Landscaping Cost Calculator NZ 2026

This calculator estimates the cost of landscaping your section in New Zealand, from a simple tidy-up with lawn and plants to a full backyard transformation. Landscaping is one of the most variable home projects to budget because it covers so much: soft landscaping such as lawn, plants, mulch and irrigation, and hard landscaping such as paths, paving, decks, retaining walls, fencing and outdoor structures. The price per square metre swings widely with the level of finish, from a basic planting and lawn package at the lower end, through a standard mix of soft and modest hard landscaping, up to a premium design-led makeover with quality paving, lighting and built features. Rather than guess, this tool lets you start from a realistic per-square-metre package rate, then add a separate figure for the bigger hard-landscaping items that are priced as their own jobs, and a contingency, because landscaping almost always uncovers drainage, levels or access issues. You enter the area you are landscaping, choose a package level that sets a typical rate, add your hard-landscaping budget and a contingency, and the calculator returns the total estimated cost, the soft and hard components, and the cost per square metre. Use it to set a budget before you brief a landscaper, to stage the work over a couple of seasons if the full job is out of reach, or to see how much the area and finish level drive the price. Landscaping rates vary a lot by region, site and design, so treat this as a planning estimate and get detailed quotes for anything structural.

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$11,500
estimated landscaping cost
Soft landscaping$8,000
Hard landscaping$2,000
Contingency$1,500
Per m²$115

Indicative package rates. Retaining, drainage and difficult access add cost. An estimate; get detailed quotes.

How it works

The soft landscaping cost is the area times the package rate per square metre. Hard landscaping is added as a separate amount because items like paving, walls and decks are priced as their own jobs. A contingency is applied to the combined figure, and the per square metre figure divides the total by the area.

Worked example

Landscaping 100 square metres at a standard $80 a square metre is $8,000 of soft landscaping. Adding $2,000 of hard landscaping such as a path and edging, and a 15 percent contingency of $1,500, gives a total of about $11,500, or roughly $115 a square metre. A premium $150 rate would lift the soft component alone to $15,000.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does landscaping cost per square metre in NZ?

It ranges widely: a basic lawn-and-plants package might be around $40 a square metre, a standard mix of soft and modest hard landscaping around $80, and a premium design-led makeover $150 or more. Hard landscaping such as paving and walls is usually priced separately.

What is the difference between soft and hard landscaping?

Soft landscaping is the planting side: lawn, plants, soil, mulch and irrigation. Hard landscaping is the built side: paths, paving, decks, retaining walls, fences and structures. Hard landscaping is usually the bigger cost, which is why this calculator separates it out.

Can I stage a landscaping project?

Yes. Many people split landscaping over a couple of seasons, doing the structural and access work first, then planting and finishing later. Use this calculator to budget each stage and the whole project, and keep a contingency for the surprises that earthworks often reveal.