Professionally installed artificial turf costs $15 to $19 per square foot nationally, according to This Old House (updated June 2026). A professional crew takes a few days to install it (Bob Vila, 2023). Those figures are national. Tampa Landscaping Pros's crew comes out and measures your yard, and you get a written price before any work starts.
Artificial grass and synthetic turf are other names for the same product. For prices on the rest of a yard project, see the landscaping cost guide.
Where artificial turf goes: front yards, backyards, pet areas and putting greens
Front yard and backyard turf
List every area you want covered before the crew comes out to measure. Front yard artificial turf and backyard artificial turf are the two common starting points for a home. Say whether the property is a home or a commercial site, and sketch each area. Ask for each area to be priced as its own line, so you can compare residential artificial turf in the front yard against the backyard.
Note what already sits in each area: trees, sprinkler heads, downspouts and any buried lines. Photos of each area, taken from the street and from the back door, help when you describe the job. Check your HOA rules before you choose turf for a front yard. The rules section below covers HOAs and Florida-friendly landscaping.
Pet turf and dog runs
Pet turf, artificial grass for dogs and a dog run turf area all raise one question: where do the water and urine go? Ask the installer to price pet turf, drainage and infill as separate lines. Then ask how the base under the pet area drains. Pet turf installation is priced from those lines, so compare them bid against bid. The drainage section below covers Tampa soil and rain, and the infill section links to a page on pet odor.
Putting greens
Some owners choose nylon turf for a backyard putting green. Nylon material runs $5 to $6 or more per square foot nationally (Bob Vila, 2023). For putting green installation, ask for a written putting green quote that lists the turf type, the base and any contouring. Compare putting green cost line by line, not by one total, so a custom putting green stays comparable from bid to bid.
Pool surrounds, rooftops, playgrounds and pavers
For pool turf, rooftop artificial turf or playground turf installation, ask the installer whether it has built that kind of area, what goes under the turf, and, for a playground, what padding and fall height the quote covers. If the plan mixes turf with a paver patio, stepping stones or a border, ask how the turf edge will be fastened where it meets them.
Cost
Artificial turf cost: national prices and what moves them
How much does artificial turf cost? The installed range in the table below is the headline number. Base rock, weed barrier and infill cost extra on top of the material price. Ask for the material and the labor as two separate lines, so you can compare each against the national ranges in the table. For a typical 500-square-foot project with mid-quality turf, a 2026 national guide puts the artificial turf installation cost at $7,400 to $9,350.
| Item | National range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial lawn, professionally installed | $15 to $19 per square foot | This Old House, June 2026 |
| Turf material only | $2 to $8 per square foot | This Old House, June 2026 |
| Installation labor only | $4 to $12 per square foot | This Old House, June 2026 |
| Whole project, materials and installation | $2,961 to $7,792, average $5,358 | Bob Vila, 2023 |
| Crushed rock and decomposed granite base | $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot | Bob Vila, 2023 |
| Removing grass and debris first | About $325 on average, about $575 with recycling | Bob Vila, 2023 |
| Drainage under the turf | $100 to $2,000, depending on the system | Bob Vila, 2023 |
| Nylon turf, material only | $5 to $6 or more per square foot | Bob Vila, 2023 |
What moves the price
Square footage sets the total. The 500-square-foot example above is one national data point from 2026. The whole-project range in the table dates from 2023, older than the 2026 per-square-foot range, so lean on the 2026 numbers when the two differ.
The turf product is the next line. Ask which fiber, pile height and backing the quote prices; the products section below covers each.
Base preparation comes after that. Drainage under artificial turf is its own line in the table above, and Tampa's sandy soil and the yards here that pond after rain make it worth reading closely. If the yard needs leveling first, a national guide puts that at $1,006 to $3,237, with an average of $2,122 (Bob Vila, 2023).
Old lawn removal is a separate cost. Per square foot, removing weeds and old grass with disposal runs $0.88 to $1.84 in 2026 national guides.
Access, seams and edges are worth asking about too. Ask how the crew will reach the yard, how many seams the layout needs and how many feet of edge there are. Get a written price per square foot that lists base prep, removal of the old lawn and edging.
Turf products and how artificial turf is installed
Fiber types
Three fibers come up in turf price guides, each priced as material only (Bob Vila, 2023): polypropylene, polyethylene and nylon. Nylon runs $5 to $6 or more per square foot and is the fiber some owners choose for putting greens. Ask which fiber your quote uses and why it fits your yard. Ask the installer to name the fiber, not only the brand.
Pile height, backing and the maker
Ask for the fiber type, pile height, backing and manufacturer's name in writing, and ask to hold a sample before you decide. Those are the lines to compare bid against bid when you ask what determines the quality of artificial turf.
Infill choices and odor control
Common turf infills are acrylic-coated sand, crumb rubber, silica sand and zeolite, applied to the maker's spec (This Old House, 2026). Ask which infill the quote uses and whether it follows the maker's spec. For odor control, ask which infill goes in a pet area and why. If a turf area already smells, read why artificial turf smells and what to check. Ask us to check the drainage under your turf if the smell comes back after cleaning.
Remove the old lawn, and call 811 first
A professional install removes the old lawn and at least 3 to 4 inches of soil, then lays a 3 to 4 inch base of crushed stone or decomposed granite (This Old House install guide, 2026). Before anyone digs, Florida law requires a call to Sunshine 811 at least 2 full business days ahead, and the locate ticket is good for 30 calendar days. Ask who places that call.
Grade the ground and compact the base
Ask how the crew will grade the ground so water runs away from the house. The base is compacted with a plate compactor in several passes in different directions. Ask for the base depth, rock type and compaction method in writing on your turf quote.
Weed barrier, then lay and seam the turf
Weed-barrier seams under the turf overlap by 4 to 6 inches, and turf seams are joined with seaming tape and adhesive. When you ask whether weeds grow through artificial grass, ask to see the weed barrier on the quote.
Secure the edges, add infill and brush
Turf edges are nailed every 3 to 4 inches, and the middle every 12 to 24 inches. Infill is applied to the maker's spec. Ask whether the crew brushes the turf after the infill goes in.
How long artificial turf installation takes
A professional team takes a few days to install artificial turf, and a first-time DIYer can take weeks (Bob Vila, 2023). Ask for a written start date and finish date with the quote. In a normal year November is Tampa's driest month, with 1.40 inches of rain, and the months from October through May are all drier than the June through September wet season (NOAA climate normals, Tampa International Airport). Florida has the most lightning casualties of all 50 states, and central Florida is called the Lightning Capital of the United States (National Weather Service, Melbourne). Ask what weather would move your dates.
Local conditions
Drainage, heat and glare: how Tampa weather bears on turf
Tampa gets 49.48 inches of rain a year, with about 69 days a year of a tenth of an inch or more (NOAA climate normals, Tampa International Airport). June through September bring 30.24 inches of that, about 61% of the year's rain, and August is the wettest month at 9.03 inches. The rainy season runs from May 25 to October 10 in the Tampa Bay area (National Weather Service). Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10 (NOAA National Hurricane Center). Ask any installer how the base will handle water in August.
The soil under your turf
North and Central Florida soils are typically very sandy and do not hold water or nutrients well (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions). Development in Tampa and Hillsborough County often leaves compacted, nutrient-poor sandy soil (UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County). Myakka fine sand, Florida's state soil, is poorly or very poorly drained, with the water table less than 18 inches down for 1 to 4 months in most years (USDA NRCS, a statewide description, not a survey of any Tampa lot). Many Florida flatwoods soils also have a weakly cemented organic hardpan, usually 12 to 40 inches down, and a water table that rises to within 5 to 20 inches of the surface (UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward). Those facts explain why some Tampa yards pond after rain, and why drainage and base depth matter.
Drainage through turf backing, including pet urine
Ask for drainage as its own line on the quote. Ask whether the turf backing lets water pass through or whether drains are added, and where pet urine goes in a dog run. Ask how the installer will judge how your yard drains before it sets the base depth. If water pools in the yard, ask whether a French drain is needed. A French drain averages about $5,000 nationally, from $500 for minimal work up to $18,000, and runs $10 to $50 per linear foot for an exterior drain (Bob Vila, 2024). The same national guide prices a gravel or plastic-tank dry well at $50 to $700 and a concrete one at up to $3,000, a curtain drain at $1,000 to $5,000 on average, and drainage installation labor at $50 to $100 an hour.
Tell the crew where your downspouts empty. UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping notes that downspouts can be pointed into planted areas and that porous patios and walkways let water soak in.
How hot turf gets in a Tampa summer
Tampa averages about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and August, the hottest month, has a normal daily high of 91.2°F (NOAA climate normals, Tampa International Airport). How hot turf gets is a different number from how hot the air gets. A University of Florida study of California yards found that artificial turf surfaces can reach 174°F on the hottest summer days, while living grass stays near 102°F (UF/IFAS News). That study measured California yards, not Tampa ones.
The same UF/IFAS report found rock- and mulch-heavy yards up to 54°F hotter at the surface than living lawns. It warns that in Florida's humid climate removing turf can make yards feel hotter. It adds that homeowners may end up watering artificial turf to make it bearable in summer, which cancels the water savings.
Cooling claims and window glare
Ask how a turf product is made to stay cooler in summer, and request the written spec behind the answer. Ask whether window glare could melt the turf at your house, and whether the installer looks for windows that throw strong reflected sun onto the lawn before the turf goes down.
Fire pits, grills, kids and pets
Request the maker's written clearance for turf near a fire pit or grill before you place either one. For children and pets, weigh the surface temperatures above, and get the written product information on infill and pet use before you buy.
Local rules
Watering rules, HOA approval and permits in Tampa
The watering rules a natural lawn lives under
If you are weighing turf against a natural lawn, these are the Tampa watering rules the natural lawn follows. Tampa water customers may water lawns once a week, on a day set by the last digit of the house number: 0 or 1 Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday. Mixed and no-address properties water Friday. Lawn watering is allowed only from midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., once on your day (City of Tampa Water Department, order effective April 3, 2026). The regional one-day-a-week order runs until March 31, 2027 (Hillsborough County, September 24, 2026), and the district limits apply to homes on private wells too. Breaking the rules can bring fines up to $500 and a mandatory court appearance. Reclaimed water used for irrigation is generally not subject to the restrictions. Ask the Tampa Water Department whether reclaimed water reaches your street before planning a new sprinkler system.
UF/IFAS puts the most a home lawn generally needs in the hottest part of the year at 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water a week (UF/IFAS FAWN Urban Irrigation Scheduler). After 0.3 inch of rain in 24 hours, or 1 inch in 3 days, irrigation may not be needed that day.
HOA rules
A Florida HOA may not ban an owner from putting in Florida-friendly landscaping on their own land (Florida Statutes). Florida law defines Florida-friendly landscaping as quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, suit local conditions and tolerate drought, and a local ordinance may not ban it. Neither law mentions artificial turf. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping program has 9 principles, including right plant, right place; water efficiently; and reduce stormwater runoff (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions). If you live in an HOA, get its written approval for artificial turf before work starts.
City permits and trees
Inside Tampa city limits, the City of Tampa Construction Services Division issues building permits through the city's Accela Citizen Access portal. An address in unincorporated Hillsborough County goes to the county instead. Tampa Landscaping Pros pulls the City permit when the job needs one. Ask us to check your lot and any HOA rules before you choose artificial turf. If your turf plan also adds a patio slab, driveway or deck, Tampa lists $214 for that residential permit, plus the state surcharge of 2.5% of the permit value, $4 minimum. The Tampa landscaping permits and rules page covers the wider list.
If a tree has to come out for the new turf area, Tampa requires a permit to remove any tree 5 inches or more across at breast height, except invasive species. Every removal must be replaced by new tree planting, or paid into the city tree fund if there is no room on site (City of Tampa tree permitting page). In unincorporated Hillsborough County, a tree removal permit carries an $81.65 application fee, and homes inside Tampa, Temple Terrace or Plant City apply to their city instead. If a big tree shades the turf area, Tampa requires a permit before pruning a tree 24 inches or more across at breast height.
Check the current rule with the official source: tampa.gov
Upkeep, water savings and lifespan of artificial turf
Artificial turf maintenance and repair
Ask the installer what brushing, rinsing and cleaning the maker calls for, how often, and how weeds are handled on the turf. National figures put yearly upkeep, which covers brushing and an infill top-up, at $250 to $350 a year (2026 guide). Ask who will apply any weed or pest treatment and which state license they hold. In Florida, anyone applying pesticide to lawns for hire must hold their own state certification or work under a licensed Lawn and Ornamental operator. A Commercial Landscape Maintenance card covers plant beds, not turf (UF/IFAS Extension Martin County).
If an older turf area needs repair or replacement, ask whether the fault is in the turf, the seams or the base before you price the fix.
Water savings and upkeep compared with natural grass
A natural lawn on a monthly lawn care plan runs $1,500 to $6,000 a year nationally (2026 guide), against the turf upkeep figure above. Water savings are less certain: UF/IFAS says homeowners may end up watering artificial turf to make it bearable in summer, which cancels the savings.
A natural lawn carries Tampa rules and risks of its own. Lawn and landscape fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus may not be applied from June 1 to September 30 (City of Tampa). Chinch bugs are the hardest pest of St. Augustinegrass (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions). St. Augustine sod runs $0.98 to $1.79 per square foot installed nationally (2026 guide), and hydroseeding runs $0.06 to $0.20 per square foot (This Old House, 2026). Professional sod installation on a 1,000-square-foot yard runs $1,000 to $2,200, with old grass removal not included (2026 national guide). Zoysia sod runs $1.04 to $1.65 installed and Bahia sod $0.77 to $1.26 (2026 national guide). UF/IFAS says bahiagrass has better drought tolerance than other Florida lawn grasses and is mowed to 3 to 4 inches, while zoysiagrass can tolerate shade, salt and traffic well. UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County says to replace a lawn when 30% or more of it is weeds, bare spots or damage.
How long artificial turf lasts and how to read a warranty
An artificial lawn lasts 15 to 20 years (This Old House, 2026; a general figure, not a Florida one). Some turf manufacturers warrant their product only if a professional installs it (Bob Vila, 2023). Ask for both the turf maker's warranty and the installer's workmanship warranty in writing.
Checklist
How to choose an artificial turf installer in Tampa
Start with the visit. The BBB says a company that quotes without seeing the yard cannot know what it needs, so get a price after an on-site look. A written estimate should list the work, the materials, the completion date and the price (FTC).
Compare quotes line by line
Compare bids for the same work, and ask for an explanation if the estimates differ a lot (BBB and FTC). Put the base depth, fiber, infill, drainage, edging, old lawn removal, warranties and dates side by side.
Questions to ask a turf installer before hiring
- What goes under the turf, layer by layer?
- Which fiber, pile height, backing and manufacturer is quoted, and can I hold a sample?
- Which infill is quoted, and does it follow the maker's spec?
- How does water leave the base, and what does the drainage line cost?
- Who calls 811 before digging, and who pulls the permit if one is needed?
- What do the turf maker's warranty and your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
- What start and finish dates are on the quote, and what weather would move them?
License, insurance and registration
Florida has no general state landscaping license, and for-hire fertilizing and pesticide work need their own state certificates (UF/IFAS Extension Orange County). The FTC advises you to confirm any license with the state or county and to ask for proof of insurance. The BBB suggests a certificate of insurance sent from the business's insurance agent. Contractors who pull permits in Tampa register their license with the city and keep a workers' compensation certificate or exemption on file (City of Tampa). Since July 1, 2021, Florida law (House Bill 735) has pre-empted local contractor licensing to the state.
Contract, payment and red flags
The FTC says a contract should give the contractor's name and license number, start and finish dates, every promise made about scope and cost, and a written right to cancel, with no blank spaces left. Do not pay the full amount up front, and do not make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied. Paying by check or card is better than cash (FTC and BBB). In Florida, a licensed contractor who takes more than 10 percent of the price up front must apply for any needed permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after permits issue, unless you agreed otherwise in writing.
In Florida, a residential contract over $2,500 must carry a lien warning: unpaid subcontractors or suppliers can claim against your property even if you paid the contractor in full, so ask for a written release of lien. Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, you can cancel a sale made at your home of $25 or more until midnight of the third business day after the sale, for a full refund.
The FTC lists these scam signs: a knock on your door from someone who is "in the area", claims of leftover materials, pressure to decide now, a demand for everything up front or cash only, a request that you pull the permits, or a push toward their lender. Search the company name online with words like "scam", "review" or "complaint", and read reviews with a critical eye. If a job goes wrong, first try to settle it with the contractor, then go to the state attorney general or local consumer protection office.
DIY or a professional installer
Weeks of DIY work against a few days for a crew is the time trade. The warranty is the other one. If you buy turf for a DIY job, ask the maker whether the product warranty needs a professional install.
Artificial turf questions from Tampa homeowners
How long does artificial turf installation take?
A professional crew takes a few days (Bob Vila, 2023). In Tampa the rainy season runs May 25 to October 10, and central Florida is called the Lightning Capital of the United States, so ask what weather would move the start and finish dates on your written quote.
How much does artificial turf cost in Tampa?
A professionally installed lawn costs $15 to $19 per square foot nationally (This Old House, 2026). A Tampa price comes from a measured yard, and the written price comes before any work starts.
Will artificial turf drain in Tampa's sandy soil?
That depends on the base and drainage under it. Myakka fine sand, Florida's state soil, is poorly or very poorly drained, and many Florida flatwoods soils have a water table that rises to within 5 to 20 inches of the surface. Ask for drainage as its own line on the quote; drainage under turf runs $100 to $2,000 nationally (Bob Vila, 2023).
Is artificial turf suitable for a hot climate like Tampa's?
Tampa has about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter. A University of Florida study of California yards found turf surfaces reaching 174°F on the hottest days, against about 102°F for living grass.
How much water does artificial turf conserve?
That depends on whether the turf ever needs watering. UF/IFAS says owners may water turf to make it bearable in summer, which cancels the savings. A natural lawn in Tampa is limited to one watering day a week.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval for artificial turf?
A permit depends on the job, and the City permit comes from Tampa Landscaping Pros when one is needed. HOA approval is separate: get it in writing before work starts.
Cost
Get a written price for your Tampa yard
Call us or use the form. We call you back within one business day. Tampa Landscaping Pros's crew comes out and measures, gives you a written price before any work starts, and pulls the City permit when the job needs one. You can also contact Tampa Landscaping Pros with your town and the areas you want covered.
Common problems and what they mean
Artificial Turf Smells
Artificial turf smells like urine in Tampa? See why infill and poor drainage hold pet odor, what to clean first, and what drainage work costs nationally.
For typical prices and what moves them, see Landscaping Cost.
Nearby towns
Town guides: Landscaping in St. Petersburg, FL, Landscaping in Clearwater, FL, Landscaping in Dunedin, FL, Landscaping in Temple Terrace, FL.
Cost
Estimate your project cost
Pick a project and its size to see the typical installed price range from national cost data.
| Project | Size | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yard landscaping | 200 sq ft | $900–$2,400 | HomeAdvisor |
| Yard landscaping | 500 sq ft | $2,250–$6,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Yard landscaping | 1,000 sq ft | $4,500–$12,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Concrete paver patio | 200 sq ft | $900–$4,200 | HomeAdvisor |
| Concrete paver patio | 500 sq ft | $2,250–$10,500 | HomeAdvisor |
| Concrete paver patio | 1,000 sq ft | $4,500–$21,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Brick paver patio | 200 sq ft | $1,600–$5,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Brick paver patio | 500 sq ft | $4,000–$12,500 | HomeAdvisor |
| Brick paver patio | 1,000 sq ft | $8,000–$25,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Artificial turf | 200 sq ft | $1,000–$4,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Artificial turf | 500 sq ft | $2,500–$10,000 | HomeAdvisor |
| Artificial turf | 1,000 sq ft | $5,000–$20,000 | HomeAdvisor |
Yard landscaping uses the source's own ranges by yard size. Patio and turf ranges are the source's installed price per square foot times the size you pick. Access, slope, removing an old surface and the materials you choose move the real price; a written quote sets it.
Sources: HomeAdvisor, HomeAdvisor, HomeAdvisor.