Sod installation cost in Terre Haute, IN
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
- $0.95 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #246
- 1 = most expensive
Terre Haute homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,050 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Terre Haute is 7% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.24 an hour in the Terre Haute area, 8% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Terre Haute, IN, standard level
$1,900 to $2,550
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $920 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $900 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $180 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Terre Haute, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Labor | $690 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,050 | 100% |
Why Terre Haute prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Terre Haute wages are 0.93 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 Terre Haute metro is 94.3 (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 (87.8) and land at $0 to $260.
When to schedule sod lawn in Terre Haute
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Ap (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 Terre Haute (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 110 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Terre Haute gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.7 inches in April). Inside the workable window, March and September are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 24 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 | 37 | 21 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 24 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 43 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 63 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 54 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 43 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 2.5 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Terre Haute
Because every project leans on different trades, Terre Haute's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and gravel driveway −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,250 – $13,400 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,900 | −3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,500 – $114,000 | +1% |
Terre Haute: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Terre Haute 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
$1,900 to $2,550
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,050
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $930 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,550 | $2,400 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,750 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,550 | $6,150 – $7,750 |
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 Terre Haute is 0.93 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.24 an hour, which is 8% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.74 and $20.33 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 49.1 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 $21.85 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $27.31 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 76.8 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 ($20.33 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($14.74) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 6.6% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,120 jobs in the Terre Haute area. That makes it the 277th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $14.74 | $17.24 | $20.33 | $18.82 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.50 | $21.85 | $27.31 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Sod installation: what moves the price in Terre Haute
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.
How Terre Haute compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Terre Haute. Evansville comes closest at about $2,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, INthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | |
| Bloomington, IN40 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Indianapolis, IN70 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Champaign, IL75 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +5% |
| Lafayette, IN75 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Terre Haute comes in at #246 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, Terre Haute is 4% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Terre Haute's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Terre Haute against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $1,650 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +16% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +13% |
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Detailed sod installation report for Terre Haute, IN, $9
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Sod installation in Terre Haute: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Terre Haute?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Terre Haute area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 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 Terre Haute?
About $0.95 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 Terre Haute or Bloomington?
Bloomington is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 4% more than Terre Haute ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Terre Haute?
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 Terre Haute?
$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 Terre Haute?
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 Terre Haute area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Terre Haute expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Indiana?
Terre Haute is 4% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($2,350 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Terre Haute?
The BLS median is $17.24 an hour in the Terre Haute area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.74 to $20.33.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Terre Haute?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,400 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 Terre Haute?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 Terre Haute
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.