# Artificial Turf Cost in Ontario (2026): Price per Square Foot, Installed

> Artificial turf costs $5–$22 per sq ft installed in Ontario, from published installer prices: backyards, pet turf, DIY materials and what moves the price.

Canonical: https://artificialturfcanada.ca/guides/artificial-turf-cost-ontario
Last updated: 2026-10-23

Prices checked October 23, 2026 · Artificial Turf Canada

Published prices for installed artificial grass in Ontario run $5–$22 per sq ft, and most backyards land at $10–$20 per sq ft. That covers digging out the old lawn, a compacted gravel base, weed barrier, the turf, infill and labour.

For a whole yard, a Toronto-area installer publishes $2,400–$5,000 for 200 to 300 sq ft, $5,000–$12,000 for 400 to 700 sq ft, and $10,000–$22,000+ for 800 to 1,200 sq ft. These are ranges, not quotes: a site measure sets the real price.

## Installed price per square foot

Every published installed figure we found, from Ontario installers’ own price guides and HomeStars’ Canadian guide. The low end is budget turf on an easy, flat site; the high end is premium turf, a deep base or a hard-to-reach yard.

### Published installed prices

CAD · before HST · published prices

| Item | Source | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fully installed, Toronto average (excavation, base, weed barrier, turf, infill, labour) | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $12–$22 per sq ft |
| Installed, with site prep, labour and edging | From a Hamilton-area turf supplier’s 2025 cost guide | $10–$20 per sq ft |
| Materials plus professional installation | From a Mississauga turf installer’s 2024 cost guide | $8.50–$20 per sq ft |
| Installed, budget to premium turf | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $5–$20+ per sq ft |
| Backyard lawn, installed | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $12–$20 per sq ft |
| Residential backyard, installed | From a Hamilton-area turf supplier’s 2025 cost guide | $10–$15 per sq ft |
| Mid-range turf, installed | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $10–$15 per sq ft |
| Budget turf, installed (low-traffic and decorative areas) | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $5–$10 per sq ft |
| Premium turf, installed (high-use areas) | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $15–$20+ per sq ft |

## What a whole yard costs

Per-square-foot prices fall as the area grows, because the setup, delivery and edging are spread over more turf. Small and curved areas cost the most per square foot.

### Published project prices

CAD · before HST · published prices

| Item | Source | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small yard, 200 to 300 sq ft | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $2,400–$5,000 |
| Medium yard, 400 to 700 sq ft | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Large yard, 800 to 1,200 sq ft | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $10,000–$22,000+ |

## Where the money goes

Labour and base preparation are usually more than half the job. The turf itself is the smaller part, which is why a cheap roll laid on a poor base is rarely a saving: the base is what keeps it flat and draining through Ontario’s freeze-thaw winters.

### Published component prices

CAD · before HST · published prices

| Item | Source | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic synthetic grass, material only | From a Hamilton-area turf supplier’s 2025 cost guide | $3–$7 per sq ft |
| Artificial grass and materials, for a DIY install | From a Mississauga turf installer’s 2024 cost guide | $4.50–$7 per sq ft |
| Labour and installation | From a Mississauga turf installer’s 2024 cost guide | $4–$13 per sq ft |
| Labour: laying and securing the turf | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $3–$9 per sq ft |
| Laying: grading, soil removal, base and securing | From a Hamilton-area turf supplier’s 2025 cost guide | $3–$9 per sq ft |
| Site preparation: removing old grass and levelling | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $1–$3 per sq ft |
| Infill, depending on the type | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $0.50–$2.50 per sq ft |
| Weed barrier fabric | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $0.50–$1 per sq ft |

## Pet turf costs more

Turf for dogs needs a base that drains fast, a backing that lets urine through, and usually an odour-control infill such as zeolite. Published pet turf prices run $14–$22 per sq ft installed, about $2–$5 per sq ft more than standard artificial grass.

### Published pet turf prices

CAD · before HST · published prices

| Item | Source | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pet turf with antimicrobial infill and upgraded drainage | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $14–$22 per sq ft |
| Pet turf, installed (drainage base, turf, antimicrobial infill) | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $15–$22 per sq ft |
| Pet turf over standard artificial grass, added | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $2–$5 per sq ft |
| Antimicrobial infill or a deodorizing drainage layer, added | From a Toronto-area turf installer’s 2026 price guide | $1–$3 per sq ft |

## Doing it yourself

Turf and materials alone run $3–$7 per sq ft. A Mississauga installer’s example puts a 1,000 sq ft backyard at $8,143 in DIY materials against $15,000 installed. The saving is real, but so is the work: removing 3 to 4 inches of soil, hauling and compacting gravel, and seaming. Renting a plate compactor and sod cutter, and the disposal, come on top.

## Upkeep

Artificial grass still needs brushing, rinsing and the odd infill top-up. HomeStars puts a professional clean at $0.50–$1 per sq ft every 12 to 18 months and an infill top-up at $300–$800 every 2 to 3 years.

### Published upkeep prices

CAD · before HST · published prices

| Item | Source | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional clean, every 12 to 18 months | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $0.50–$1 per sq ft |
| Infill top-up every 2 to 3 years, whole lawn | From HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide (August 2026) | $300–$800 |

## Questions people ask

### How much does artificial turf cost per square foot in Ontario?

Published installed prices run $5–$22 per sq ft, and most backyards land at $10–$20 per sq ft, before HST. Material alone is $3–$7 per sq ft.

### How much does it cost to turf a 500 sq ft backyard?

At the published backyard range of $10–$20 per sq ft, about $5,000–$10,000 installed. A Mississauga installer’s example for a 500 sq ft townhouse backyard is $7,500.

### Why do turf quotes vary so much?

Turf quality, how much soil comes out, base depth, drainage work, slope, access for equipment (a narrow side gate means hand-carrying gravel), the shape of the area and the edging all move the price. Compare quotes on the same turf, base depth and infill.

### Is artificial grass cheaper than sod over time?

Sod costs less to put in, but it needs water, fertilizer and mowing every year. The artificial turf vs sod guide compares the published 10-year figures.

## Where these prices come from

These figures are from Ontario turf installers’ and suppliers’ own published price guides (Toronto area, Mississauga, Hamilton area) and from [HomeStars’ Canadian artificial grass price guide](https://www.homestars.com/gardening-outdoors/price-guides/artificial-grass-costs), checked October 23, 2026. We don’t name the installers: we’re a referral service and don’t promote individual businesses. They’re ranges, not quotes, in CAD before HST.

## Related

- [Turf cost calculator](https://artificialturfcanada.ca/tools/artificial-turf-cost-calculator)
- [Artificial turf vs sod](https://artificialturfcanada.ca/guides/artificial-turf-vs-sod)
- [Artificial grass installation](https://artificialturfcanada.ca/services/artificial-grass-installation)
- [Pet turf](https://artificialturfcanada.ca/services/pet-turf)