Key Takeaway: Turf is sold direct from turf farms, through landscape and turf supply yards, in smaller pre-cut quantities from some hardware stores, and increasingly through online turf delivery services. As a rough Australian guide for 2026, supply-only turf typically runs from around $7 to $12 per m² for common couch, $7 to $14 per m² for kikuyu, and $12 to $20 per m² for buffalo cultivars such as Sir Walter, with a full supply-and-lay job, including site preparation, commonly landing somewhere between $25 and $50 per m² depending on your region and site condition. Get quotes from suppliers local to you before you budget off any single figure, since delivery distance moves the price more than almost anything else.
Turf is a fresh, perishable, regionally grown product, not a nationally priced item off a shelf, which is exactly why one figure never applies everywhere. If you want the basic terminology sorted first, our guide on what turf actually is, versus a lawn or the grass itself covers that in plain terms. What follows here is a realistic Australian range for 2026, the factors that push you toward the top or bottom of it, and what to check before you buy.
Where to Buy Turf
- Turf farms, direct from the grower. Often the cheapest option since you are buying at the source, but farms usually have a minimum order size and a set delivery radius, and pickup yourself is not always practical given how heavy and bulky fresh turf is.
- Landscape and turf supply yards. These stock several growers’ varieties side by side, handle delivery as standard, and suit smaller or mixed orders better than going direct to one farm.
- Hardware stores. Some stock pre-cut turf rolls or small pallets for patch repairs and courtyard-sized jobs. Convenient for a small area, but the variety on offer is limited compared with a dedicated supplier.
- Online turf delivery services. Order online and the turf is cut to order and delivered, an increasingly common option that still comes down to the same underlying grower network.
What Turf Typically Costs in Australia
| Grass type | Supply only ($/m²) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common couch | $7 to $12 | The most affordable option, and the type that can also be grown from seed instead |
| Kikuyu (including Eureka) | $7 to $14 | Named cultivars sit toward the top of this range |
| Buffalo (Sir Walter and other soft-leaf cultivars) | $12 to $20 | Always sold as turf, runners or plugs, never seed |
| Installation or laying labour only | $6 to $12 | On top of the turf itself, if you are not laying it yourself |
| Full supply and lay, including site preparation | $25 to $50 | Varies heavily by region, site condition and how much prep the ground needs |
These are indicative 2026 ranges drawn from typical rates commonly quoted by Australian turf suppliers, in AUD per square metre, and they move with region, season and supplier, so treat them as a starting budget rather than a quote. If you are still deciding between couch, kikuyu and buffalo for your yard, our guide on how to identify buffalo, kikuyu and couch grass covers the practical differences, and our guide to buffalo grass seed and what actually grows from seed explains why buffalo costs more and is never sold as seed.
What Actually Drives the Price
- Grass species. Buffalo costs more to grow, harvest and transport than common couch, and named cultivars of any species cost more than the unnamed common form.
- Order size. Larger orders generally get a better rate per square metre; very small orders often carry a minimum-charge premium.
- Delivery distance. Turf is heavy, perishable and grown regionally, so freight from the nearest growing region moves the price more than for almost any other garden product.
- DIY versus professional laying. Buying turf alone and laying it yourself is cheaper than paying for site preparation and installation as well.
- Season. Spring is the peak renovation window for most of the country, and turf farms are busiest then, which can firm up both price and availability.
A Worked Example
Take a 100m² backyard. At roughly $9 per m² for common couch supply-only, the turf itself runs around $900. Add installation at around $8 per m², roughly $800, and a supply-and-laid couch lawn lands near $1,700 all up. Swap to buffalo at roughly $16 per m² supply-only, around $1,600 for the same area, and the total climbs further once laying is added. Those figures use the middle of the ranges above purely to illustrate the maths, not as a quote, and your actual number depends on the factors above, especially delivery distance.
Before You Buy
- Confirm whether the price is per m², per roll or per pallet, and whether delivery is included.
- Ask about minimum order size before you commit to a supplier for a small job.
- Check how fresh the turf will be. Once harvested, turf generally needs to be laid within 24 to 48 hours, and as soon as possible on any day over about 30°C, since it is a living product that starts to deteriorate once it is off the ground.
- Get at least two or three written quotes rather than one verbal figure. Consumer Affairs Victoria’s guidance on getting quotes for building and renovating work applies just as well to turf supply and laying as it does to any other home project, and a written quote gives you something to hold a supplier to if the job changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy turf in Australia?
Turf is sold direct from turf farms, through landscape and turf supply yards, in smaller pre-cut quantities from some hardware stores, and through online turf delivery services. Farms are often cheapest but have minimum orders and set delivery zones, while supply yards offer more variety and flexibility for smaller jobs.
How much does turf cost per square metre?
As a rough 2026 Australian guide, supply-only turf typically runs from about $7 to $12 per m2 for common couch, $7 to $14 per m2 for kikuyu, and $12 to $20 per m2 for buffalo. A full supply-and-lay job, including site preparation, commonly lands between $25 and $50 per m2. Get local quotes, since delivery distance and site condition both move the price significantly.
Is it cheaper to lay turf yourself?
Yes. Buying turf on a supply-only basis and laying it yourself avoids the installation labour cost, typically around $6 to $12 per m2, though you still need to prepare the seedbed properly and lay it quickly once it arrives.
How fresh does turf need to be when it is laid?
Turf generally needs to be laid within 24 to 48 hours of harvest, and as soon as possible on any day over about 30 degrees Celsius. It is a living product, so leaving it rolled up and unlaid for too long, especially in heat, will damage it before it ever goes down.
Is buffalo turf more expensive than couch or kikuyu?
Yes, generally. Buffalo cultivars such as Sir Walter typically cost more per square metre than common couch or kikuyu, reflecting the higher cost of growing and harvesting buffalo and the fact that named cultivars of any species cost more than the unnamed common form.
Sources
- Consumer Affairs Victoria, Getting Quotes for Building and Renovating (checked 13 September 2026)
- Price ranges are indicative only, based on rates commonly advertised by Australian turf suppliers in 2026, and will vary by region, season and supplier. Confirm current pricing directly with suppliers local to you before budgeting.
