What goes in a landscaping estimate
A customer planning a yard project wants to know what's going in, how much of it, and what happens if a plant dies. A good landscaping estimate spells out:
- Measured areas: square feet for lawn, beds and patios, linear feet for edging.
- Site prep, like stripping old sod and weeds, grading, soil amendments and haul-away.
- Bulk materials by the cubic yard, with the depth (3 inches of hardwood mulch).
- Plants by name, size and count, or a plant allowance if they haven't been chosen yet.
- Sod or seed, edging, hardscape and irrigation, each in its own unit.
- Delivery, equipment, schedule, deposit and plant warranty.
Typli drafts all of this from the notes you'd jot down walking the property. You check the prices, change anything you like, and send it.
Measure in feet, order in yards
Customers think in square feet; mulch, topsoil and gravel are sold by the cubic yard. Square feet times depth in inches, divided by 324, gives cubic yards. At 3 inches deep, a yard of mulch covers about 108 sq ft; at 2 inches, about 160. Round up, because beds are never measured perfectly and soil settles.
Put both numbers on the estimate: "Hardwood mulch, 3 inches over 300 sq ft of beds (3 cu yd)." The customer sees the depth they're paying for, and you can show your math if another bid says 2 yards.
Sod is priced per square foot installed and sold by the pallet, usually 400 to 500 sq ft depending on the farm. Order 5 to 10% over for cuts and curves.
Access changes the price. If the skid steer can't fit through the gate, every yard goes in by wheelbarrow, and the labor should reflect it. Call 811 to get utilities marked before you dig.
Plants and allowances
Price plants each, installed, by container size: 1 gallon perennials, 3 and 5 gallon shrubs, trees by container size or caliper. The installed price covers the plant, digging, amending and planting.
When the customer hasn't settled on plants, use an allowance: "Plant allowance, $1,200 at installed prices. Final plant list approved before ordering." Bill against it and adjust the final invoice up or down.
If you warranty plants, say for how long and tie it to the watering instructions in your terms, since watering is out of your hands once you leave.
Irrigation by the zone
Sprinkler systems are priced per zone, plus the controller, the backflow preventer and the tie-in to the water supply. How many heads a zone can run depends on the water available, so check flow and pressure at the house before you count zones. Keep lawn and beds on separate zones, and don't mix spray, rotor and drip on one zone, since they put down water at different rates.
Many water utilities require a backflow preventer, and some areas add a permit or annual testing. Check your local rules and give each its own line.
Tips for estimates that win the job
- Name the plants. "12 'Green Velvet' boxwood, 3 gal" beats "shrubs", and gives you a record if the size is questioned later.
- Say who's responsible for private lines. 811 marks the utilities' lines, not sprinkler pipe, landscape lighting or a feed to a detached garage. Ask the customer, and say what happens if you hit one nobody mentioned.
- Break big projects into phases. Front beds this spring and the patio in the fall gives the customer something to say yes to now.
- Set a valid-until date. Stone, sod and nursery prices move with the season.
Frequently asked questions
Is the landscaping estimate generator free?
Yes. Drafting is free, with no account needed. To download the PDF or send a link, create a free account; free accounts can save 3 documents a month. Paid plans save unlimited documents, add your logo and remove the Typli footer.
Can I use my own prices?
Yes. Save your hourly rate and price list in your details and every estimate uses them exactly. You can also put prices in your notes ("sod $1.95 a square foot installed, mulch $105 a yard") and the draft uses them. Every line and price can be edited before you send it.
Can I send it to the customer?
Yes. Download a PDF to email or print, or send a link the customer can open on their phone.
Does it work for maintenance contracts?
Yes. Describe the service (weekly mowing on a quarter acre from April through October, plus spring and fall cleanup) and the draft prices the visits, with extras like mulch and leaf removal as separate lines.