Sod installation cost in Fayetteville, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,100
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #234
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Fayetteville, plan on $1,400 to $3,100 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $1.90 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Fayetteville, AR, standard level
$1,900 to $2,600
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $920 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Fayetteville, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Fayetteville number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Fayetteville wages are 0.94 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fayetteville metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,050, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.4) and land at $0 to $270.
Why two Fayetteville quotes can differ
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
Old grass removal
Removing an old lawn first adds $0.50-$2.00 per sq ft, and a full remove-and-resod runs $1.50-$4.00 per sq ft (HomeGuide).
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Fayetteville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fayetteville wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,400 to $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,600
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,100
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $940 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,600 | $2,400 – $3,100 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,750 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,550 | $6,150 – $7,800 |
Climate in Fayetteville: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Fayetteville Drake Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fayetteville (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 94 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fayetteville gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 7 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and October (5.9 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and November are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 41 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 25 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 29 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 36 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 45 | 5.0 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 54 | 5.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 63 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 67 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 89 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 82 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 45 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 35 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 28 | 3.1 | Cold |
Fayetteville against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Fayetteville. Fort Smith is the lowest at about $2,150 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, ARthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Fort Smith, AR50 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Joplin, MO70 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Springfield, MO100 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Tulsa, OK115 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Little Rock, AR135 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Fayetteville comes in at #234 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $2,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $2,000 (midpoints, 1,500 sq ft). Statewide, Fayetteville is 3% above the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Fayetteville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fayetteville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +12% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +16% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +5% |
What nearby projects cost in Fayetteville
Because every project leans on different trades, Fayetteville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −8% and French drain −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,800 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,400 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,300 – $101,000 | −10% |
Fayetteville labor market for sod lawn
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fayetteville is 0.94 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.22 an hour, which is 3% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.45 and $21.25 an hour. BLS counts 1,450 of them working in the area, 52.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.93 an hour, 16% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.44 an hour. About 2,190 work in the metro. That is 79.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.25 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($16.45) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 6.4% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 275,180 jobs in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers area. That makes it the 93rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.18% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $16.45 | $18.22 | $21.25 | $18.82 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.66 | $18.93 | $22.44 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Sod installation in Fayetteville: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Fayetteville?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Fayetteville area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Fayetteville?
About $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Fayetteville or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,150, which is 4% less than Fayetteville ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fayetteville?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,250. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Fayetteville?
$1,400 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Fayetteville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $270 for fees in the Fayetteville area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fayetteville expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fayetteville is 3% above the Arkansas statewide estimate ($2,200 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Fayetteville?
The BLS median is $18.22 an hour in the Fayetteville area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.45 to $21.25.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Fayetteville?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,100 and premium work $2,400 to $3,100. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+When is the best time to lay sod in Fayetteville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. August and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Sod installation near Fayetteville
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.