Garden Project Budget

Who this is for

A budget for one garden project that shows where the money went. Each line has an estimate and an actual, the difference is worked out, and the totals tell you whether the new bed, patio or fence came in where you thought it would.

Anyone planning a garden job with a set amount to spend — a raised bed, a pond, a patio, a greenhouse — and anyone who has finished one and would like to know what it really cost.

What this helps you track

• An estimate for every item before you start, in categories that suit garden work
• What each item actually cost, entered as receipts come in
• The variance per line and overall — over or under, and by how much
• How much of the amount you set aside is left, as the project goes on

How to use it

1. Name the project and write the amount you have set aside at the top.
2. List everything you expect to buy or hire, with a category and your best estimate. Include delivery, skip hire and tool hire — they are the lines people forget.
3. As each item is bought, enter the actual cost and tick it paid.
4. The browser and spreadsheet versions work out each variance, the totals and what remains of the amount set aside; on paper, subtract at the foot of the page.
5. When the project is finished, keep the sheet — it is the estimate for the next one.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How do I estimate plant costs before I have chosen them?

Put a line per bed or area with a rough figure, then split it into real plants as you buy them. The variance column will show how far the rough figure was out, which is worth knowing.

Should my own labour go in?

Only if you want the sheet to show the true cost of the job rather than the cash spent. There is a labour category either way; leave it for paid help if you prefer.

What counts as a variance?

Actual minus estimate for each line, so a positive figure means you spent more than planned. Lines with no actual yet show nothing, so the running variance only covers what has been bought.

Can I use it for a bigger renovation?

For a whole-house job, the renovation budget spreadsheet on this site has room for contractor stages and contingency. This one is sized for a garden project on a single page.