How much does a hydroponic system cost per m²: real prices by system type

A hydroponic system costs around €260 per m² for a professional tower system covering 300 m², excluding the greenhouse, around €360–480 per m² for an NFT gutter kit, €600–1,260 per m² for a home vertical tower, €2,100–3,500 per m² for a professional NFT wall or vertical farm with LEDs. Closed systems with lighting, climate control and automation cost over €9,000 per m².

However, the price per m² alone can be misleading: a vertical system costs more per square metre but holds three or four times as many plants on the same surface. Here you will find the actual prices of the systems in our catalogue, broken down by their footprint, the number of plants per m² they can hold, and what is not included in the price.

• NFT gutter kits: €360–480 per m², 30–45 plants per m².
• Home vertical towers: €600–1,260 per m² of footprint, 66–160 plants per m².
• Professional vertical NFT walls: around €2,100–2,300 per m², €3,000–3,500 with LEDs, 130–175 plants per m².
• Aquaponics, fish tank included: around €1,270–1,510 per m².
• Professional turnkey system: around €260 per m² of gross area, including aisles, with design and business plan.

How are the prices per m² calculated?

Each value is the catalogue price of the system, including VAT, for the basic version, divided by the floor footprint indicated in its technical sheet (width × depth). The prices are from the catalogue as of 23 October 2026: you will always find the updated prices on each product page.

Footprint refers to the base of the system, not the room. Space around each tower or wall is needed for access, transplanting and harvesting: in a full-scale system, the price per m² of gross area decreases, but so does the number of plants per m². This is why the last row of the table, the 300 m² system, is calculated based on the gross area.

How much does a hydroponic system cost per m²: the table

For professional aeroponic systems, the number of plants depends on the crop: for example, the manufacturer of Plant Core 20 indicates 2,900 to 17,000 plants per year.

Price ranges per m² explained

€360–480 per m²: horizontal NFT gutters

NFT gutters on a frame are the most affordable way to cover one square metre: a film of nutrient solution flows under the roots and returns to the tank. They hold 30–45 plants per m², suitable for lettuce, basil and herbs. The price per m² remains similar as you increase from 28 to 300 plants: you are paying mainly for the gutter.

€600–1,260 per m²: home and school vertical towers

A vertical tower occupies 0.3 m² and holds 20 to 48 plants. The more levels you add, the higher the price per m² rises, but the price per plant decreases: the 12-layer modular tower holds 159 plants per m² of footprint at around €6 per plant spot.

€2,100–3,500 per m²: vertical NFT walls and vertical farms

GrowPipes towers on a steel frame hold 130–175 plants per m² of footprint, that is three or four times as many as a gutter system, and are made in Italy. With the LED kit, you can also grow indoors and the price rises to around €3,000–3,500 per m². A vertical farm such as Vertifarm 40 already includes LEDs and a germination greenhouse.

€1,270–1,510 per m²: aquaponics

In aquaponics, the price includes the fish tank and filtration, which occupy part of the surface area: this is why there are fewer plants per m², from 16 to 20. In return, you also produce fish and do not use chemical fertilisers.

Over €2,800 per m²: closed systems with lighting, climate control and automation

Professional aeroponics, multi-level cabinets and containers include LEDs, automated fertigation and, in the case of the container, climate control. They cost more per m² because they replace the equipped building: the fodder container produces up to 275 kg of fresh fodder per day in less than 15 m².

Around €260 per m²: professional system on gross area

On a large surface area, the calculation changes: the 300 m² vertical tower system holds 15,120 plant spots and costs around €260 per m² of gross area, including aisles, with design, business plan and support until startup. The greenhouse or building is separate.

Systems in the table

Modular NFT Hydroponic Kit with frame – 28, 36, 60 PlantsDiscover the productModular Vertical Hydroponic Tower 5-12 Layers – up to 48 PlantsDiscover the productGrowPipes Max 132 Vertical Hydroponic Tower Kit – ProfessionalDiscover the product300 m² Hydroponic System with Vertical Towers – Modular and ScalableDiscover the product

What is not included in the price per m²

• Greenhouse or building: for a professional system, these cost as much as or more than the system itself. The indicative price ranges per m² for greenhouses are in the guide to how much a hydroponic system costs.
• Indoor lighting: lettuce requires around 90–120 W of LEDs per illuminated m², that is around 1.4–1.9 kWh per day per m² with 16 hours of light. You can calculate the consumption of your system with the consumption calculator.
• Climate control: heating, cooling and dehumidification are sized based on the room.
• Startup: growing medium, nutrients, pH and EC meter, seeds or seedlings.
• Installation: you assemble the kits; we install the larger systems for a quoted price.

Euro per m² or euro per plant?

If space is limited or expensive, as in a restaurant, in the city or in a heated room, count how many plants each square metre holds: a vertical system costing €2,300 per m² with 174 plants per m² costs just over the price of a €470 per m² NFT kit per plant. If space is not an issue, as in a large greenhouse, horizontal gutters cost less per m² and are the easiest to manage.

For a business, the final calculation is done per kg sold: yields, cycles per year and selling price matter more than the purchase price per m². How to set it up is explained in the feasibility study guide.

Calculate the price per m² of your space

In the Sizer, you design your space, choose the crop and see which systems fit, how many plants you can hold, the production and the consumption in kWh. With Talk to a technician, the configuration is already written in the quote request: we have built over 100 systems and the first technical response arrives within 24 working hours.

For a greenhouse or indoor project, you will also find turnkey hydroponic systems. A school can purchase them via MePA: how to conduct a Direct Negotiation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a hydroponic system cost per square metre?

From the systems in our catalogue: around €360–480 per m² for an NFT gutter kit, €600–1,260 per m² for a vertical tower, €2,100–3,500 per m² for a professional NFT wall or a vertical farm with LEDs. A professional tower system covering 300 m² costs around €260 per m² of gross area, excluding the greenhouse.

Why does a large system cost less per m²?

Because it is calculated based on the gross area, including aisles, and because pumps, tanks and design are spread over more square metres. There are fewer plants per m² of gross area than on the footprint of a single wall, but the price per plant spot drops to around €5.

Is a vertical or horizontal system better?

The vertical system costs more per m² but holds three or four times as many plants on the same base: it is better where space is limited or expensive. Where space is not an issue, horizontal NFT gutters cost less per m² and are the easiest to manage.

Does the price per m² include the lights?

Only where indicated: Vertifarm 40, Agricooltur aeroponic systems, Start2Grow, the container and the versions with LED kits. For the others, indoors, you add around 90–120 W of LEDs per illuminated m² for lettuce.

How much does a hydroponic greenhouse cost per m²?

The greenhouse structure is added to the system and varies greatly depending on the material, openings and heating. The indicative price ranges per m² by greenhouse type are in the guide to how much a hydroponic system costs.