Sod installation cost in Lexington, KY
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 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Lexington area: $1,450 to $3,150 for 1,500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.69 an hour in the Lexington area, 6% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Lexington, KY, standard level
$1,950 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $920 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Lexington, KY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 47% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,300 | $3,150 | 100% |
Where the Lexington price comes from
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 Lexington the blended ratio comes out at 0.95.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lexington is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,100 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.9: $0 to $280.
Specs and site conditions that change a Lexington bid
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).
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
Cost by quality level and size in Lexington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lexington. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small yard (1,000 sq ft) to large yard (4,000 sq ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,450 to $3,150
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,650 | $2,450 – $3,150 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,800 – $5,450 | $5,050 – $6,700 | $6,300 – $7,900 |
Is Lexington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Lexington. Huntington is the lowest at about $2,150 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KYthis page | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | |
| Cincinnati, OH65 miles | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +3% |
| Louisville, KY70 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +1% |
| Huntington, WV100 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −5% |
| Dayton, OH120 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +1% |
| Bowling Green, KY130 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −2% |
| Kentucky (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lexington ranks #187 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lexington is 1% above the Kentucky figure.
Elsewhere in Kentucky
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +1% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lexington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +11% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +14% |
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +15% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +10% |
Planning more than one job in Lexington?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lexington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−1%) and retaining wall lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,700 | −3% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,000 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,900 | −3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,000 – $109,500 | −3% |
Who does the work: Lexington trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Lexington the blend is 0.95.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.69 an hour, 6% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.01 and $21.35 an hour. About 1,340 work in the metro. That is 46.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.26 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.37 and $24.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 63.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $180 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lexington-Fayette has 286,910 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 90th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $17.01 | $17.69 | $21.35 | $18.82 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.37 | $22.26 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
The best months for sod lawn in Lexington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Lexington Bluegrass Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Lexington are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, 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 90 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Lexington gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 15 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | 25 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 28 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 36 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 55 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 67 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 47 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 36 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 30 | 4.2 | Cold |
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Sod installation in Lexington: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Lexington?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,150 in the Lexington 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 Lexington?
About $0.95 to $1.90 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 Lexington or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 3% more than Lexington ($2,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lexington?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,300. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Lexington?
$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 Lexington?
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 Lexington area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lexington expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Lexington is 1% above the Kentucky statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Kentucky; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Lexington?
The BLS median is $17.69 an hour in the Lexington area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.01 to $21.35.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Lexington?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,100 and premium work $2,450 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 Lexington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. September and November 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 Lexington
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.