Artificial grass is one of the most common enquiries we get across Christchurch and Selwyn, and the first question is almost always the same: what does it actually cost? The honest answer is that the turf itself is the smaller part of the bill — what sits underneath it, and how hard your section is to work on, usually decides the final number.
This guide breaks down what goes into an artificial grass price in Christchurch, where the money goes, and what tends to push a quote up or down. Every figure here is indicative only: we quote after walking the site, because access, ground conditions and existing surfaces vary hugely from one Canterbury section to the next.
What makes up an artificial grass quote
A properly installed artificial lawn is really four costs stacked together: removing whatever is there now, building and compacting a free-draining base, supplying the turf itself, and then laying, joining, edging and infilling it. Skip or skimp on any one of those and you'll see it in the finished surface within a season or two.
On most Christchurch jobs, base preparation and disposal account for a bigger share of the price than people expect — often close to half. That's the part that stops water pooling under the turf through winter and keeps the surface flat rather than lumpy underfoot.
- Excavation and removal of existing lawn, soil or paving, plus dump fees
- Compacted, free-draining aggregate base laid to the correct falls
- Turf supply — grade, pile height and backing quality all move the rate
- Laying, seaming, perimeter edging and sand infill
Why small lawns cost more per square metre
A 20m² courtyard will almost always cost more per square metre than a 150m² back lawn. Machinery, cartage, dump runs and setup are largely fixed costs, so on a small area they're spread across fewer metres. Small spaces also tend to be tight for access, which means barrowing material by hand rather than running a digger straight in.
That's worth knowing before you compare quotes online. A headline per-square-metre rate from a large-area job won't translate to a small side courtyard, and vice versa.
The extras that change the price most
Two sections of identical size can quote very differently. These are the factors we look at hardest when pricing artificial grass in Christchurch and Canterbury.
- Access — whether a machine can reach the area, or everything goes by wheelbarrow
- Existing surface — stripping old concrete or pavers costs more than lifting tired lawn
- Ground conditions — heavy clay or soft, wet ground needs a deeper, better-drained base
- Drainage — if water already sits on the area, that gets solved before turf goes down
- Shape and edging — curves, garden beds and timber or concrete edge detail add labour
- Turf grade — a cheap short-pile turf and a premium heat-managed turf are very different products
Where cheap quotes usually cut corners
If a quote comes in well under everything else you've been given, it's usually the base. Laying turf straight over existing lawn or an uncompacted layer of sand is quick and cheap, and it looks fine on handover day. A Canterbury winter later, you get soft spots, visible undulations and water sitting under the surface.
The other common shortcut is edging. Turf that isn't properly secured at the perimeter lifts and curls at the corners, which is both an eyesore and a trip hazard. Neither problem is cheap to fix retrospectively, because the turf has to come up to get at what's underneath.
Is artificial grass worth it in Christchurch?
Financially, the case is strongest where a real lawn keeps failing: deep shade, heavy pet or kid traffic, narrow side strips, or small courtyards that are awkward to mow. You stop paying for water, fertiliser, reseeding and mowing time, and the surface looks the same in February as it does in July.
It's a weaker case on a large, healthy, open lawn that already grows well — the upfront cost is significant and real grass will feel cooler and softer. We'll tell you honestly which camp your section falls into rather than selling turf for the sake of it.
Getting an accurate price for your section
The fastest way to a real number is a site visit. Brett walks the area, checks access and drainage, measures up and talks through turf options, then you get a written quote with the base prep spelled out — not just a rate per metre. It's free, and there's no obligation.
If you're weighing artificial grass against a new real lawn, we install both, so the advice you get isn't tied to one outcome.
Want this done for you?
Green Dreams Landscaping builds outdoor spaces across Christchurch, Selwyn and Canterbury. Free quotes, fully insured, 10+ years on the tools.