Sod installation cost in Davenport, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,200
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #147
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Davenport, plan on $1,450 to $3,200 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 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.2).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Davenport, IA, standard level
$2,000 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $920 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $980 | $1,300 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Davenport, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,150 | $1,500 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,350 | $3,200 | 100% |
Where the Davenport price comes from
Labor is 49% 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 Davenport the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Davenport metro is 94.2 (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 (89.1) and land at $0 to $270.
How Davenport compares
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Dubuque is the priciest of the group at $2,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IAthis page | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | |
| Iowa City, IA60 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Peoria, IL65 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +2% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA75 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Rockford, IL100 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Davenport comes in at #147 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, Davenport is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Davenport's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Davenport against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −11% |
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Davenport
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Davenport 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
$2,000 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,500 to $3,200
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $970 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,150 | $2,000 – $2,650 | $2,500 – $3,200 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,900 – $5,550 | $5,150 – $6,800 | $6,400 – $8,050 |
Climate in Davenport: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Davenport (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Davenport (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, 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 136 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Davenport gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.8 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 13 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 | 30 | 14 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 18 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 51 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 61 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 42 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Davenport
Because every project leans on different trades, Davenport's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and retaining wall +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $620 – $2,150 | +4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,400 – $13,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,500 | +3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,500 – $117,000 | +4% |
Davenport 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 Davenport is 1.01 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.25 an hour, which is 3% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.08 and $22.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,090 of them working in the area, 60.4 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 $26.14 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $33.98 an hour. About 1,320 work in the metro. That is 73.2 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 ($22.15 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($15.08) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 8.0% or 6.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 180,450 jobs in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island area. That makes it the 128th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.08 | $18.25 | $22.15 | $18.82 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.74 | $26.14 | $33.98 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Davenport bid
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).
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 $2,000 to $2,650 for Davenport, IA is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Davenport, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Davenport, IA: 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 Davenport: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Davenport?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,200 in the Davenport area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 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 Davenport?
About $0.95 to $1.95 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 Davenport or Iowa City?
Iowa City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 0% more than Davenport ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Davenport?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $2,350. Materials are 46% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Davenport?
$1,450 to $3,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Davenport?
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 Davenport area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Davenport expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Iowa?
Davenport is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Davenport?
The BLS median is $18.25 an hour in the Davenport area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.08 to $22.15.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Davenport?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,150 and premium work $2,500 to $3,200. 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 Davenport?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September 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 Davenport
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.