How we work it out
Length × width gives your bare lawn area. Real turf never lays perfectly edge to edge, so we add a cutting allowance on top: 5% for a simple rectangular yard, or 10% for anything with garden beds, trees or curves to work around. That's the square metres to actually order. Supply and supply-and-lay cost ranges come from current national ballparks by variety.
Worked example: a 10 m × 6 m backyard (60 m² bare) with a couple of garden beds to cut around, laid in Sir Walter buffalo: 60 m² × 1.10 = 66 m² to order. Supply-only runs roughly $790 to $1,060, or about $1,190 to $1,850 fully installed once labour's added.
When to lay it
Turf roots fastest when the soil sits between about 14°C and 25°C, so spring and early autumn beat both a cold winter and a scorching midsummer across most of Australia. Sydney and southern NSW lean toward autumn, when the soil's still warm from summer but the heat stress has passed; Brisbane and the sub-tropics do better in spring, ahead of the wet season. Whichever season, water daily for the first two to three weeks until the roots knit into the soil underneath, then taper off.
Picking a variety
Kikuyu and couch are the cheapest and toughest, good for a sunny backyard that takes a hammering from kids or a dog. Sir Walter buffalo is Australia's most-planted lawn because it tolerates part-shade and has a soft, barefoot-friendly leaf. Zoysia is slower-growing so needs less mowing, and its premium Sir Grange cultivar is the top-end pick for a showpiece front lawn.
Common questions
How much turf do I need for my lawn?
Multiply length by width for the bare area, then add 5% for a simple rectangular lawn or 10% for one with curves, garden beds or trees to cut around.
What is the best time to lay turf in Australia?
Spring or early autumn in most regions, when the soil sits between roughly 14°C and 25°C. Sydney and the southern states often do best in autumn; Brisbane and the sub-tropics prefer spring, ahead of the summer wet season.
How much does turf cost per square metre in Australia?
Supply-only runs from about $7/m² for kikuyu up to $30/m² for premium zoysia, with Sir Walter buffalo the common mid-to-premium pick at $12 to $16/m². Professional laying typically adds $6 to $12/m² on top.
Sources
Electricity rates: AER Default Market Offer (NSW, SA, south-east QLD), Victorian Default Offer, and each remaining state's regulated tariff, current for 2026–27. Appliance figures: the energyrating.gov.au registration database (July 2026 snapshot). Methods and assumptions are described on each page.