Short answer
Aluminum edging is a good choice when you want a thin, crisp metal line that is light to carry and does not rust. Common sizes are 1/8 or 3/16 inch thick and 3 to 5-1/2 inches tall (Permaloc maker specs), held by interlocking aluminum stakes. It dents more easily than steel, so pick 3/16 inch for lawn edges that see mowers, and a black or bronze coat if silver would look out of place.
Why choose aluminum edging
Aluminum is the metal edging you can carry under one arm. A 16 foot length weighs a fraction of the same steel strip, it cuts with a hacksaw, and it never rusts, so it will not leave orange stains on a light concrete walk. University of Illinois Extension describes aluminum as easier to install than steel, with one drawback: the silver color can look unnatural. Hunker adds that it dents easily.
Both points are easy to plan around. Buy a coated finish if you want black or bronze, and buy the thicker gauge where a mower or string trimmer will hit it.
Sizes and specs
Permaloc is one of the best-known aluminum edging makers, and its published specs show the usual range:
Aluminum edging specs (maker and retailer data)
| Spec | Permaloc lists | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 1/8 or 3/16 in | 1/8 for tight curves in beds; 3/16 for straighter, tougher lawn edges |
| Height (CleanLine) | 3, 4, 5-1/2 in | Taller strips go deeper against roots or hold more gravel |
| Length (ProSlide) | 8 or 16 ft | Longer sections mean fewer joints on straight runs |
| Stakes | 12 in interlocking aluminum | Stakes lock into the strip rather than sitting behind it |
Thickness and heights come from Permaloc product data and a CleanLine retailer listing; lengths come from the Permaloc data (maker specs). Other makers use similar sizes, but always read the listing for the exact profile.
Aluminum vs steel
| Aluminum | Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light | Heavy |
| Rust | Does not rust | Rusts unless coated; Corten rusts on purpose |
| Stiffness | Dents more easily | Stiffest, lasts longest (Illinois Extension) |
| Look | Mill silver or coated | Black, brown, green coat or patina |
| DIY | Easier to handle and cut | Harder to install well |
| Next to pale paving | No stains | Bare steel can stain while it rusts |
For thickness and finish options in steel, see metal landscape edging. For the rust look on purpose, see Corten steel edging.
Types of aluminum edging
-
01Most common
Interlocking aluminum strip
Best for: lawn edges and bed lines that need a straight, durable metal edge
- Thickness
- 1/8 or 3/16 in
- Height
- 3 to 5-1/2 in
- Stakes
- Interlocking
- Example: Permaloc CleanLine, sizes per maker data
- Sections slide together at the ends
- Thicker gauge for areas a mower touches
-
02Black or bronze
Coated aluminum edging
Best for: beds where silver metal would look out of place
- Finish
- Black, bronze or similar
- Rust
- Does not rust
- Watch for
- Scratches in the coat
- Hides against mulch and soil
- Solves the silver look Illinois Extension mentions
- Touch up scratches with paint
-
03Stiffer
Powder-coated steel strip
Best for: long straight runs and edges that take mower hits
- Thickness
- 14 ga to 3/16 in
- Weight
- Heavy
- Rust
- Slowed by coat
- Holds a straighter line than thin aluminum
- Heavier to carry and install
- Full guide: metal edging
Installing aluminum edging
- Call 811 and mark the line. Lay out curves with a hose and mark them with paint.
- Cut a narrow trench. A CleanLine retailer listing says to make it about 1 inch deeper than the edging. Use a flat spade or half-moon edger and keep the trench wall straight.
- Set and join the sections. Slide the ends together, leave a small lip above grade, and check the line by eye from a few steps back.
- Drive the stakes. Lock the aluminum stakes into the strip on the bed side and tap them down with a rubber mallet, at the spacing the maker gives.
- Backfill and tamp. Pack soil both sides, water it in, then add mulch or gravel.
What you need
More detail: how to install landscape edging and how deep to install edging.
Cost
Hunker puts aluminum at about $2 per foot. LawnStarter groups it with metal edging at about $5 to $11 per linear foot in material, with labor about $1.50 to $10 per foot. Thicker, taller and coated profiles sit at the top of the range. See landscape edging cost to compare.
Where aluminum shines
- Gravel paths and rock beds: a rigid edge that will not stain. See garden path edging.
- Next to light concrete: no rust runoff, unlike bare steel.
- DIY on long runs: easy to carry, cut and join.
Questions people ask
Is aluminum or steel edging better?
Steel is stiffer and the most durable, per University of Illinois Extension, but heavy and harder to install well. Aluminum is lighter, easier to handle and does not rust, but it dents more easily and its silver color can look unnatural unless coated. For coastal yards and DIY installs, aluminum is often the easier pick.
What thickness of aluminum edging should I buy?
Permaloc lists its CleanLine aluminum edging at 1/8 or 3/16 inch. The thinner size bends into tighter curves; 3/16 inch holds a straighter line and resists dents better along a lawn.
How deep do you install aluminum edging?
Bury most of the strip and leave a small lip above grade. One retailer listing for Permaloc CleanLine says to cut the trench about 1 inch deeper than the edging. Follow the maker’s instructions for your profile.
Does aluminum edging rust?
No. Aluminum forms a dull oxide on the surface instead of rust, so it will not stain paving the way bare steel can. That makes it a good fit next to pale concrete.
How much does aluminum edging cost?
Hunker puts aluminum at about $2 per foot, and LawnStarter puts metal edging overall at about $5 to $11 per linear foot in material. Prices vary a lot with thickness, height and finish.
Sources
- University of Illinois Extension, Bed edges (Rhonda Ferree, 2015)
- Hunker, The best types of landscape edging
- Permaloc aluminum edging product data (maker, via Sweets)
- Permaloc CleanLine aluminum edging listing (Elite Metal Tools)
- Call 811, Know what is below (national call-before-you-dig line)
- LawnStarter, How much does landscape edging cost? (updated December 27, 2025)
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Products, sizes and listings change; check the product details before you buy, call 811 before you dig, and follow the maker’s instructions.