Pet Turf Cost: How Much Does Artificial Grass for Dogs Cost to Install?

As a pet owner, you know that the care and upkeep of your furry friends can be an expensive endeavor. 

From food and toys to vet visits and grooming, there are plenty of costs associated with being a pet parent. 

But what about adding artificial turf to your backyard? 

Is it as pricey as people might think? 

You might be surprised by just how affordable installing pet turf can be. 

Installing pet turf in your backyard can save you the hassle of mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and dealing with mud. 

But how much does it cost to install fake grass for dogs – is it worth the investment? 

In this blog post, we’ll give an overview of the different costs associated with installing pet turf so that you can make an educated decision about whether or not this is a good fit for your home.

How Much Does Pet-Friendly Artificial Turf Cost?

Pet-friendly artificial grass installation cost is a common concern for homeowners. 

So, how much does artificial grass for dogs actually cost? 

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $8 to $20 per square foot for materials and labor. 

The total expense typically starts at around $5,000 and increases based on various factors. 

These factors include:

• Size of the area
• Type of turf chosen
• Materials used
• Experience of the installation crew

To better understand how artificial grass installation costs are determined, let’s dive into the details. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the expenses related to materials, fees, labor, and company costs. 

To provide context, we’ll use an example of a 1,000-square-foot space (25 ft x 40 ft). 

A concrete patio runs along one of the 25 ft edges.

Keep in mind that the figures we discuss here are based on national average pricing and may vary depending on your location.

Where relevant, we’ll use the sales tax rate of Texas (6.25%), which is our primary service area.

When planning your pet turf installation project, you should consider the costs of materials, operation fees, labor, company overhead, and company profit. 

Let’s get started and explore these factors in more detail.

Materials

Properly installing pet-friendly artificial grass requires a number of materials to ensure the turf is secure and capable of draining water and pet urine.

The following are the materials you can expect to be part of any pet turf installation:

• Pet-Friendly Artificial Grass
• Class II Road Base
• Edging or Bender Board
• Infill 
• Miscellaneous

Pet-Friendly Artificial Grass

When it comes to pet-friendly artificial grass, there’s a wide range of options to choose from. 

For the easiest cleaning, the best artificial grass for dogs will have a shorter pile height. 

The grass you choose will also need to perform well in terms of drainage and traffic resistance to provide a longer lifespan.

Now, let’s talk about pricing. 

Our pricing guide focuses on pet-friendly synthetic turf, ensuring a quality investment. 

Opting for high-quality turf guarantees the best return on your investment. 

You’ll notice a considerable difference between low-end and high-end turf, with the latter looking just like real grass lawns.

There are three common types of artificial grass: polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon. 

Each type varies in terms of quality and price. 

• Polypropylene – cheapest option, ranges from $2 to $4 per square foot. 
• Polyethylene – offers a more natural appearance and a softer touch, ranging from $2 to $6 per square foot. 
• Nylon – the most durable synthetic turf material, comes at a price range of $5 to $6 per square foot.

Keep in mind that when estimating the required material, you should account for waste. 

Depending on the project’s size or shape, there’s usually around 10% to 20% waste of artificial grass material. 

Irregular-shaped yards tend to have higher waste percentages compared to standard square or rectangular yards.

To give you an idea, our price guide assumes a median cost for both artificial grass and waste, at $3 per square foot and 15% respectively.

Pet Turf Material Costs

Class II Road Base

Class II road base is a crucial material made up of crushed rocks in various sizes. 

This serves as a foundation to ensure stability for the artificial grass above. 

Now, let’s talk about pricing. 

Keep in mind that the cost of class II road base may vary depending on your location. 

For this price guide, we’ll cover one of the most budget-friendly options, priced at just $0.34 per square foot. 

So, if you have a 1,000-square-foot space, the class II road base would amount to a total cost of $340.

The cost after taxes in Texas would be $361.25 ($340 x 0.0625 = $361.25).

Edging or Bender Board

Bender board serves an important purpose – it creates a clear separation between your artificial grass and other areas in your landscape. 

You can also use poly board as an alternative. 

For just $15.80 per roll, you can get a 20-foot long, 4-inch tall brown poly board that will stand the test of time.

To calculate the number of rolls you need, measure the perimeter of your project and consider the softscape edges. 

In our case, with a lawn measuring 25 sq ft by 40 sq ft and a concrete patio running the length of one of the 25 ft edges.

We require bender board for two 40-foot sides and one 25-foot side (6 rolls total), totaling around $94.80 in bender board material costs.

Infill 

When it comes to infill for artificial grass, there are several different options available. 

The most common type of infill material used on artificial grass is silica sand. 

Choosing the right type of infill is crucial, but price variations can sometimes make it a challenging decision. 

Cutting corners on infill quality may seem tempting due to cost, but investing in higher-quality infill can save you money in the long run.

This is especially true for pet-friendly artificial grass installations.

Silica sand infill or a similar inexpensive alternative will trap and absorb dog urine leading to a buildup of odor and bacteria.

High-quality infill offers numerous benefits. 

Not only does it enhance durability, but it is also eco-friendly and resistant to absorbing animal urine and other external elements. 

By opting for the best infill, you can avoid the hassle of frequent reapplication.

For our price guide, we recommend the popular choice of antimicrobial acrylic-coated sand. 

This type of infill is priced at $22 per 50-pound bag. 

On average, a 1,000-square-foot artificial grass project requires 1-2 pounds of infill per square foot. 

Well be using the median of 1.5 pounds of infill per square foot.

Considering these estimates, the total cost of infill for a 1,000-square-foot project would be approximately $660.

Seam Tape, Nails, Staples, Adhesives

When planning a project, it’s easy to overlook the small items that can impact the overall cost. 

Things like nails, glue, seaming tape, and stakes are essential for a secure installation, yet customers often forget to account for them. 

The price of these additional materials will vary based on the perimeter length of your project.

For the 1,000 sq. ft. project we’re using for this post, we estimate that the cost of these extra materials will amount to approximately $200. 

It’s worth keeping these factors in mind to ensure a smooth and successful installation process.

Miscellaneous

Items considered miscellaneous include pet turf odor remover, weed barrier, drainage membrane, rubber padding, golf cups, flagsticks, etc.

The only item relevant to this guide is pet turf odor remover, which you won’t need right away.

That just about covers the “standard material costs” for 1,000 square feet of pet-friendly artificial grass.

Up next, we’ll take a look at the operations costs associated with a pet turf installation.

Operations

When calculating the cost of a pet-friendly artificial grass installation, the costs extend beyond the materials alone.

We’re talking about operational fees, which include the costs of transporting materials to and from the worksite. 

These fees are usually already factored into the final proposal. 

Curious to learn more about operational costs and how they can impact the pricing of your installation? 

Keep reading!

Fuel Costs

Fuel costs can vary significantly based on where you are located. 

Additionally, the transportation expenses incurred by the crew traveling to and from the job site will contribute to the overall fueling costs. 

It’s worth noting that longer projects tend to accumulate higher fuel expenses. 

Due to these factors, it is challenging to provide an average fuel cost specifically for turf projects. 

However, as an educated estimate for our 1,000 sq. ft. pet turf project, let’s consider a ballpark figure of $350 for fuel.

Delivery Fees

When it comes to delivery, there’s one important thing to keep in mind – it’s not free! 

Delivery costs should be factored into the final bill. 

Depending on where you live and the manufacturer you choose, those costs can vary quite a bit.

Once you’re ready for installation, the materials – including the artificial grass and road base – will be delivered right to your residence. 

The crew will handle the heavy lifting and unloading.

This can range from $360 to $650 per trip, taking into account the factors we mentioned earlier. 

For this example, we’ll go with the middle of the spectrum at $505 to deliver 1,150 square feet of pet-friendly artificial grass.

Hauling & Dump Fees

When the crew removes 2 inches of soil from the surface, it needs to be hauled away and taken to the dump. 

The cost of hauling depends on the amount of removed grass and soil, which is usually measured in truckloads. 

Typically, it costs around $310 to haul a container of grass and dirt. 

For a 1,000 sq. ft. lawn, you would typically need approximately two truckloads. 

So, for our example pet turf project you’re likely looking at $620 ($310 x 2 = $620) in hauling fees.

Operations Cost Totals

Labor

When it comes to labor, you truly get what you pay for. 

The long-term durability and integrity of your project rely on the quality of the installation. 

There are installers who have been in the business for only six to twelve months.

Alternatively, there are experienced veterans with over 15 years of installing artificial grass.

Crew

While it may seem like a bigger investment, opting for a team with 15+ years of experience is an excellent decision. 

Their expertise and know-how will ensure a top-notch installation that stands the test of time.

So, what can you expect to pay for a crew with the experience you need? 

Generally, labor costs range from $3 to $5 per square foot. 

For this example, we’ll split it right down the middle at $4.00 per square foot for labor.

Labor Cost Total

When it comes to your project, you might be tempted to prioritize cost-cutting. 

However, imagine the frustration if things go wrong down the line.

You could find yourself with a project falling apart and the company that installed it is out of business.

If you want a hassle-free installation that lasts, it’s worth investing a little more to work with a trustworthy and reliable artificial grass company. 

Don’t underestimate the significance of this decision – it’s not an area where you want to compromise and save a few dollars.

Overhead

Below we’ve listed some of the overhead costs of a legitimate artificial grass company:

• General Liability Insurance
• Workers Compensation Insurance
• Accounting Fees
• Payroll Expenses
• Licensing Fees
• Business Taxes
• Lawyer Fees
• Administrative Staffing Fees
• Marketing & Advertising Expenses
• Company Vehicles & Insurance
• Office & Miscellaneous Expenses (contracts, uniforms, website, credit card processing system, computers, phones, etc.)

Overhead Costs

When considering the costs involved in a synthetic turf deal, it’s important to recognize that there are additional expenses beyond just materials and labor. 

These overhead costs are diverse and can’t be easily quantified with a specific number for each installation. 

Nevertheless, they do accumulate and significantly impact the overall cost. 

In this guide, we’ll use a conservative estimate of 10% for overhead costs to provide a general perspective. 

The cost of materials, operations, and labor so far in this guide are $10,456.68.

Overhead Cost Total

Profits

To stay in business, turf companies need to turn a profit. 

It’s crucial for them to make money in order to grow their crews and expand their operations. 

However, many landscaping and artificial grass installation companies find it challenging to generate a profit due to various expenses.

Typically, turf companies aim for profit margins ranging from 10% to 40%. 

Profit Margins

The table below provides an overview of the profit margins running from 10% to 40%.

In this exercise, we’ll use the middle of the spectrum and set the profit margin at 25%. 

With a profit margin of 25%, the total profit on the project in this guide would be $2,875.59.

Total Cost of Pet-Friendly Artificial Grass Installation

In this guide, we’ve been considering the low to median averages for all the components that determine the price of your pet-friendly turf installation. 

Now, let’s break down the total cost of a 1,000 square foot pet-friendly artificial turf installation:

When you come across cheap prices, it’s important to know that there’s usually a catch. 

In pet turf systems, both the materials used and the installation methods play a crucial role in maintaining a clean and odor-free lawn. 

Before going for a cheaper installation option, take a look at this pricing guide and have a chat with the crew about your project specifications. 

It’s vital to make sure they’re qualified and insured. 

Keep in mind that anyone offering a significantly lower price is likely taking shortcuts in some area of the project.

Wrapping Up Our Guide to Pet Turf Cost

In conclusion, pet turf is the ultimate solution for anyone looking to provide a safe and comfortable outdoor living experience for their pet and family. 

There are countless benefits to pet turf, including its 100% safety for dogs, low-maintenance needs, versatility in design and aesthetics, environmental friendliness, durability, and longevity. 

Pet turf is perfect for residential and commercial properties alike in Texas. 

With so many advantages, it’s easy to see why many people are choosing pet turf over more traditional options. 

If you want to learn more about our pet turf offerings, give us a call or feel free to contact us online. 

Our team here at Ideal Turf would be delighted to assist you in finding the best artificial grass for dogs. 

We are excited to help you begin your journey towards the perfect pet-friendly outdoor space.

Thanks for reading!