Sod installation cost in Jonesboro, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,000
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #272
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Jonesboro, AR usually costs $1,400 to $3,000 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $210 less. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.40 an hour in the Jonesboro area, 8% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR, standard level
$1,850 to $2,500
About $1.20 to $1.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $880 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $180 |
| Total | $1,850 | $2,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 48% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,000 | $1,350 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Jonesboro number
The wage side of the estimate leans on landscaping and groundskeeping workers, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $17.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Jonesboro is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jonesboro is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,050 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $0 to $260.
Planning more than one job in Jonesboro?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jonesboro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−13%) and sprinkler system lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,500 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,950 – $11,800 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,750 | −14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,900 – $96,500 | −14% |
Jonesboro: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jonesboro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small yard (1,000 sq ft) to large yard (4,000 sq ft).
Basic
$1,400 to $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,850 to $2,500
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,350 to $3,000
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $920 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,100 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,500 | $2,350 – $3,000 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,650 – $5,250 | $4,850 – $6,400 | $6,050 – $7,600 |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Jonesboro
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
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).
Jonesboro against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1,500 sq ft range from $2,200 to $2,250 across Jonesboro and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, ARthis page | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | |
| Memphis, TN65 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +4% |
| Jackson, TN100 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Little Rock, AR120 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Springfield, MO180 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +3% |
| Clarksville, TN180 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +3% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | level |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jonesboro ranks #272 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jonesboro is 0% above the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jonesboro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +10% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +8% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $1,350 – $2,900 | $2,150 | −3% |
| Alexandria, LA | 60,000 jobs | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −4% |
What local crews earn in Jonesboro
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Jonesboro the blend is 0.90.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.40 an hour, 8% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.01 and $18.82 an hour. About 290 work in the metro. That is 47.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.26 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.23 and $20.53 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 64.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 5.2% to 3.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jonesboro has 60,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 286th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.01 | $17.40 | $18.82 | $18.82 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.23 | $18.26 | $20.53 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Jonesboro weather and the sod installation calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jonesboro Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Jonesboro are February through May and September through December: 8 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 65 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jonesboro gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and September are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 66 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 41 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 50 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 40 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 33 | 4.5 | Workable |
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Sod installation in Jonesboro: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Jonesboro?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,000 in the Jonesboro area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $2,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Jonesboro?
About $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $260 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Jonesboro or Memphis?
Memphis is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,250, which is 4% more than Jonesboro ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jonesboro?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,200. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Jonesboro?
$1,400 to $3,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Jonesboro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $260 for fees in the Jonesboro area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jonesboro expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Jonesboro is 0% 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 Jonesboro?
The BLS median is $17.40 an hour in the Jonesboro area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.01 to $18.82.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Jonesboro?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,350 to $3,000. 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 Jonesboro?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through May and September through December. February and September 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 Jonesboro
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.