This isn't a cost. It's an investment.
The figures on this page are real and we don't hide them — that's how AE operates. But we want to be honest about how to read them. Your complete backyard isn't a line-item expense; it's an investment in your home's value, your family's daily experience, and a space you'll use for the next twenty to thirty years.
When you compare bids, compare what you're investing in — the spec, the crews, the warranty, the company that will still be standing in year ten — not just the price tag. The lowest bid is almost always the most expensive build over time.
Complete Backyard Cost in Arizona — 2026.
Real Phoenix-metro pricing for complete backyard builds at three scope tiers — what's included, what it takes, and what the timeline looks like. Pulled from AE projects built and delivered in the last twenty-four months.
Educational estimate, not a quote. Ranges shown are Arizona-market planning estimates. Final pricing depends on site access, size, materials, engineering, drainage, utilities, permits, equipment access, existing conditions, and final scope. Binding pricing is only valid in a written proposal signed by an AE representative.
Refresh-level backyard ($35K – $85K)
- Existing pool stays as-is (no remodel).
- Turf replacement or installation (500–1,200 sq ft).
- Paver patio addition or refresh (300–600 sq ft).
- Low-voltage path and accent lighting (12–20 fixtures).
- Irrigation and basic planting refresh.
- Permanent holiday lights on house eaves (optional).
- Typical timeline: 4–8 weeks.
Mid-tier full build ($145K – $285K)
- Custom pool with attached spa, standard plaster or QuartzScapes.
- Pool deck in travertine or large-format porcelain (700–1,000 sq ft).
- Paver patio extension and walkways.
- Alumawood or custom timber pergola over patio.
- Mid-spec outdoor kitchen (grill, side burner, prep, cabinets).
- Fire feature (custom CMU pit or linear gas trough).
- Turf or planting beds, irrigation, low-voltage lighting, automation.
- Wrought iron or mesh pool fencing.
- Typical timeline: 14–22 weeks.
Premium full build ($285K – $650K+)
- Custom pool and spa with premium finish (Pebble Tec, Wet Edge, Jewelscapes).
- Pentair IntelliCenter automation with in-floor cleaning.
- Travertine or large-format porcelain deck (1,200–2,000 sq ft).
- Custom timber ramada with motorized louvered roof (Struxure or Equinox).
- Full outdoor kitchen (Hestan or Lynx appliances, refrigeration, ice, vent hood).
- Multiple fire features (pit + trough + bowls).
- Frameless glass pool fencing (Sonoran Glass).
- Permanent RGBW exterior lighting (Jellyfish or AE LEDs).
- Complete landscape, irrigation, drainage, putting green.
- Typical timeline: 20–32 weeks.
Add-ons that move scope up
- Front yard pavers, driveway, and entry refresh: $40,000 – $120,000.
- Casita, pool bath, or detached structure: quote-per-project (architect required).
- Sport court or pickleball: $35,000 – $85,000.
- Putting green (500–1,000 sq ft, professional spec): $14,000 – $32,000.
- Whole-house misting system integrated with pergola: $4,500 – $14,000.
What's included in AE's per-project price
- Full design with renderings and material specifications.
- All permits pulled in AE's license, with inspections coordinated.
- Demolition, haul-off, grade, and drainage.
- All trades managed by AE — no separate pool builder, kitchen sub, or fence company to chase.
- Project manager assigned from contract through final walkthrough.
- Fixed-price contract with documented change-order process.
- Final cleanup, owner orientation, and AE warranty on workmanship.
What drives the price up
- Pool size, depth, and feature count (spa, spillover, baja, deep end).
- Premium finishes (Pebble Tec, large-format porcelain, natural stone).
- Motorized pergola/ramada vs. fixed structure.
- Full outdoor kitchen with refrigeration, ice, and vent hood vs. grill island.
- Automation platform depth (IntelliCenter with in-floor cleaning is a step up from valve-only).
- Frameless glass pool fencing vs. wrought iron.
- Adding front yard and driveway scope to the same project.
What drives the price down
- Doing the whole envelope in one project (vs. phasing across years).
- Standard pool shapes and stock plaster finish.
- Alumawood pergola vs. motorized louvered roof.
- Grill island vs. full outdoor kitchen.
- Wrought iron or mesh pool fencing vs. frameless glass.
- Realistic scope conversation up-front — we'll tell you where to spend and where to hold back.
Common questions.
Plan before you sign anything.
Get a real complete-backyard number for your house.
Tell us what's there now and what you want — we'll get you a realistic range with scope, timeline, and financing options within 48 hours.
Get My Complete Backyard EstimateWhy this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."
Before you spend $750K on a backyard… watch this.
Where premium budgets actually go — and the choices that separate a $300K yard from a $750K yard.
We built a $300K backyard — here's how it turned out.
Full walk-through of a real mid-tier Phoenix build: what the number covered, the tradeoffs made, and the finished space.
Ultimate Arizona backyard tour — desert oasis design.
A finished AE build, top to bottom — pool, shade, kitchen, fire, lighting — all the pieces working as one designed space.
What your backyard could look like.
Design ideas pulled from real AE projects — pool shapes, deck materials, shade, lighting — to help you see what fits your yard.