How much does landscaping insurance cost?
For a small landscaping operation, general liability typically lands around $400–$1,300 per year — and your real number depends on payroll, limits, state, and claims history. Here’s what actually moves the price.
Typical costs by coverage
⚖️ General Liability
$400–$1,300/yr for a small shop at standard $1M/$2M limits. Revenue, payroll, and your exact operations set the number.
👷 Workers Comp
Rated per $100 of payroll by class code — Landscaping codes rate moderate relative to other trades. State and claims history (your experience mod) move it further.
🚚 Commercial Auto
Commonly $1,500–$3,000/yr per work truck depending on radius, drivers, and equipment like plows or racks.
🧰 Tools & Equipment
Often a few hundred dollars a year, scaled to the gear on your schedule.
Ranges reflect what we typically see for small operations nationally — they’re a starting point, not a quote. Your state, payroll, limits, and history decide the real premium.
What drives your price
- Maintenance vs. installation/hardscape mix
- Tree work — even “occasional” removals change your class
- Crew size and seasonal payroll
- Chemical applications (fertilizer/herbicide licensing)
How to pay less (legitimately)
- Mowing-only payroll may belong in a cheaper class than construction landscaping — report the split
- Keep tree work under 10–15% of receipts or expect tree-service rating
- Seasonal payment plans smooth the cash flow
The class codes behind your rate
How these ranges were developed
The figures above are directional planning ranges for small operations (roughly 1–5 workers) at standard $1M/$2M liability limits, drawn from published small-business premium benchmarks and our own multi-state placement experience as an independent agency. They are not carrier rate filings, not averages of bound policies, and not a quote — your premium is set by the carrier from your payroll, state, class codes, limits, and loss history, and can fall outside these ranges in either direction.
Written by the We Insure Things team — licensed independent insurance agents. Last reviewed July 13, 2026. The only number that matters is a real quote — get yours here.
Cost questions we hear
A rock from my mower broke a window — covered?
Classic landscaping GL claim, yes. Frequency is what hurts you: discharge-chute discipline and site walks keep the small claims from stacking up.
Does my landscaping policy cover snow plowing?
Often not automatically — snow removal is a separate exposure many carriers exclude or endorse. If you plow in winter, say so up front; an excluded snow claim is a terrible February surprise.
Stop guessing — get your actual number.
Five minutes with a licensed agent beats an hour of internet ranges.
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