Sod installation cost in Little Rock, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,050
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #268
- 1 = most expensive
Little Rock homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,050 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Little Rock is 8% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.54 an hour in the Little Rock area, 7% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Little Rock, AR, standard level
$1,850 to $2,550
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 | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,850 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Little Rock, 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 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
Where the Little Rock price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Little Rock wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Little Rock 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 (89.4) and land at $0 to $270.
Planning more than one job in Little Rock?
Because every project leans on different trades, Little Rock's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −10% and sprinkler system −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,550 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,750 | −14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,500 – $98,400 | −13% |
How Little Rock compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Little Rock. Monroe is the lowest at about $2,000 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 145 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, ARthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Jonesboro, AR120 miles | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | level |
| Fort Smith, AR125 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Fayetteville, AR135 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $1,250 – $2,800 | $2,050 | −8% |
| Monroe, LA145 miles | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −8% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Little Rock comes in at #268 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, Little Rock is 1% above the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Little Rock's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Little Rock against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +20% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +5% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +6% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Little Rock is 0.90 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.54 an hour, which is 7% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.50 and $18.66 an hour. BLS counts 1,670 of them working in the area, 46.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.88 an hour, 21% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.75 and $20.34 an hour. About 2,790 work in the metro. That is 77.9 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 ($18.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($15.50) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 2.4% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 358,210 jobs in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area. That makes it the 72nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.23% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.50 | $17.54 | $18.66 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.75 | $17.88 | $20.34 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
When to schedule sod lawn in Little Rock
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Little Rock Ap Adams Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Little Rock (9 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); 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 50 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Little Rock gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and December (5.6 inches in April). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 51 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 55 | 34 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 5.6 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 3.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 70 | 3.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 63 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 33 | 5.1 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Little Rock bid
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
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.
Little Rock: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Little Rock 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 $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,850 to $2,550
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,350 to $3,050
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $920 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,100 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,250 | $4,850 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,600 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Sod installation in Little Rock: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Little Rock?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Little Rock area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $2,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Little Rock?
About $0.90 to $1.85 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 Little Rock or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 0% less than Little Rock ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Little Rock?
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 Little Rock?
$1,400 to $3,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Little Rock?
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 Little Rock area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Little Rock expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Little Rock is 1% 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 Little Rock?
The BLS median is $17.54 an hour in the Little Rock area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.50 to $18.66.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Little Rock?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,350 to $3,050. 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 Little Rock?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. June 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 Little Rock
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.