You can save money on artificial grass installation without sacrificing the quality of the finished lawn, but the savings need to come from the right places. Clearing the garden yourself, simplifying the layout, choosing the right turf for how the space will be used, and preparing good access can all help reduce costs.
What you should not do is cut corners on drainage, compaction, sub-base depth, edging or joins. Those are the parts that usually determine whether the lawn still looks good years later.
💷 Quick Answer: How can you save money on artificial grass installation?
- Clear the garden yourself before installation.
- Keep the layout simple to reduce cutting, waste and labour.
- Choose the right grass for the job rather than automatically picking the longest pile.
- Improve access so materials and waste are easier to move.
- Carry out some groundwork yourself if you are physically able and know what is required.
- Do not cut costs on drainage, compaction, edging or the sub-base.
Want to Keep Your Artificial Grass Project Within Budget?
Tell us your garden size, what is there now and what you want to achieve. We can help you work out where savings are realistic without compromising the installation.
🔑 Quick Takeaways
- The cheapest quote is not always the cheapest installation long term.
- Labour, access, waste and garden design can all affect the final price.
- Doing some preparation yourself can reduce costs in the right circumstances.
- Groundwork is the wrong place to take shortcuts.
🧭 Jump to:
| 💷 Where you can save | Doing groundwork yourself |
| 📐 Simplify the layout | 🌱 Choose the right grass |
| 🚪 Improve access | ⚠️ Where not to save |
| 📊 Saving options compared | ❓ FAQs |
💡 Quick Answer: The best way to reduce artificial grass installation costs is to save on labour, waste, access and unnecessary design complexity while protecting the parts that matter most: excavation, base preparation, compaction, drainage, edging and joins.
Where Can You Save Money on Artificial Grass Installation?
There are sensible ways to keep costs down.
The key is separating optional labour and design choices from the parts of the installation that affect long-term performance.
Good places to look for savings include:
- Garden clearance
- Moving furniture and obstacles
- Improving site access
- Keeping the lawn shape simple
- Choosing turf based on use rather than appearance alone
- Doing some preparation yourself if you are capable
This is different from simply choosing the lowest quote.
Our artificial grass cost guide explains the wider pricing factors, while this guide focuses specifically on where savings can be made safely.
1. Can You Do Some of the Groundwork Yourself?
Sometimes, yes.
For homeowners who have the time, physical ability and confidence, completing part of the preparation themselves can reduce labour costs.
That might include:
- Removing garden furniture
- Clearing plants or loose debris
- Lifting an old lawn
- Removing light surface materials
- Helping prepare access before installation
More involved work, such as excavation, base construction and compaction, needs much more care.
As Good As Grass has previously worked with homeowners who prepare part of the sub-base themselves before our team completes the specialist artificial grass fitting. The important thing is that the preparation still meets the standard required for the finished lawn.
If you are thinking about doing this, our guide on how to prepare ground for artificial grass explains what the process actually involves.
🛠️ Expert Insight: DIY groundwork can save money, but only if it is done properly. Removing soil is one thing. Getting levels, compaction, drainage and the final screed right is where mistakes become expensive.
2. Keep the Garden Layout Simple
Complicated shapes usually mean more cutting, more labour and more material waste.
A simple lawn is often cheaper to install than a design with:
- Multiple tiny sections
- Tight curves
- Lots of obstacles
- Several changes in level
- Awkward narrow strips
That does not mean every garden needs to be a rectangle.
It simply means that if your main goal is keeping the project affordable, simplifying the shape can make a real difference.
For smaller spaces, our guide on artificial grass for small gardens explains how simple layouts can also make compact gardens feel larger.
3. Choose the Right Grass, Not Automatically the Thickest Grass
The longest or most expensive pile is not automatically the best choice.
The right product depends on:
- How much foot traffic the garden gets
- Whether dogs use the lawn
- Whether children play on it
- The look you prefer
- How much maintenance you want
A shorter or mid-pile product may be completely suitable for the garden and cost less than a premium long-pile option.
Our comparison of 20mm vs 30mm vs 40mm artificial grass explains how pile height affects appearance, use and price.
4. Make the Garden Easier to Access
Access is one of the most overlooked cost factors.
Artificial grass installation often involves moving:
- Excavated soil
- Aggregate
- Sand or screed material
- Artificial grass rolls
- Waste
If all of that has to travel through a house, down steps or through a very narrow passage, the job can take longer.
Before installation, it can help to:
- Clear side passages
- Move bins and garden furniture
- Unlock gates
- Remove temporary obstacles
- Make delivery space available where possible
These are small things, but they can make the installation much more efficient.
5. Give the Installer Good Information Before Quoting
A better quote starts with better information.
Useful details include:
- Approximate measurements
- Photos of the entire garden
- Pictures of access routes
- The existing surface type
- Known drainage problems
- How you plan to use the lawn
This helps identify cost factors before work begins instead of discovering them later.
Our guide on what information we need to quote artificial grass installation shows exactly what is useful.
6. Reuse Existing Surfaces Only When They Are Suitable
Sometimes an existing concrete, paving or prepared base can reduce the amount of removal and groundwork required.
But this only saves money when the surface is genuinely suitable.
For example, existing concrete may work if it is:
- Stable
- Reasonably level
- Free from serious movement
- Able to drain appropriately
Trying to preserve a failed surface simply because removal costs money can create bigger costs later.
Our guide on installing artificial grass over existing garden surfaces explains which bases can sometimes stay.
Where Should You NOT Try to Save Money?
This is the important bit.
There are parts of an artificial grass installation where reducing cost usually means reducing quality.
We would not recommend cutting corners on:
- Excavation depth
- Sub-base quality
- Compaction
- Drainage
- Edging
- Joins
- Final levelling
These are the parts that stop the finished lawn from sinking, moving, holding water or developing obvious joins.
If you’re comparing quotations, our guide on how to spot a bad artificial grass installation explains some of the shortcuts to watch for.
💡 The Cheapest Installation Is the One You Only Pay for Once
Saving a small amount by reducing base depth or skipping proper compaction can become expensive if the lawn later develops dips, movement or drainage problems. Good value means removing unnecessary costs without weakening the parts that make the installation last.
Artificial Grass Cost-Saving Ideas Compared
| Cost-Saving Idea | Sensible? | Main Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Clear the garden yourself | ✅ Yes | Simple way to reduce avoidable labour |
| Remove the old lawn yourself | ✅ Sometimes | Physical work and waste disposal need considering |
| Simplify the lawn shape | ✅ Yes | Can reduce cutting, waste and labour |
| Choose a shorter pile | ✅ If suitable | Choose based on use rather than price alone |
| Keep a sound existing surface | ✅ Sometimes | Only when levels, drainage and stability are suitable |
| Reduce the sub-base depth | ❌ No | Can compromise stability and longevity |
| Skip proper compaction | ❌ No | Creates a higher risk of settlement and dips |
| Rush joins and edging | ❌ No | Poor finishing becomes very visible later |
Is DIY Artificial Grass Actually Cheaper?
It can be, particularly if you already have tools, time and experience with groundwork.
But DIY becomes less economical if you need to hire machinery, arrange waste disposal, buy materials in small quantities, or replace turf after making a bad cut.
Artificial grass itself is also difficult to correct once it has been cut too short.
That is why a halfway approach can sometimes make sense: carry out straightforward preparation yourself, then use an experienced installer for the specialist finishing.
If your main priority is price, speak to us before starting. We can explain which parts of the job may realistically be suitable for you to tackle yourself and which are better left until installation.
Does Cheap Artificial Grass Save Money Long Term?
Not necessarily.
The cheapest product may be perfectly suitable for some low-use areas, but price should not be the only deciding factor.
Consider:
- Expected foot traffic
- Pets
- Pile durability
- Backing quality
- Expected lifespan
- How the grass feels and looks
A product that needs replacing sooner is not automatically better value because it cost less on day one.
As Good As Grass focuses on quality and long-term performance rather than simply offering the lowest-priced installation. Our artificial grass installation service explains how we approach the entire build, not just the turf on top.
FAQs About Saving Money on Artificial Grass Installation
If you’re trying to keep your artificial grass project affordable, these are some of the most common questions worth answering before you start.
What is the cheapest way to have artificial grass installed?
The most sensible savings usually come from doing simple preparation yourself, keeping the garden design straightforward, providing good access and choosing a turf that suits the job without paying for features you do not need.
Can I prepare the ground myself and have someone fit the artificial grass?
Potentially, yes. Some homeowners carry out part of the preparation themselves and then use an experienced installer for the artificial grass fitting. The base still needs to be prepared correctly before fitting begins.
Can I remove my old lawn myself to save money?
Yes, if you are physically able and have a plan for the removed soil and turf. Keep in mind that excavation can be much more labour-intensive than it first appears.
Is shorter artificial grass cheaper?
It can be, but pile height is only one factor affecting price. Choose a product based on how the garden will be used rather than selecting the shortest product purely to reduce cost.
Can I use less sub-base to save money?
We would not recommend reducing the required base simply to lower the price. Proper groundwork and compaction are fundamental to keeping the finished lawn stable.
Can artificial grass be laid over an existing patio to save money?
Sometimes. Stable concrete or paving may be suitable, but drainage, levels and surface condition need checking first.
How can I get a more accurate artificial grass quote?
Send measurements, clear photos, access information, details of the existing surface and any known drainage or level problems. Better information makes it easier to understand the real work involved.
Want to Keep Costs Down Without Cutting Corners?
Send us some photos, measurements and your rough budget. We’ll give you a straight answer on where savings may be realistic and where the installation needs doing properly.
Save Money on the Right Parts of the Job
Artificial grass does not need to be an all-or-nothing choice between the cheapest possible job and the most expensive option available. There are sensible ways to reduce the overall cost while still protecting the quality of the finished lawn.
At As Good As Grass, we would rather help you find realistic savings than cut corners on the groundwork that makes an artificial lawn last.
For an idea of what your own garden may involve, take a look at our artificial grass installation service or ask our team for a quote.
