Prices Are Rising Fast on These Backyard and Workshop Staples
Having a backyard or garage isn’t what it used to be. It’s great to have one in the first place, of course, but keeping it nice may feel like an uphill battle at times. So many backyard and garage items are so expensive now! Unfortunately, that’s just the world we live in – prices are increasing all the time. Here’s a list of 35 backyard and garage items you can expect to pay more for this year.
Lumber
Lumber prices shot up in 2025 due to ongoing supply chain issues, high demands, and increased tariffs on wood. Pressure-treated lumber, which is essential for good decks and fencing, is especially pricey. So bad luck if you were hoping to make your own deck this year.
Patio Heaters
With more people wanting to sit outside even in the winter, patio heater demand has soared. Global metal shortages and increased energy costs have pushed prices up significantly – but do you really want a patio heater? They’re very bad for the environment.
Garden Hoses
You really need a garden hose to keep your plants watered, but they’re expensive these days. What used to be a $20 purchase may now set you back $40. Rubber and plastic production issues, plus higher shipping costs, are the culprit and the consumer pays the price.
Outdoor Furniture Sets
Materials like aluminum, teak, and wicker – all things used to create patio furniture - have seen major price rises due to global supply chain issues and higher labor costs. Even back in 2020 they were cheaper, now they can cost hundreds.
Propane Tanks
Propane tanks are dangerous and need to be stored correctly to avoid disaster… oh, and they’re expensive too. Demand for them shoots up in the summer when BBQ season starts, so if you’re buying one then expect to part with a lot of money.
Lawnmowers
Tried and trusty lawnmowers haven’t dodged the price rises. Even mid-range models are now priced like high-end machines. Battery-powered models are hit hardest due to the sheer demand for rechargeable batteries. If you have an old lawnmower, it may be worth hanging onto it.
Sheds
During the pandemic everyone was building a shed, and unfortunately prices have never come down from that time. All the materials needed to build a shed are expensive now and so is buying a pre-fab shed. You’ll have to put your man cave somewhere else.
Raised Garden Beds
Raised garden beds can really bring a sense of comfort and style to a garden, but making one will cost you a lot of money now. Even the soil, compost and seeds are more expensive than they used to be.
Gas Grills
Everyone wants a gas grill, so no wonder they’re so expensive, and it doesn’t help that the price of stainless steel, aluminum, and electronic ignition parts have gone up. You used to be able to get one for $300 and now some of them are twice that.
Garden Soil
It seems sort of silly that soil costs so much when it’s just lying about on the ground, but that’s the way of things. Prices have doubled due to high demand and difficult transportation. Just don’t go and steal your neighbor’s garden soil!
Outdoor Fire Pits
If you purchased a fire pit in 2020, you made a wise financial decision. Costs have skyrocketed over the past five years. Basically, all the materials needed to construct one are expensive, so you have to empty your wallet out too.
Deck Stain
If you can afford to build a deck, congratulations! Now you just have to afford to stain it as well. Deck stain is much more expensive now because the price of all the ingredients have gone up. It used to cost $30 or thereabouts; now it’s $60.
Garden Tools
If you have some old garden tools in your shed, you should probably hold onto them no matter how rusty they’re getting. The price of things like shovels has shot up due to high demand and overseas manufacturing issues.
Electric Leaf Blowers
Regular leaf blowers were bad for the environment, and attempts to make them less so have made them more expensive. The battery-powered leaf blowers are pricier thanks to lithium-ion battery shortages and high demand. You might just have to leave the leaves where they are.
Utility Garage Shelves
Everyone with a garage wants good garage shelving, and that’s the problem. The costs of metal and plastic are sky-high now, and there’s not enough to go around. You can expect to pay top dollar for garage shelves that won’t collapse on you.
Wheelbarrows
Wheelbarrows are supposed to be a “buy it for life” item, but they don’t always work out that way. Even the rubber for the tires is more expensive now, so if you’re buying a new one, you can expect to be set back at least $12.
Pressure Washers
Pressure washing really took off in the past few years and there’s increasing demand for good pressure washers. Manufacturers just can’t keep up, especially since all the parts needed to make pressure washers are expensive.
Garden Fencing
You need a fence for your garden, but at what cost? A DIY fence that once cost $300 might now set you back $600 or more. That’s because the materials are just so expensive now, regardless of where you get them from.
Tool Cabinets
Another “buy it for life” purchase that nonetheless you still have to buy from time to time. Steel and manufacturing cost increases have pushed prices onto you the consumer, so now you have to pay double for a decent tool chest.
Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
This is another one where demand is high and materials are too expensive. Rising prices for copper wiring, LED components, and waterproofing has ruined the dream of cheap outdoor lighting. If you want a well-lit garden you need to be well-off now.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are great. They give you electricity from the sun and are environmentally friendly! But people are turned off buying them because they’re just so expensive. They used to be around $500, now they cost $1000 or more. Some people think the reduced energy bills are worth it, however.
Storage Bins
Storage bins for the garage are made with resin and polymer, and the costs of those things have skyrocketed in recent years. Unfortunately, if you can’t find a cheap storage bin, you may just have to get used to storing your garage stuff on the floor.
Garden Trellis
Have you always wanted a trellis in your garden? Unfortunately, the time to invest in one was five years ago. Growing demand and the expensive price of wood means that you’ll have difficulty finding a cheap trellis nowadays.
Outdoor Extension Cords
Outside-proof extension cords are definitely something worth having, but you have to pay a lot of money for them. This is all thanks to the increases in prices for copper and rubber. Whatever you do, don’t try and cut corners by using an indoor extension cord outside, though.
Outdoor Rugs
Some people don’t really get outdoor rugs, but others love them. Unfortunately, though, the price you have to pay for one has shot up, especially if you were after a UV-resistant one. You might be better off just sticking with indoor rugs.
BBQ Accessories
Things like meat thermometers and grill brushes are also more expensive now as more and more people get into grilling. Even spatulas and tongs have seen prices rise on them! If you’re buying a branded BBQ kit, you can expect to pay a very high price.
Workbenches
Unfortunately, now is not the time to invest in a high-quality workshop bench. All the materials that go into making one now cost double, so you’d also have to shell out a lot of money if you tried to make one yourself. If you do buy one, make sure you buy one that’s going to last.
Rain Barrels
As water conservation grows more popular, so has the cost of rain barrels. But durable, UV-resistant plastic has become expensive, and shipping large containers is also pricey. Buying a rain barrel will set you back further than you’d like.
Garage Door Openers
Maybe it would be better to stick with a traditional garage door, not one that needs an opener. That garage door opener has a microchip inside, and there’s a global shortage of microchips right now. You’ll have to pay a lot for even the most basic model.
Planters and Pots
What’s a garden without planters and pots? Yeah… bad news on that front. Even the humble garden pot is more expensive now, as the prices of ceramic, resin and concrete have risen. Luckily, you can sometimes find them at thrift stores.
Ladders
You need at least one ladder in your household, and you need it to be good. A cheap ladder is often a dangerous ladder. But you can expect to pay a lot for that good ladder now, because demand is high and transporting heavy items across the country to your local store is difficult.
Insulated Garage Doors
Bad news if you want to insulate your garage door for energy efficiency. Rising costs for foam insulation, steel panels, and installation by a professional have all contributed to this being a very pricy purchase indeed.
Garage Heaters
If there’s no central heating in your garage, you’re definitely going to need a good heater as the winter months draw in. Unfortunately, even a basic heater is expensive these days due to material shortages and higher energy costs. Maybe you’ll just have to dress in layers to avoid the cold.
Outdoor Umbrellas
While an outdoor umbrella isn’t essential for a garden per se, many people like being able to sit in the shade on a warm summer’s day. But aluminum frames, UV-resistant fabrics, and even simple pulley systems are all costlier now, increasing the price of your umbrella.
Compost Tumblers
Home composting has surged in popularity, and tumblers are tidy and generally odor-free. And yet, buying one is so much more expensive than it used to be, because plastic and metal are more expensive. Some people think a composter is worth it, though, because they have to pay less for store-bought compost.
