Sod Installation Cost Calculator
Quick answer: A 2,500 square foot lawn typically costs about $3,100 to $7,750 for fescue or Bermuda sod with basic soil prep and delivery, and up to about $9,750 for Zoysia. Removing an old lawn adds more.
Estimate sod installation cost by grass type. Enter lawn size to get a low, typical and high installed price with soil prep, old lawn removal and labor split.
Estimated total
- Low
- $3,075
- Typical
- $4,900
- High
- $7,500
$1.96 per sq ft all-in (range $1.23–$3.00)
Where the money goes (typical)
- Materials
- $1,763 (36%)
- Labor
- $2,988 (61%)
- Permits & fees
- $150 (3%)
Line items (typical)
| Tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass | $3,250 |
| Soil prep: tilling, grading and starter fertilizer | $1,500 |
| Delivery | $150 |
Cool-season grasses for the North and transition zone.
General U.S. estimates for installed cost, not quotes. We compared them with HomeGuide's national range (about $1 to $2 per sq ft installed) and Angi's metro cost pages. Prices reviewed November 2026. Get at least three local quotes before you commit.
Sod is sold by the square foot or by the pallet, and installers usually quote a price per square foot that includes the sod, delivery to the yard and laying it. Preparing the soil and removing the old lawn are often what separate a cheap quote from an expensive one.
Enter your lawn area, choose a grass type and add the prep work you need. The estimator shows the low, typical and high installed cost and how much of it is labor.
How the sod installation cost estimate works
- Enter the lawn area in square feet.
- Multiply it by the installed price per sq ft for the material you chose.
- Adjust for yard conditions and your local cost level.
- Add the extras you ticked, such as removal, and any permit fee.
- Show the result as a low, typical and high total, split into materials, labor and fees.
Measure each lawn area as rectangles and add them up, leaving out beds, patios and the house footprint. A pallet of sod usually covers 400 to 500 square feet.
Sod Installation Cost by material
| Material | Installed per sq ft | Labor share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass | $0.90–$1.90 | 55% | Cool-season grasses for the North and transition zone. |
| Bermuda | $0.90–$2.00 | 55% | Tough, fast-spreading warm-season grass. Needs full sun. |
| St. Augustine | $1.10–$2.30 | 50% | Coarse warm-season grass that handles some shade. Common in the Gulf states. |
| Zoysia | $1.30–$2.80 | 45% | Dense, slow-growing and premium priced. |
Sod Installation Cost by size
Typical total with the low–high range below it. Assumes open, mostly flat yard; average u.s.; soil prep: tilling, grading and starter fertilizer; delivery.
| Lawn area | Tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass | Bermuda | St. Augustine | Zoysia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $1,100$700–$1,700 | $1,150$700–$1,750 | $1,250$800–$1,900 | $1,400$900–$2,150 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,050$1,300–$3,150 | $2,100$1,300–$3,250 | $2,350$1,500–$3,550 | $2,650$1,700–$4,050 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $4,900$3,100–$7,500 | $5,050$3,100–$7,750 | $5,650$3,600–$8,500 | $6,400$4,100–$9,750 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $9,650$6,100–$14,750 | $9,900$6,100–$15,250 | $11,150$7,100–$16,750 | $12,650$8,100–$19,250 |
| 10,000 sq ft | $19,150$12,100–$29,250 | $19,650$12,100–$30,250 | $22,150$14,100–$33,250 | $25,150$16,100–$38,250 |
What affects sod installation cost
- Grass type. Common fescue and Bermuda are the cheapest; Zoysia and some St. Augustine varieties cost noticeably more per square foot.
- Removing the old lawn. Cutting out existing turf adds roughly $0.50 to $2 per square foot, depending on whether it is sprayed and tilled in or stripped with a sod cutter.
- Soil preparation. Tilling, leveling, adding topsoil and starter fertilizer help new sod root quickly. Poor soil means more prep.
- Lawn size. Large lawns cost less per square foot because delivery and setup are spread across more area.
- Access and slope. Pallets that can't be dropped near the lawn have to be carried in by hand, and slopes may need staking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does sod installation cost?
A 2,500 square foot lawn typically costs about $3,100 to $7,750 for fescue or Bermuda sod with basic soil prep and delivery, and up to about $9,750 for Zoysia. Removing an old lawn adds more.
How much does sod cost per square foot installed?
Expect about $0.90 to $2.80 per square foot for the sod laid, depending on grass type, plus $0.30 to $1 for soil prep and up to $2 more if an old lawn has to come out.
How much does a pallet of sod cover?
Most pallets cover 400 to 500 square feet. Ask your supplier; pallet size varies by farm and grass type.
Is sod or seed cheaper?
Seed is much cheaper, often a quarter or less of the cost of sod, but takes a season or more to fill in. Sod gives you a finished lawn immediately and resists erosion right away.
About these figures
General U.S. estimates for installed cost, not quotes. We compared them with HomeGuide's national range (about $1 to $2 per sq ft installed) and Angi's metro cost pages. Last reviewed November 2026. Your price depends on your home, your region and the contractor, so treat this as a budget range and compare it with written quotes.