Landscaping Cost in San Diego (2026)
Average cost in San Diego
$5,000 – $150,000
$4 – $50 per sq ft
In San Diego, the average is $32,500 and most projects cost between $5,000 and $150,000, or about $4 – $50 per sq ft. Prices are before tax and based on 8 sources.
Cost Breakdown
ItemizedSkilled installation and site prep
50%
Plants, pavers, and hardscape
30%
Architectural plans and 3D modeling
8%
Unexpected site conditions
10%
City of San Diego compliance
2%
Sales Tax at 7.25%
📋What's Included
ScopeTypically Includes
- Sod or seed lawn
- Garden bed preparation
- Mulch & edging
- Shrubs & perennials (basic)
- Grading & soil prep
- Labor
Typically Excludes
- Hardscaping (pavers, retaining walls)
- Irrigation system
- Mature tree planting
- Outdoor lighting
- Fencing
Based on landscaping a standard 2,000 sq ft front or back yard.
🧮Estimate your project
LiveYour estimate in San Diego
Likely range $14,625 – $71,500
- Labor50%$16,250
- Materials30%$9,750
- Design & Planning8%$2,600
- Contingency10%$3,250
- Permits & Fees2%$650
Basic (lawn + shrubs)
$32,500
Standard (design + planting)
$52,000
Full (hardscape + plants + irrigation)
$78,000
Calibrated to 8 researched sources for San Diego. Before tax. Real quotes vary with site conditions.
📈Price Momentum
Year-over-year~1 year ago
$30,516
Today
$32,500
Landscaping in San Diego is ↑ 6.5% compared to roughly a year ago — about $1,984 more on the average project.
Comparison derived from the year-over-year change rate, not a month-by-month price index. We don't store historical snapshots yet — when we do, this will become a real time series.
🏢Top Landscaping Contractors in San Diego
Verified providersModern Yardz Landscaping San Diego
8133 Engineer Rd, San Diego, CA 92111, USA
103 reviews
Nearman Landscaping San Diego
3665 Ruffin Rd, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
65 reviews
Provider data sourced from public business directories. Ratings and reviews are public and may change. LookupCost is not affiliated with listed providers.
💬What People Actually Paid
Community❓Common Questions
Homeowners can receive between $2.00 and $4.00 per square foot through programs like SoCal Water$mart and the County of San Diego, often with an additional $1 per square foot bonus for using native plants.
Permits are generally required for retaining walls over 3 feet in height, any new gas lines for fire pits or outdoor kitchens, and major grading that exceeds 50 cubic yards of soil.
Switching to xeriscaping or native plants typically reduces outdoor water consumption by 50% to 80%, which can save the average San Diego household $600 to $1,200 annually.
A standard residential project in San Diego takes 2 to 12 weeks for installation, following a 1 to 4 week period for design and permitting.
📊Our Methodology
How we collect dataAggregated from 5+ verified web sources and cost databases
Licensed contractor estimates and regional cost guides
Government construction and labor statistics
Community-reported project costs and reviews
Last data collection: 3 weeks ago. Updates run weekly. All costs in USD.
About this data
Cost figures are estimates synthesized from public market data using AI research and refreshed regularly. Real project costs vary by scope, materials, contractor, and site conditions. Always get verified quotes from licensed contractors for your specific project.
Spotted bad data? Let us know — we'll review and update.