send a quote that actually wins the job.
What Should a Landscaping Quote Include?
A professional landscaping quote is more than just a number. Customers want to know exactly what they are paying for and why. A well structured quote builds trust before the job even starts.
Why Manual Quoting Is Costing You Jobs
Most landscaping businesses lose jobs not because of their price — but because of how slowly they deliver the quote. Research consistently shows that the first contractor to send a professional quote wins the job more than 60% of the time.
If you are still writing quotes by hand, using a Word document, or texting prices from the job site, you are almost certainly losing customers to competitors who respond faster and look more professional.
How to Price a Landscaping Job Correctly
Pricing landscaping work involves four core components. Miss any one of them and you will either undercharge and lose money or overcharge and lose the customer.
1. Labour Costs
Calculate the total hours required for the job and multiply by your hourly rate. Be realistic — include travel time, setup and cleanup. A typical residential landscaping rate ranges from £25 to £65 per hour depending on location and specialisation.
2. Materials and Plants
List every material needed — turf, plants, soil, bark, gravel, edging — and add a markup of 15 to 25% on top of your supplier cost. This covers your time sourcing and transporting materials.
3. Equipment and Overhead
Factor in the cost of running your equipment — fuel, wear and tear, maintenance. A simple rule of thumb is to add 10 to 15% of your total labour and materials cost to cover overhead.
4. Waste Disposal
Garden waste removal is often forgotten but can add significant cost. Include skip hire, green waste disposal fees or your time making tip runs in every quote.
How to Send a Quote That Wins the Job
Speed and presentation are everything. Here is how to send landscaping quotes that convert:
Send within 2 hours of the site visit
The customer is most excited about the project right after you meet them. Strike while the iron is hot — quotes sent within 2 hours have a dramatically higher acceptance rate.
Itemise every line
Never send a single lump sum. Break down every service, material and cost. Customers trust detailed quotes far more than a single number.
Make it easy to accept
Send a link the customer can open on their phone. Include a clear Accept and Sign button. Removing friction from the approval process increases your conversion rate significantly.
Include an expiry date
Always add a quote validity period — 14 or 30 days. This creates urgency and protects you from material price increases.
Add your logo and branding
A branded quote looks professional and builds trust. Customers are far more likely to accept a quote from a business that looks established.
