Edging is sold by the linear foot or in fixed-length rolls and sections, and it is one of the few landscape materials where the perimeter, not the area, is the whole calculation. This calculator sizes the order including stakes and connectors.
Filling the bed after edging it? Use the Mulch Calculator.
About pricing on this page
This calculator is intentionally price-light. Absolute dollar figures are deliberately omitted because they vary too widely by region, brand, and installer to be useful as planning estimates. The relative-comparison tables below show how options stack up against each other — which is the durable, actionable information. For a real budget, get two or three written quotes from local suppliers and contractors after they have seen the job.
Landscape Edging Calculator
Enter bed dimensions or a known perimeter. Results include stakes and connectors.
Landscape Edging Cost and Lifespan
| Type | Cost per LF | Installed per LF | Lifespan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic coil | Cheapest material | Reference only | 5–10 yr | Budget, curved beds |
| Composite / recycled rubber | Reference only | Reference only | 10–20 yr | Curves, eco-conscious |
| Steel (painted) | Reference only | Reference only | 15–30 yr | Crisp modern lines |
| Aluminum | Reference only | Reference only | 30+ yr | Permanent, no rust |
| Paver / brick soldier course | Reference only | Reference only | 30–50 yr | Traditional, mowable |
| Natural stone | Reference only | Reference only | 50+ yr | High-end, informal |
| Concrete curb (poured) | Reference only | Reference only | 25–40 yr | Continuous curves |
| Cedar / timber | Reference only | Reference only | 7–15 yr | Raised beds, rustic |
Steel and aluminum hold a crisp line far better than plastic, which heaves out of the ground with freeze-thaw cycling. In northern climates the extra cost of metal usually pays for itself within a decade.
Edging Needed by Bed Size
Perimeter with a 5% waste allowance for straight-run installations.
| Bed Size | Perimeter (LF) | Order +5% | Stakes (every 3 ft) | Plastic Cost | Steel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 10 ft | 28 | 29 | 10 | $51 | $145 |
| 5 × 20 ft | 50 | 53 | 18 | $93 | $265 |
| 8 × 24 ft | 64 | 67 | 22 | $117 | $335 |
| 10 × 30 ft | 80 | 84 | 28 | $147 | $420 |
| 6 ft tree ring | 19 | 20 | 7 | $35 | $100 |
| 12 ft tree ring | 38 | 40 | 13 | $70 | $200 |
| 20 × 40 ft | 120 | 126 | 42 | $221 | $630 |
Only edge the sides of a bed that need it. A foundation bed against the house needs edging on three sides, not four, which can cut a long run by a quarter.
Landscape Edging Tips
Set Edging Flush for Mowing
Edging installed with its top flush to the lawn surface lets a mower wheel ride directly over it, eliminating the string trimming pass entirely. Edging that stands proud creates a strip of grass that can only be trimmed by hand, which is a recurring weekly cost in time. For long-term maintenance, setting height matters more than which material you pick.
Stake Every 3 Feet, More on Curves
Plastic and steel edging both rely on stakes to resist frost heave and mower impact. Three-foot spacing suits straight runs, tightening to 18 to 24 inches through curves where the material wants to spring back. Under-staking is the most common installation shortcut, and it shows within one winter.
Warm Plastic Edging Before Installing Curves
Plastic coil edging is stiff and wants to hold its coiled shape, which makes tight curves difficult and leads to kinking. Leaving the coil in direct sun for an hour before installation makes it dramatically more pliable and lets it follow a curve smoothly. Installing cold plastic is what produces the wavy, uneven lines that make plastic edging look cheap.
Dig a Trench Rather Than Forcing Edging In
Driving edging directly into undisturbed soil almost never produces a straight line or full depth, and it leaves the material vulnerable to heaving. Cutting a clean trench with a spade or an edging tool first takes longer but sets the material at consistent depth. Consistent depth is what keeps the line true through the first few freeze-thaw cycles.
Edging by Garden Location
Different parts of the landscape have different edging requirements, which usually means different materials and different installation depths.
| Location | Typical Material | Depth | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation beds | Steel or aluminum | 4–6 in | Holds a crisp line along the house |
| Vegetable garden | Steel or cedar board | 6 in | Heavy enough to resist a tine |
| Tree ring | Plastic coil | 4 in | Hold mulch back from the trunk flare |
| Flower border | Steel, aluminum, or stone | 4 in | Match material to garden formality |
| Path through lawn | Paver soldier course | 2–3 in | Flush for mowing, doubles as walkway |
| Slope | Stone or boulder | 6–8 in | Weight holds against gravity |
Foundation beds and tree rings are the only locations where most homeowners get away with plastic coil; everywhere else, the extra cost of metal or stone pays back through fewer replacements and a sharper line over time.
About these price ranges
Pricing varies widely by region, season, project size, and site conditions. Treat every figure on this page as a planning estimate for budgeting only — not as a quote. Coastal metro markets commonly run 20–40% above national ranges while rural inland markets can fall 10–20% below. Always collect at least three written quotes from local contractors before committing to a budget.
Unsourced estimates: All dollar figures on this page. The relative-comparison tables above are sourced from general trade conventions and the labour-plus-material methodology used in industry references, not from a specific published price index. These are informed planning figures rather than data drawn from a published price index, and they carry a correspondingly wider margin of error.