Cost · Comparison
Artificial grass vs. natural grass
An honest comparison — what does each cost to own over time, and when does it make sense to switch?
Many people think of artificial grass as the expensive option. It is more expensive to install — but when you look at the full picture over 10–15 years, the maths quickly changes. This guide goes through the facts without spin — and also tells you when natural grass is still the right choice.
Installation costs
Natural grass: seeding DKK 30–80/m². Turf rolls DKK 80–200/m² including soil preparation. Easy to get started.
Artificial grass: DKK 250–700/m² including base and professional installation. Price variation depends on the product and the complexity of the base work.
Conclusion: artificial grass costs more to install — typically 3–8 times more, depending on product and solution.
Maintenance costs: natural grass
A lawn you don't maintain is not a lawn in three years. Natural grass requires: mowing (machine + time or a service = DKK 3,000–6,000/year for a 50 m² lawn), watering during dry periods (DKK 1,000–2,000/year), fertilising (DKK 500–1,000/year), weed control, scarifying and overseeding.
Total maintenance cost: approximately DKK 5,000–10,000/year for a 50 m² lawn with proper upkeep.
Maintenance costs: artificial grass
Artificial grass requires: regular brushing (10–15 min/month), rinsing (garden hose), and a professional clean every 3–5 years (approximately DKK 3,000–6,000 for 50 m²).
Total: approximately DKK 600–1,500/year in time and materials, plus occasional professional cleans.
Water consumption
A 50 m² lawn typically uses 30–50 L/m²/week during the summer months — that is 1,500–2,500 litres per week in season. Over a 20-week summer period: 30,000–50,000 litres.
With rising water prices and increasing drought periods, this is an argument that carries more and more weight.
Artificial grass uses only the water that falls as natural rainfall (for rinsing).
Lifespan and total cost of ownership
Artificial grass: 15–20 years with proper care. High-traffic sports surfaces: 8–12 years.
Break-even (when artificial grass becomes cheaper in total): typically 5–8 years depending on area size and maintenance effort for natural grass.
Example: 50 m² installation cost for artificial grass = DKK 20,000. Maintenance saving vs. natural grass = DKK 5,000/year. Break-even: 4 years. The rest is pure saving.
The environment: what matters most?
Advantages of artificial grass: zero pesticides, zero fertiliser, zero motorised mowing, dramatically lower water consumption.
Disadvantages of artificial grass: plastic product (PE), production requires oil, difficult to recycle at end of life.
Our conclusion: for the average private garden in Denmark, the absence of pesticides, artificial fertiliser and motorised mowing outweighs the plastic concern — particularly in urban areas with water scarcity. But it is a personal choice.
When is natural grass still the right choice?
Large, open areas with natural irrigation: natural grass is cheaper and largely self-sustaining.
Children playing on the lawn all year round: natural grass offers a softer surface and tolerates intensive use without overheating.
Environmental considerations are a priority: natural grass without pesticides or fertiliser, with natural biodiversity, is an active climate choice.
We sell artificial grass — but we only recommend it when it genuinely makes sense for the customer.
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We're happy to answer questions directly
If anything in the guide is unclear, or you have a specific question about your project — give us a call. We're tradespeople, not salespeople.
Want us to handle the installation?
We offer complete installation — base preparation, laying and finishing. Contact us for a quote.