Gardening & landscaping
How to check a landscaping quote
A landscaping quote is checkable when it contains measurements. Get the area in square metres, the build-up beneath the surface, the named materials, the labour days and the waste arrangements. With those five things you can compare any two quotes fairly, even when their totals look very different.
Why prices vary
Ground conditions differ from garden to garden, even on the same street.
Material choices span a very wide price range for visually similar results.
Access determines how much of the job is handling rather than building.
Waste volumes are hard to judge from a photograph, so allowances differ.
What affects the price
- Measured area
- Square metres for surfaces, linear metres for fences and edges.
- Build-up
- Excavation depth, MOT Type 1, membrane, bedding and jointing.
- Materials
- Named product, size and finish rather than a generic description.
- Labour
- Days on site and number of operatives.
- Waste
- Grab loads or skips, and whether tipping is included.
- Access
- Machine access or barrow-only, and distance from the road.
- Drainage
- Channels, falls and soakaways where water must be managed.
What a proper quote should include
- Measurements for every surface and run
- Excavation depth and sub-base specification
- Named paving, decking, fencing or turf products
- Labour days and team size
- Waste removal and tip charges
- Edging, membrane, jointing and fixings
- Drainage details where relevant
- Making good of lawns and planting
- VAT treatment and payment stages
Common warning signs
- No measurements
- No description of what sits under the surface
- Waste 'to be discussed'
- A materials deposit with no product names
- No mention of falls or drainage on a large paved area
How to compare quotes
- Measure the garden yourself and check each quote's figures against yours.
- Compare the build-up first, then the surface material, then the price.
- Work out a rough cost per square metre for each quote.
- Confirm who removes spoil in each case.
- Make sure all quotes include or exclude VAT consistently.
When a higher price may be justified
- Barrow-only access or long carrying distances
- Clay, concrete or roots to excavate
- Retaining structures and steps on sloping ground
- Full mortar bed and slurry priming under porcelain
- Drainage or permeable construction included
When a low price may be a warning sign
- Thin sub-base for a driveway or parking area
- Spot bedding under slabs
- Sand-only jointing on a large patio
- Waste excluded
- No compaction or membrane specified
Example quote scenario
Illustrative example — 18m fence replacement, fictional figures
- Quoted total (inc. VAT)
- £2,150
- Remove and dispose of old fence
- £350
- Concrete posts and gravel boards, 10 bays
- £620
- Closeboard panels, 10 bays
- £580
- Labour, 3 days, 2 operatives
- £600
In this fictional example the bays, materials and labour are all visible, so each can be checked. A quote of the same total described only as 'replace fence' would be no more expensive, but far harder to hold anyone to.
Frequently asked questions
Should a landscaper give a fixed price or a day rate?
Both exist. A fixed price on a measured specification is easier to compare; day rates suit exploratory or variable work but should come with an estimated number of days.
Who is responsible for removing garden waste?
Whoever the quote says. Confirm it in writing, because tip charges for soil and hardcore are a real cost that is easy to leave out.
What does QuoteCheck look at in a landscaping quote?
Areas, build-up, materials, labour days, waste, access and VAT, then it returns an estimated reasonable range, concerns and questions to ask. Every figure is an estimate based on the information supplied.
Already have a quote?
Upload it or enter the details yourself. Based on the information provided, QuoteCheck breaks down the costs and gives you an independent second opinion — an estimate, not a guarantee.
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