Structure & Site
Landscaping Estimating Services in New Zealand
Hard and soft landscaping quantities: paving, walls, fencing, planting, mulch and irrigation, measured from the landscape plan.
Landscaping is the last trade on site and often the first to be cut when budgets are tight. That makes an accurate landscaping estimate especially useful: it shows exactly what each part of the design costs, so decisions about what to keep are informed.
We measure hard landscaping such as paving, steps, edging, walls, fences and gates, and soft landscaping such as topsoil, planting, mulch, lawn and irrigation. Plant schedules are counted by species and grade, and areas are measured by finish type.
Landscaping estimates are useful for residential projects, multi-unit developments with communal areas, and commercial sites where landscaping is a consent condition.
Scope
What we measure in a landscaping takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Paving | m² | By material, with bedding and sub-base. |
| Edging and kerbs | lm | Timber, steel or concrete edging. |
| Garden walls and steps | m² / no. | Low walls, steps and seating. |
| Fencing and gates | lm / no. | By fence type and height. |
| Topsoil and mulch | m³ | Depth by area. |
| Planting | no. | By species and grade from the plant schedule. |
| Lawn | m² | Seeding or instant turf. |
| Irrigation | lm / no. | Lines, emitters and controllers. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Landscaping estimates split hard and soft landscaping, so each can be priced by the right contractor or nursery.
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Built for the people who price the work
- Builders
- Include landscaping in a fixed-price home build without guessing.
- Subcontractors
- Landscape contractors can quote from a measured schedule.
- Developers
- Budget for communal landscaping required by resource consent.
- Architects
- Test whether a landscape concept fits within the project budget.
Process
How a landscaping estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload the landscape plan, planting schedule and any hard landscaping details.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm material specifications, plant grades and what is in the landscaping scope.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Hard and soft areas are measured and plant counts checked against the schedule.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the quantity sheet, plant list, PDF and marked-up landscape plans.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Many New Zealand resource consents include landscaping conditions, such as minimum planting or screening along boundaries. If your consent sets planting requirements, send the conditions and we will check the plan against them for quantity, not for compliance.
Pool fencing has specific requirements under the Building Code (clause F9, restricting access to residential pools). Where a pool fence is shown, we measure it as a separate item.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of landscaping work
01
Hard-to-soft ratio
Paving, walls and structures cost far more per square metre than planting and lawn. The balance between them sets the overall landscaping budget.
02
Plant grade
Larger plants give an instant result but cost much more than smaller grades that take time to establish. Grade choice can change the planting budget several times over.
03
Access
Rear sections with no machine access mean materials are moved by hand or small equipment, which adds labour.
04
Materials
Natural stone, hardwood and steel edging cost more than concrete, pine and plastic. We measure the specified material so options can be compared.
Where landscaping estimates go wrong
Landscaping estimates often miss the layers below the surface: sub-base for paving, drainage behind low walls, weed matting and topsoil depth. These are invisible once finished but take up a large share of the cost.
Plant counts are another weak point. Counting plants from a planting plan without checking the spacing and area can give the wrong number, and plants are often specified at a grade that is hard to source in quantity.
Establishment and maintenance are also often forgotten. Many consent conditions and contracts require plants to be maintained and replaced if they fail during an establishment period. We note any maintenance period stated in the documents so it can be priced. Watering during establishment, replacement of failed plants and periodic weeding all take labour, and on large communal landscapes the maintenance period can be a meaningful share of the contract. We list these items separately so the client can decide whether to include maintenance in the contract or handle it themselves after handover.
FAQ
Landscaping Estimating questions
Do you count plants from the schedule?
Yes. Plants are counted by species and grade and checked against the planting areas on the plan.
Can you estimate paving and decks together?
Paving is included here. Timber decks are covered under carpentry, but we can combine them if you prefer.
Do you include irrigation?
Yes, if it is shown. Otherwise we can add an allowance.
Can you estimate retaining walls in the garden?
Yes. Low landscape walls are included here; larger engineered retaining walls are usually under sitework.
Do you estimate fencing?
Yes, by type and height, with gates counted separately.
Related services
- Sitework Estimating
Civil and site infrastructure quantities: drainage, water, roads, kerbs, retaining and paving, measured from your civil drawings.
- Earthwork Estimating
Cut and fill volumes, topsoil strip and engineered fill quantities, calculated from your existing and design levels.
- Masonry Estimating
Block, brick and stone quantities by unit and wall type, with grout, reinforcing, ties and lintels counted alongside.
- Residential Estimating
Estimates for new homes, townhouses, alterations and additions, measured from your consent drawings and laid out the way builders price.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a landscaping estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer