Sod installation cost in Idaho Falls, ID
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,150
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #164
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Idaho Falls, plan on $1,450 to $3,150 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $1.95 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Idaho Falls, ID, standard level
$1,950 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $940 | $1,250 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Idaho Falls, ID
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 47% |
| Labor | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,300 | $3,150 | 100% |
Why Idaho Falls prices look the way they do
Labor is 47% of the midpoint bill here, against 47% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is landscaping and groundskeeping workers (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Idaho Falls the blended ratio comes out at 0.97.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Idaho Falls metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,100, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (94.4) and land at $0 to $280.
Climate in Idaho Falls: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Idaho Falls Fanning Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through September is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Idaho Falls (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, October, November 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 182 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Idaho Falls gets about 10 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (1.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.5 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 26 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 | 29 | 12 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 16 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 25 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 31 | 1.0 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 38 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 49 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 48 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 31 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Nov | 43 | 22 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 30 | 13 | 0.8 | Cold |
Idaho Falls 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 Idaho Falls is 0.97 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.14 an hour, which is 4% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.90 and $22.11 an hour. BLS counts 570 of them working in the area, 69.6 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 $22.05 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.83 and $26.56 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 118.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.11 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($14.90) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 8.2% or 6.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 81,840 jobs in the Idaho Falls area. That makes it the 233rd 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% | $14.90 | $18.14 | $22.11 | $18.82 | 0.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.83 | $22.05 | $26.56 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Idaho Falls
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Idaho Falls 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
$1,450 to $2,150
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,500 to $3,150
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,650 | $2,500 – $3,150 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,850 – $5,500 | $5,100 – $6,750 | $6,350 – $8,000 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Idaho Falls 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.
What nearby projects cost in Idaho Falls
Because every project leans on different trades, Idaho Falls's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +1% and sprinkler system −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,450 | −6% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,400 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,700 – $111,500 | −1% |
Idaho Falls against nearby metros and the rest of Idaho
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 $2,300 to $2,600 across Idaho Falls and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, IDthis page | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | |
| Logan, UT125 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Bozeman, MT145 miles | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +12% |
| Ogden, UT175 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +3% |
| Boise, ID190 miles | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,450 | +6% |
| Salt Lake City, UT210 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +7% |
| Idaho (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Idaho Falls comes in at #164 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, Idaho Falls is 4% below the Idaho figure.
Other Idaho metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,450 | +6% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Idaho Falls's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Idaho Falls against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | level |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −3% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −3% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −4% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed sod installation report for Idaho Falls, ID, $9
The report lays out the sod installation numbers for Idaho Falls, ID line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Idaho Falls: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Idaho Falls?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,150 in the Idaho Falls area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $2,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Idaho Falls?
About $0.95 to $1.95 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Idaho Falls or Logan?
Logan is 125 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 0% less than Idaho Falls ($2,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Idaho Falls?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,100 out of $2,300. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Idaho Falls?
$1,450 to $3,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Idaho Falls?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the Idaho Falls area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Idaho Falls expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Idaho?
Idaho Falls is 4% below the Idaho statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Idaho; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Idaho Falls?
The BLS median is $18.14 an hour in the Idaho Falls area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.90 to $22.11.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Idaho Falls?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,150 and premium work $2,500 to $3,150. 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 Idaho Falls?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. July and August 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 Idaho Falls
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.