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Artificial turf installation for Austin yards

We install turf lawns in front yards, side yards, and backyards around Austin and Central Texas. Most of the work happens before we unroll the turf, when we remove old grass, dig down into the soil, and build and compact a rock base.

Tell us about your yard Turf cost guide

A turf front yard at a limestone house with a live oak and a limestone-edged bed

$10–$25

Per square foot, installed

HomeGuide, 2025

Published ranges for turf, labor, base rock, and infill, with every source named.

Turf cost guide

What a turf lawn install includes

We start by cutting out the existing grass and digging out at least 3 to 4 inches of soil with it. Then we haul the old grass and dirt away.

We lay a 3 to 4 inch base of crushed stone or decomposed granite. We run a plate compactor over the base several times, working in different directions. The base lets water drain through, and we’ll add weed barrier fabric if you want it.

We roll out the turf and leave it in the sun for about half a day so the wrinkles can relax, then cut it to the edges and join the seams with seam tape. We use a power broom to brush infill, either sand or granules, down between the blades at about 1 pound per square foot. Polyethylene is the usual fiber for a residential lawn, and nylon is the toughest fiber and costs more. Home lawn blades are typically 1 to 2 inches tall.

Front yards, side yards, and backyards

A front yard may fall under HOA rules in Austin, and Texas law doesn’t specifically protect artificial turf from HOA rules, so check with your HOA before turf is ordered. Side yards can be narrow strips reached through a gate. Where a strip sits in shade, turf works where grass struggles. If equipment can’t get through, we do the digging and base work by shovel and wheelbarrow, which adds labor.

Backyards are where dogs and kids spend time and where putting greens go. Curved beds and tree rings take custom cuts, which add labor, and slopes cost more to install.

What turf costs to install

HomeGuide’s 2025 cost guide puts an installed turf lawn at $10 to $25 per square foot, including materials and labor. The turf cost guide covers other publishers’ ranges, a yard-size table, and what moves a price.

Repairs, replacements, and old turf removal

We patch damaged sections, including burn marks from grills and fire pits, spots melted by glare off a window, and areas flattened under heavy furniture. We also re-brush matted areas and top up infill where it’s needed.

Turf wears out over time. Angi’s 2026 guide puts its life at 10 to 20 years, with a shorter life in high-traffic areas. When old turf needs replacing, we pull it up and haul it off so new turf can go down in its place, and the turf cost guide covers the cost side of that work.

What to have ready before we measure

A measuring visit goes faster when we know the yard’s details up front. Your answers change the base work and the turf we’d suggest.

Have these details ready:

A rough size of the area, length times width
What’s on the ground now (grass, dirt, gravel, or old turf)
Who uses it (dogs, kids, or a golfer)
The gate or path equipment would come through
HOA approval, if you need it

Sources

This Old House, "Everything You Need To Know To Install Artificial Turf," June 9, 2026.
Bob Vila, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost?," June 29, 2023.
Angi, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost to Install? [2026 Data]," September 5, 2026.
Lawn Love, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost in 2026?," December 27, 2025.
HomeGuide, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost? (2026)," October 21, 2025.
Texas Constitution and Statutes, "Property Code ch. 202," October 8, 2026.
HomeAdvisor, "How Much Does It Cost to Install a Backyard Putting Green in 2026?," June 20, 2026.
HomeAdvisor, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost in 2026?," June 20, 2026.
LawnStarter, "How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost in 2026?," October 5, 2026.
Angi, "Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass," July 9, 2026.
Lawn Love, "How to Clean Artificial Grass," March 26, 2025.
Angi, "9 Problems With Artificial Grass," July 9, 2026.
This Old House, "How To Lay Artificial Turf," June 2, 2026.

FAQ

Turf lawn questions

How long does a turf install take?

A professional turf install can take anywhere from one to two days to a week, depending on the lawn’s size and shape, according to Lawn Love’s 2025 guide. We’ll give you a schedule after we measure your lawn.

Can turf go in shade?

Yes, shade is a good fit for turf. HomeGuide’s 2025 guide says turf works well in shaded yards where natural grass struggles to grow, and that UV-stabilized turf in shaded areas may last even longer. On an Ask This Old House project, turf went in where a Norway maple made growing grass impossible.

Do you take out the old grass?

Yes, we take out the old grass every time. We cut it out, dig out at least 3 to 4 inches of soil with it, and haul it off. That makes room for the 3 to 4 inches of compacted rock base the turf sits on.

Can turf go on a slope?

Yes, turf can go on a slope. Angi’s 2026 guide lists sloped areas among the places turf makes sense. A slope costs more to install, though. LawnStarter’s 2026 guide says a slope adds 50% to 60% to the price.