Your Guide To The Cost Of Sod (And Its Installation)

Having a yard is a joy and a responsibility, and our yards don’t always look like the pastoral wonderland we might desire. If you’re looking for a quick way to add some oomph to your lawn, sod might be the answer! Let’s take a look at what sod actually is, the cost of sod, what you can expect to pay to install it, factors that affect those costs, and some common questions you might have.

What Is Sod?

Sod is basically grass carpeting. It’s a strip of grass with a thin layer of soil beneath, held together by the root system or a thin biodegradable material. It usually comes in rolls or smaller slabs, depending on the size of the project. You might choose to sod your space to quickly establish a lawn or to prevent flooding or erosion.

Sod is installed by removing the existing top layer of grass, weeds, etc. and laying rolls or squares of sod on top of the bare ground, allowing it to take root. It’s basically buying a cake from the bakery instead of baking it from scratch. It’s a quicker fix to a lush lawn than other lawn installation methods. Seeding a lawn takes much more time, and artificial turf removes the real-grass aspect of a lawn. A no-mow lawn such as a clover lawn or a xeriscaped space, takes a while to complete as well.

Types Of Sod

There are many different types of sod to choose from:

• Zoysia: Zoysia grass has a medium-thick blade and grows laterally along the ground. This means it’s a slower-growing green grass, so you’ll mow it less often. It’s very drought-resistant and is a great choice for heavier-trafficked areas. It does an excellent job choking out weeds, too. This type of grass is popular in the southern U.S.
• St. Augustine: St. Augustine grass has a coarse texture and thick blade that forms a dense carpet of dark green grass. It’s drought-resistant and does very well in salty soil, making it a great choice for coastal areas. This grass is popular along the eastern and southern coasts of the U.S., and stretching out west through southern California.
• Bermuda: Bermuda grass has a thin blade and fine texture, and it’s incredibly sturdy, which makes it a popular choice for high-traffic areas and athletic fields. It tends to be darker than most other types of turf grass. It spreads easily and does well in salty soil. It’s normally found in the lower 2/3 of the continental U.S., though some breeds of Bermuda grass have been developed to withstand the winters of the north.
• Centipede: Despite its name, centipede grass is pretty and not at all scary. It’s a nice, bright green shade. It has a coarse texture and flat blade, and thrives in sandy, acidic soil. It’s also a slow-growing grass, and does better in lower-trafficked areas of a lawn. It’s mainly found in the Southeastern U.S.
• Fescue: Fescue grass has a narrower blade and a lovely dark green color. It’s a clumping grass, which makes it easier to remove from flower beds. It’s very suited for cooler weather, and it’s found all over the upper 2/3 of the mainland US.
• Kentucky Bluegrass: Kentucky bluegrass has a fine-to-medium texture, and it ranges in color from emerald to blue-green. It’s drought- and cold- tolerant. It grows quickly, but slows down during the hottest months, and is extremely hardy, making it one of the most common and popular grasses across most of the U.S.
• Bahia grass: Bahia grass has a coarser texture and a green color during its growth season. After it’s done growing, the color darkens or tans. It’s hardy and has a deep root system, making it drought tolerant. It’s mainly used in a small region of the Southeastern U.S.
• Ryegrass: Ryegrass is a fine-textured grass with a bright to dark green color. It grows in bunches, and it’s often used to add color to existing Bermuda grass. It provides color year-round, making it a popular choice in the Southwestern U.S.

How Much Does Sod Cost?

Your base cost of a sodding project is the cost of sod itself. On average, sod costs between $0.30 – 0.90 per square foot, depending on the sod type, the amount you need, and delivery fees, which can range from $50 – 200. A pallet of sod (450 square feet) can cost between $160 – 350 for wholesale bulk prices, and $450 for retail.

So, for an average lawn size of 1/4 of an acre (10,871 square feet), sod alone could cost $3,200 – $9,700.

Sod Installation Costs

There are other costs to think about when considering a sod installation. The biggest one to consider is whether you’ll install it yourself or hire a professional.

If you decide to tackle the installation yourself, you’ll need some materials and equipment, so you should factor those expenses into your budget, whether you buy or rent them.

Here's what tools and materials you can expect to use:

• Tape measure (for smaller spaces) or a measuring wheel: you’ll need to accurately measure your space to know how much sod to order.
• Sod cutter or rototiller: these will help you remove the top layer of vegetation, which is essential in sodding your yard well.
• Rake: you’ll need to rake the topsoil flat before you lay down your sod
• Topsoil: if your soil is less than two inches deep, you should consider adding more topsoil.
• Utility knife: use this to trim away any sod around sprinkler heads, etc.
• Organic compost or peat moss: compost and moss provide a nutrient-rich base for the sod to root into.
• Herbicide: use this to prevent weeds from growing as your sod takes root.
• Fertilizer: this can help your sod grow in a healthy manner.
• Hose: you’ll need to water frequently on a schedule for the first several weeks.

DIYing your sod installation is relatively simple and can save you labor costs, but you should expect to spend a full day installing it yourself.

If your budget can accommodate it, you may want to consider outsourcing the sod installation to a professional! They’ll have the equipment and skills needed and will save you the labor of doing it yourself. You can expect to pay closer to $1 –$3 per square foot of sod for professional installation.

Prices vary depending on your region, but you can get quotes from local professionals to price how much your sod installation will cost.

Regardless of who installs your sod, don’t forget to factor sales tax into your budget!

Factors That Affect Sod Costs

There’s not one simple number way to determine how much you can expect to pay to sod your space. There are a lot of factors that can affect the cost. Let’s look at the major ones.

Sod Type

One major factor will be the type of sod you choose. Prices for sod vary, and many factors go into that pricing as well! Things like whether or not you’re located in a warm, cool or transitional zone can affect prices, as well as if you’re looking for an uncommon type of grass for your area.

Higher-end sods include St. Augustine, zoysia, Bermuda and centipede. These range in price from about $0.30 – $0.90 a square foot, or $130 – $450 per pallet.

More inexpensive sods include Bahia and Kentucky bluegrass, both of which cost about $0.30-0.55 per square foot, or $90 – $275 per pallet.

When choosing your sod, you’ll want to consider these aspects:

• Growth speed: do you want slow-growing grass, or do you not mind mowing more frequently?
• Blade type: do you like the look of thicker grass blades, or do you prefer a finer blade?
• Color: does a bright green suit you, or do you like the look of an emerald lawn?
• Soil type: is your soil sandy or salty? This affects what types of grass will thrive.
• Traffic: is your lawn the local soccer field, or do you not get much foot traffic?
• Weed and pest resistance: are you OK with weeding, or do you prefer a hands-off approach?
• Dormancy: do you need a grass that will be green all year round, or are you in an area where it’ll be covered in snow?

Size And Shape Of Lawn Area

The size and shape of your yard can affect sod installation costs. If your yard is on the larger side, it’ll require more sod to cover it. The same goes for an oddly shaped yard. Not only might you need more sod to cover the different areas, but it can require more work from your installers (whether that’s you or a professional) to trim it to fit. If you’re paying for installation, this will likely raise the price.

Ground Preparation Work

When pricing out the sod process, you’ll have to include all the lawn prep that needs to be done before you can lay your sod. Prepare to buy or rent equipment to help you, if you’re doing the install yourself. You’ll need tools to help you tear out the existing grass and weeds, and to churn and till the existing topsoil.

Whether or not you’re sodding your lawn yourself or hiring someone, you’ll have the expenses of materials needed, such as additional topsoil, fertilizer and compost or peat moss.
Additional costs can spring up if you decide to grade your lawn, and you may also want to consider performing a soil pH test to see what kind of dirt you’ve got. Again, the size of your lawn will affect these costs.

Delivery Fees

Delivery fees will affect the costs of sod installation. The location where you’re buying the sod from can have different prices depending on how far the sod has to travel. Of course, the amount of sod you order will also affect the delivery cost.

Sprinkler Installation

You may consider installing a sprinkler system in your lawn at the same time, since sod requires so much watering. This will increase the overall price of the sod installation. However, it’s a perfect time to install a sprinkler – just make sure it’s installed before the sod is, to prevent having to tear up freshly laid sod.

Sprinkler systems cost about $0.20 – $1 per square foot. For the national-average-sized lawn of a quarter of an acre, that cost comes out to approximately $1,700 – $3,500, with a national average of about $2,500. This doesn’t include labor or other factors, like adding special features or tearing out an existing system.

Benefits Of Installing Sod

Why consider installing sod? There are a lot of benefits for a homeowner, especially if you’re considering selling your home!

Enhances Curb Appeal

Installing sod increases your home’s curb appeal and makes for a denser, uniform lawn. Sod is a quick way to change the look of your yard dramatically, and curb appeal is essential when selling a home. It’s the first impression potential buyers will make of your property.

Adds Value To Your Home

Installing sod for curb appeal adds value to your house. For homeowners looking to sell their home, installing sod is one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of the house and potentially increase the home’s value. The return on investment is excellent and it’s cheaper than doing a kitchen renovation!

Provides Immediate Results

If you need quick results, then sod is a better option over seeding your lawn. You’ll immediately have the benefit of a lush, green carpet, and you won’t have to wait for delicate grass to grow or to battle local birds and other wildlife who think you’re spreading grass seed directly for their eating benefit.

Prevents Soil Erosion

Sod can control and stop soil erosion in your yard. It absorbs water, which slows down erosion. Where grass seed will wash away with the rain, sod stays in place and anchors to the existing ground as soon as it’s installed.

Sod Installation FAQs

Let’s go through some of the most frequently asked questions regarding sod installation for a more complete picture of what to expect.

How much sod should I purchase?

You’ll need to calculate how big your space is to figure out how much sod to purchase. To measure your yard, use a tape measure or measuring wheel. If you’ve got a rectangular lawn, then your job is easier. If your lawn has an irregular shape, you can divide it into squares or rectangles and measure those, and then measure the irregular areas. To calculate the square footage, multiply your lawn’s length by its width.

When ordering sod, consider the way it’s packaged. A pallet of sod will cover 450 square feet, a roll covers 10 square feet, and pieces cover 3 square feet. So, if your yard is 500 square feet, you probably wouldn’t order two pallets. Instead, you’d order a pallet and some rolls.

One more consideration when ordering is to add 5% – 10% more to your order, in case of waste. It’s far better to have a little too much than too little!

Can I lay new sod over existing grass?

It might seem like a shortcut, but you should avoid laying sod over existing grass. Establishing in soil is essential for sod to grow a healthy root system, and by laying sod on top of existing grass, you’re denying your sod that rich, nutritious soil. Furthermore, while the grass underneath will die and decompose, the resilient weeds won’t, and will break through your sod.

So, while it’s more work, removing the top layer of existing grass and weeds will benefit you and your sod in the end! Taking time to till the soil, add organic matter like compost or peat moss and raking it level will add to the success of your sod’s growth.

How long does it take new sod to root?

Sod takes about 2 weeks to establish small, shallow roots, and about six weeks to establish longer, sturdier roots. The time it takes is affected by the soil type, amount of sunshine and amount of water it receives, too. You’ll want to stick to a strict watering schedule after sod installation, watering it heavily the first day, and then several times daily for the first 2 weeks. Keeping the ground moist but not soaked helps the roots take hold while avoiding fungus.

Avoid walking on your sod for the first 2 weeks and wait to mow it until at least 10 days after installation.

What is the cost of sod maintenance?

You can expect to spend money on maintenance after your sod is installed. You’ll need to factor in all the watering you’ll need to do, plus fertilizer to help your sod thrive. You may also consider the costs of chemical or organic pest deterrents, to keep bugs off your lawn.

How long does it take to lay sod?

Prepare to spend about 2 hours per pallet of sod. It can take longer if you’ve got unusually shaped areas in your yard, because you’ll need to cut the sod to shape.

Another consideration is the timing. You’ll want to lay your sod as quickly as possible after delivery, so it doesn’t dry out. If you must wait, lay out the sod in the shade and give it a light watering.

The Bottom Line

Installing sod in your yard is an excellent way to boost your curb appeal and enjoy a lush green lawn. By investing some money and sweat equity, you can transform your space quickly, whether you’re selling your home or just want to give your neighbors something to admire. Want to maintain a pleasant and healthy yard? Learn more basics of lawn care.