Sod installation cost in Redding, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,650 – $3,650
- Per sq ft
- $1.10 – $2.20
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #28
- 1 = most expensive
Redding homeowners pay roughly $1,650 to $3,650 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $1.10 to $2.20 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Redding is 10% higher. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.87 an hour in the Redding area, 16% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Redding, CA, standard level
$2,250 to $3,050
About $1.45 to $1.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,050 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Redding, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $790 | $1,200 | $1,600 | 45% |
| Labor | $870 | $1,300 | $1,750 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $300 | 6% |
| Total | $1,650 | $2,650 | $3,650 | 100% |
Where the Redding price comes from
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 $21.87 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Redding is 1.17 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Redding metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,200, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.7) and land at $0 to $300.
When to schedule sod lawn in Redding
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Redding Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Redding (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Redding gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, February and December (6.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 1.8 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 106 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 | 57 | 38 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 43 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 62 | 0.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 100 | 67 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 98 | 64 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 58 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 79 | 50 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 42 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 37 | 6.3 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Redding
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Redding 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
$1,650 to $2,450
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,250 to $3,050
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,850 to $3,650
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,100 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,500 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,650 – $2,450 | $2,250 – $3,050 | $2,850 – $3,650 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,450 – $6,350 | $5,850 – $7,750 | $7,300 – $9,150 |
Is Redding cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Redding. Reno is the lowest at about $2,500 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CAthis page | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | |
| Chico, CA80 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | level |
| Medford, OR120 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | −3% |
| Reno, NV135 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −5% |
| Sacramento, CA145 miles | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Napa, CA155 miles | $1,700 – $3,800 | $2,750 | +4% |
| California (statewide) | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Redding comes in at #28 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, Redding is 2% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,650 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,800 – $3,900 | $2,850 | +8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,750 – $3,850 | $2,800 | +5% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Redding's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Redding against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | −2% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −5% |
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,450 | −7% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −5% |
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 Redding is 1.17 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $21.87 an hour, which is 16% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $23.58 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 58.7 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 $26.82 an hour, 18% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $36.59 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 69.9 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 ($23.58 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($18.11) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 3.1% or 6.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,550 jobs in the Redding area. That makes it the 257th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $18.11 | $21.87 | $23.58 | $18.82 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.06 | $26.82 | $36.59 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.17 | |||||
Why two Redding quotes can differ
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).
Planning more than one job in Redding?
Because every project leans on different trades, Redding's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +18% and sprinkler system +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,450 | +18% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,700 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,600 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,400 – $126,000 | +12% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,250 to $3,050 for Redding, CA is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Redding, CA, $9
Multi-page report for Redding, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Sod installation in Redding: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Redding?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,650 to $3,650 in the Redding area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,250 to $3,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Redding?
About $1.10 to $2.20 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Redding or Chico?
Chico is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,650, which is 0% less than Redding ($2,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Redding?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,650. Materials are 45% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Redding?
$1,650 to $3,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Redding?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $300 for fees in the Redding area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Redding expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of California?
Redding is 2% below the California statewide estimate ($2,700 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Redding?
The BLS median is $21.87 an hour in the Redding area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.11 to $23.58.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Redding?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,650 to $2,450 and premium work $2,850 to $3,650. 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 Redding?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October 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 Redding
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.