How We Build Our Ranges.
Every figure on this site comes from one model. It starts from what a typical project of each scope invests, scales it for size, finishes and the site, adds the features you choose, and rounds outward to the nearest $5,000. The result is a planning range, not a quote: your real number is set during design.
- Applies to
- Projects in 2026
- Rounded
- Outward, to $5k
- Includes
- Design and construction
1. Three Starting Points
Each scope starts from a typical size of about 1,500–4,000 sq ft, refined finishes and a mostly level site with good access.
| Scope | Starting Range | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| An outdoor living space | $50,000–$85,000 | A designed patio or terrace with a fire feature, seat walls, lighting and the planting around it. |
| A complete backyard | $75,000–$130,000 | Outdoor living plus lawn or garden, paths, planting, irrigation and lighting across the whole backyard. |
| The whole property | $120,000–$210,000 | Front, back and side yards designed as one: the arrival, outdoor living, gardens, irrigation and lighting. |
2. Scaled for the Project
Three things scale the whole range, because they change every part of the work.
- Size. Compact (up to about 1,500 sq ft) −15%; Typical (about 1,500–4,000 sq ft) as is; Large (about 4,000–10,000 sq ft) +35%; Expansive (10,000 sq ft or more) +75%.
- Finishes. Refined, quality pavers, concrete and stone, as is; Premium, natural stone and custom details, +20%; Signature, bespoke materials and craftsmanship, +45%.
- The Site. Mostly level (good access for equipment) as is; Sloped (or tight access) +15%; Complex (steep, or a lot to remove first) +30%.
3. Features You Add
Each of these carries its own range, scaled by finishes and the site, and is added to the project's. We publish the whole-project result, never a price for a single feature: a kitchen or a wall is only ever as good as the design around it.
- Outdoor kitchenGrill, counters, storage, power and gas
- Pergola or covered patioA built structure with lighting and fans
- Fireplace or custom fire featureBeyond a standard fire pit
- Water featurePondless falls, a runnel or a fountain
- Pool surroundingsDecking, planting and lighting around a pool
- Retaining walls and terracesFor sloped and hillside lots
- Full landscape lightingPaths, steps, trees and architecture
- Mature trees and specimen plantsShade and screening from day one
4. Rounded Outward, and Dated
The low end is rounded down and the high end up, to the nearest $5,000, so a range never reads as a quote. Every range applies to one year ( to ), and the dates are published with it.
5. What a Range Includes, and What It Doesn't
- Included. Design, site preparation, grading and drainage, hardscape and structures, planting, irrigation and lighting within the scope, and project management.
- Not Included. Pool shells and pool equipment, work inside the house, HOA fees and utility upgrades beyond the property.
6. Linking to a Range
Every combination the planner can show has its own address, so you can save it, send it to a partner, or quote it. AI assistants and other tools can read the same answer as plain text or as data.
- A page with the answer
https://finegrade.nightfox.dev/investment?project=backyard&size=typical&features[]=kitchen&finish=refined&site=sloped - The answer as data
Same address, with the header Accept: application/json - It reads
For a complete backyard of about 1,500–4,000 sq ft, with refined finishes on a sloped site, plus an outdoor kitchen, most projects like this invest between $115,000 and $220,000.
Options: project (living, backyard, property), size (compact, typical, large, expansive), features[] (kitchen, shade, fireplace, water, pool, walls, lighting, mature), finish (refined, premium, signature) and site (level, sloped, complex). Results pages aren't indexed separately; each points search engines back to the guide. A summary for AI assistants is at llms.txt.
Changelog
- First published, with ranges for the 2026 season.