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. Treat them as planning ranges, not a site-specific quote. Your actual scope and price depend on design, site conditions, materials, and the work each written proposal includes.
When you compare proposals, compare what each includes — the scope, the materials, the exclusions, the warranty terms, and how changes are handled — not just the price tag. A lower total can reflect different scope, so ask each builder to clarify the differences.
New Construction Backyard Cost Arizona.
A dirt lot behind a new Valley home is a blank budget. This guide breaks the yard into the line items we actually price — grading and drainage, hardscape, turf and planting, walls, shade, lighting, and pool — with planning ranges you can build a phase plan around.
- AZ ROC 211530 · 347738 · 341002 · 340966
- Arizona-built since 2005
- President, Southwest Hardscapes Association
Whole-yard planning ranges
- Front yard finish (grading, granite, drip irrigation, desert plants, entry accents): $8,000–$25,000.
- Starter backyard (turf, paver patio, irrigation, plants, basic lighting): $25,000–$60,000.
- Full outdoor living backyard (larger hardscape, shade structure, kitchen or fire feature, walls, lighting): $60,000–$150,000.
- Pool and spa: typically $70,000–$150,000+ depending on size, finish, and equipment.
- Per-square-foot planning band for a finished backyard: $18–$45 / sq ft of yard area, excluding pool and major grading.
Site work — the line item people forget
- Rough grading and haul-off of builder spoils: quoted per lot after we see the pad and the access.
- Drainage design, catch basins, and hard-piped release: commonly $2,500–$12,000 depending on grade change and run length.
- Caliche or heavy compacted fill: adds excavation time and disposal; identified before pricing, never as a surprise change order.
- Tight-access production lots may require smaller equipment or hand work, which shows up as labor.
- We document the builder's finished grade and drainage release points before design, and we keep water flowing to them.
Want a number for your own property?
Tell us the space and we'll come back with a real range for your site — no pressure, no "call for pricing."
Hardscape line items
- Paver patio or walkway: $18–$32 / sq ft installed depending on paver, pattern, and cuts.
- Paver driveway or driveway extension: $20–$34 / sq ft installed on deeper base.
- Base spec is published and non-negotiable: 2–3" ABC under patios and walkways, 4–6" ABC under driveways, more for build-up or heavier traffic, a 1" sand bed, and polymeric joint sand. Quarter minus is never used under pavers.
- Seat walls and BBQ islands: priced per linear foot and appliance package.
- Block or retaining wall: $60–$150+ / linear foot depending on height, footing, and engineering.
Turf, planting, and irrigation
- Artificial turf: $6.50–$14.50 / sq ft installed depending on turf class, base depth, and infill.
- Drip irrigation with controller and zones: $1,800–$6,500 on a typical production lot.
- Desert plant palette with trees, accents, and granite: $4,000–$18,000 depending on tree sizes and coverage.
- Tree staking, soil amendment, and establishment watering are part of the scope, not upsells.
- Summer installs need an establishment plan; we'll tell you when it's smarter to wait a month.
Shade, lighting, fire, and glass
- Shade structure or ramada: $12,000–$60,000+ depending on span, material, and engineering.
- Landscape lighting: $3,500–$15,000 for a typical new-build yard, low-voltage on a transformer sized for future zones.
- Firepit or fireplace: $4,500–$25,000 depending on gas, materials, and structure.
- Frameless glass pool fencing: $225–$325 per linear foot planning range. Footing work is a separate add-on: typically $75–$100 per linear foot in open areas, $110–$125 per linear foot where pavers or turf must be removed and reinstalled.
- No fence, gate, or barrier replaces active adult supervision — always watch children around water, and designate an undistracted Water Watcher.
How to phase it without wasting money
- Phase 0 — design the entire yard, including the pool you might build in three years.
- Phase 1 — grading, drainage, utilities, sleeving, conduit, and any structural walls.
- Phase 2 — pool, if it's in the plan. Do it before finished hardscape, not after.
- Phase 3 — patios, walkways, and coping.
- Phase 4 — turf, planting, and irrigation.
- Phase 5 — lighting, glass, gates, and features.
- Skipping phase 0 is how homeowners pay twice for the same square footage.
What our pricing is and isn't
- These are planning ranges published to help you budget, not quotes.
- Measured conditions, grade, soil, access, HOA and municipal requirements, engineering, and the signed scope control final pricing.
- Every AE proposal is line-itemed with spec, base depth, materials, and warranty in writing.
- New pool builds use our standard 15/25/25/25/10 milestone draw schedule.
- We are not the cheapest bid in the Valley, and we'll show you exactly what the difference buys.
Common questions.
Get a line-itemed new build budget.
Send your lot plan or address and a rough wish list. We'll return planning numbers by phase, with spec, so you can decide what to build now and what to sleeve for.
Start My Project PlanWhy 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."
Plan your investment with a designer.
Five minutes, a real range, and no sales pressure. Or vet any Arizona contractor (us included) before you spend a dollar.
Related planning pages
Sequencing, HOA, and what builders include.
Who builds here and what they finish outside.
Trade partner scopes and model home work.
Cost per sq ft with base and infill line items.
Patio, walkway, and driveway pricing.
Pool budgets and milestone draws.
Plan sets, elevations, and HOA submittal packages.
More budget questions?
Base spec, drainage, phasing, and warranty — full knowledge base.