Instant hedge typically costs $100-$300 per linear foot for plants and professional installation, with smaller or simpler projects sometimes closer to $60 per foot and premium, mature hedging reaching $400 or more. Price depends mainly on hedge height, plant species, total length, delivery access, and whether the quote includes soil preparation and installation.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant hedge plants | $50 per linear ft | $125 per linear ft | $300 per linear ft | Approx. 3-6 ft tall, species and root system affect price |
| Professional installation | $20 per linear ft | $55 per linear ft | $120 per linear ft | Includes planting labor; site prep can cost extra |
| Installed hedge project | $70 per linear ft | $180 per linear ft | $420 per linear ft | Typical range for a standard residential planting |
| 100 linear ft installed | $7,000 | $18,000 | $42,000 | Excludes major grading, irrigation, or access charges |
Instant hedge prices by height and total length
Instant hedge is sold as mature, closely spaced plants or pre-grown hedge sections designed to create an immediate screen. For a standard residential project using roughly 3- to 6-foot plants, the installed price commonly falls between $70 and $420 per linear foot. A 50-foot hedge may therefore cost about $3,500-$21,000, while a 100-foot run may range from $7,000-$42,000.
A practical midrange budget is about $180 per linear foot installed, or $18,000 for 100 feet. That estimate assumes a common evergreen species, normal soil, straightforward access, and no major excavation or irrigation work. Prices in high-cost metro areas or for extra-tall specimens may exceed the top of the range.
Plants alone often cost $50-$300 per linear foot. Smaller 2- to 3-foot plants may start around $25-$75 per foot, while dense 5- to 6-foot specimens often cost $100-$250 per foot. Premium varieties, large root balls, and ready-made hedge modules can push material costs above $300 per foot.
Assumptions: U.S. residential installation, standard planting trench, average soil, typical contractor labor, and no retaining wall or major access problem.
What plant, soil, and labor charges appear in a quote
An estimate should show whether it covers just the hedge plants or the complete installed project. Installation can involve delivery, digging, soil amendments, planting, backfill, cleanup, and initial watering. Quotes that seem far apart may use different plant heights, spacing, or preparation allowances.
| Quote component | Low | Average | High | Typical basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants and root systems | $50 per linear ft | $125 per linear ft | $300 per linear ft | Species, height, density, and container or root-ball size |
| Planting labor | $20 per linear ft | $55 per linear ft | $120 per linear ft | Digging, setting, backfill, and initial shaping |
| Soil and amendments | $3 per linear ft | $12 per linear ft | $35 per linear ft | Compost, topsoil, or drainage improvement |
| Delivery and handling | $150 per order | $500 per order | $1,500 per order | Distance, truck size, unloading, and plant weight |
| Old hedge removal | $10 per linear ft | $30 per linear ft | $75 per linear ft | Cutting, digging roots, hauling, and disposal |
For labor budgeting, crews may charge $50-$100 per worker-hour, with project minimums common for short runs. A three-person crew might install 40-80 linear feet in a day when access and soil are uncomplicated; heavy root balls or tight spaces reduce production.
Confirm whether the plant price includes delivery, unloading, planting, and cleanup before comparing bids. Some growers quote plants at the nursery or farm gate, while landscapers bundle materials and labor into a per-foot installed rate.
How hedge height, species, and spacing change the price
Height is usually the strongest cost driver. A 2- to 3-foot hedge may cost $25-$100 per linear foot for plants, while 5- to 6-foot stock commonly costs $100-$250. Specimens above 6 feet can run $200-$400 or more per foot before installation because they require larger root systems, careful handling, and sometimes mechanical lifting.
Species also matters. Common, fast-growing options such as some varieties of privet or arborvitae may cost less than slow-growing, formal, or regionally scarce plants. Boxwood, yew, holly, and specialty evergreen varieties can carry higher per-plant prices, especially when a uniform mature screen is requested. Climate suitability matters: a plant that struggles in the local heat, cold, or humidity can add replacement expense even if its initial price is low.
Spacing affects the number of plants required. At 2-foot spacing, a 100-foot run uses about 50 plants; at 3-foot spacing, it uses roughly 34. Wider spacing can lower the initial bill but may leave visible gaps for longer. Closely spaced, dense instant hedges often need more plants or supplied modules, raising both material and planting costs.
Site conditions change labor. Rocky soil, buried roots, slopes, compacted ground, and narrow access can add $10-$50 per linear foot or more. A continuous run longer than 150 feet may lower the per-foot delivery or setup cost, while a short 15-foot job can face a contractor minimum that raises its effective rate.
Cut the instant hedge budget without sacrificing coverage
Choose the target height based on the screening need rather than buying the tallest available stock. A 4-foot hedge may provide adequate privacy for a patio or boundary while costing substantially less than 6- to 8-foot plants. Ask the installer to price two heights and show the difference in material, delivery, and equipment charges.
Compare species that thrive in the local climate and meet the same screening purpose. A less expensive, locally available variety can reduce freight and replacement risk. If the hedge does not need an immediate solid wall, wider spacing with smaller plants may reduce upfront spending, though the screen will take longer to fill in.
Clear the planting route and remove movable obstacles before delivery. Where practical, arrange old hedge removal, soil preparation, and new planting in one coordinated visit. Bundling can avoid repeated mobilization fees, but it is still worth checking the separate removal price against a specialist hauling quote.
Keep the written scope consistent when collecting at least three bids. Provide the same length, requested finished height, species, spacing, removal needs, and access details to each contractor. Compare the plant grade and warranty terms, not just the total, and avoid paying for irrigation, edging, or ongoing trimming if those items are not needed.
Is a ready-grown hedge worth the extra price?
Instant hedge costs more upfront than planting small nursery stock, but it provides a substantial screen sooner. Small starter plants may cost roughly $10-$40 each, compared with about $50-$300 per linear foot for mature instant hedge materials. For 100 feet, starter plants can keep the plant bill to a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, depending on spacing and species, while mature stock can cost $5,000-$30,000 before labor.
The tradeoff is time and care. Small plants may need several growing seasons to form a dense barrier, and their survival depends on watering, weed control, and maintenance. Instant hedge also needs regular watering while roots establish; large root balls can be more demanding to handle and may suffer if planting or aftercare is poor.
A middle option is to install 3- to 4-foot plants rather than either small starters or very mature stock. That often brings the plant cost to about $50-$150 per linear foot, with a visible screen developing faster than a row of young plants. For a 100-foot boundary, the choice may shift the total by several thousand dollars.
How long installation takes and what labor covers
A straightforward 50-foot run may take a two- or three-person crew about half a day to one day, including layout, planting, and cleanup. A 100-foot run can take one to two days. Large plants, difficult digging, removal of an existing hedge, or limited access can extend the schedule and increase labor charges.
Planting labor of $20-$120 per linear foot reflects different levels of difficulty and plant size. A simple run in prepared soil sits near the lower end; large root balls, slope work, hand-carrying, or careful placement near utilities can push the rate higher. Contractors may quote by the foot, by the day, or as a fixed project price.
Before work starts, the contractor should mark the line, confirm spacing, and identify utility locations. A quote may exclude utility locating, irrigation adjustments, or grading. These tasks should be listed separately so a seemingly low installation rate does not lead to unexpected charges after digging begins.
Delivery, removal, and difficult access can add thousands
Delivery is often priced as a flat charge of $150-$1,500, depending on distance, order size, truck access, and whether plants need special unloading. Large hedge sections or heavy root balls may require a forklift, loader, or extra crew. If a truck cannot reach the planting area, carrying plants through a house or narrow side yard can add labor.
Removing an existing hedge commonly adds $10-$75 per linear foot. A shallow, small hedge is less expensive to remove than mature shrubs with intertwined roots, buried edging, or extensive debris. Disposal fees can be included in the removal rate or charged separately by load, so the estimate should state whether roots, branches, and old soil are hauled away.
Other possible charges include soil replacement at $20-$60 per cubic yard, drainage correction at $500-$3,000 for a limited area, and irrigation adjustments at $300-$1,500. These are broad project ranges; the actual cost depends on quantities and site conditions. Major grading or a retaining wall is usually a separate landscaping project.
Regional labor and freight shift installed hedge prices
Labor and plant availability make regional pricing uneven. As a planning estimate, installed prices in lower-cost rural and Midwestern markets may be 10%-20% below the national midrange. Major coastal metros and high-cost Western markets can run 15%-35% above it, particularly when crews face high wages, parking restrictions, or long delivery routes.
Climate affects which species are available and when they can be planted. A locally common evergreen may cost less than a specialty variety shipped from another state. For a 100-foot project priced at $18,000 in a typical market, a 15% regional reduction would imply about $15,300, while a 25% increase would imply about $22,500 before unusual site work.
These percentages are budgeting comparisons, not guaranteed local quotes. Get bids from contractors serving the project’s ZIP code and ask whether the quoted plant stock is locally sourced. Freight can be particularly important for large, heavy specimens; a lower nursery price may not remain lower after long-distance delivery and unloading are included.
When trimming, repair, or phased planting costs less
A healthy hedge with isolated gaps may not need complete replacement. Replacing a few dead plants can cost roughly $100-$500 per plant installed, depending on size, access, and species. Replanting a short stretch of 10-20 feet may cost $1,000-$5,000, though small-job minimums can raise the rate per foot.
Regular trimming is far less costly than replacement but should be budgeted over time. A residential hedge trimming visit may cost $150-$600, with tall, wide, or long hedges costing more. Two or three visits a year can add $300-$1,800 annually; ask whether the landscaper charges by visit, linear foot, or crew-hour, and whether debris removal is included.
Phased planting can spread a large project across multiple seasons. It may reduce the immediate cash requirement, but separate delivery and mobilization charges can raise the total. Before dividing the work, compare the cost of one full order with two smaller orders and check that the same species and plant size will remain available for a consistent appearance.
For an accurate budget, compare the complete installed scope and the expected upkeep, not only the nursery price. A lower initial quote can be reasonable when it uses smaller plants or less preparation, provided those differences match the intended screen and the site’s conditions.