Sod installation cost in Alexandria, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,300 – $2,900
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #290
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Alexandria area: $1,300 to $2,900 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 12% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $15.79 an hour in the Alexandria area, 16% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Alexandria, LA, standard level
$1,800 to $2,450
About $1.15 to $1.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $810 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $180 |
| Total | $1,800 | $2,450 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Alexandria, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 50% |
| Labor | $620 | $930 | $1,250 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,100 | $2,900 | 100% |
Why Alexandria prices look the way they do
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 $15.79 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Alexandria is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Alexandria is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,050 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.7: $0 to $260.
Is Alexandria cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $2,000 to $2,200 across Alexandria and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LAthis page | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | |
| Lafayette, LA95 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Lake Charles, LA95 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Monroe, LA95 miles | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −5% |
| Baton Rouge, LA100 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Shreveport, LA105 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +3% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Alexandria ranks #290 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Alexandria is 3% below the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +3% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Alexandria against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +12% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +7% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +4% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +19% |
Planning more than one job in Alexandria?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Alexandria wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−11%) and gravel driveway lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,800 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,100 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,700 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,500 – $98,300 | −13% |
The best months for sod lawn in Alexandria
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Alexandria (5 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 Alexandria are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Alexandria gets about 61 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (6.1 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 4.6 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 93 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 | 59 | 39 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 42 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 55 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 68 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 57 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 46 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 40 | 6.0 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Alexandria
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Alexandria. 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
$1,300 to $1,950
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,800 to $2,450
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,250 to $2,900
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $880 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,000 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,300 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,450 | $2,250 – $2,900 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,050 | $4,650 – $6,200 | $5,800 – $7,300 |
Who does the work: Alexandria 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 Alexandria the blend is 0.83.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $15.79 an hour, 16% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $17.51 an hour. About 370 work in the metro. That is 61.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $17.76 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.53 and $21.18 an hour. BLS counts 610 of them working in the area, 101.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Alexandria has 60,000 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 288th 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% | $14.41 | $15.79 | $17.51 | $18.82 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $15.53 | $17.76 | $21.18 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Alexandria bid
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.
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
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 $1,800 to $2,450 for Alexandria, LA is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Alexandria, LA, $9
Multi-page report for Alexandria, LA: 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 Alexandria: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Alexandria?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,300 to $2,900 in the Alexandria area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,800 to $2,450. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Alexandria?
About $0.90 to $1.75 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 Alexandria or Lafayette?
Lafayette is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,050, which is 2% less than Alexandria ($2,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Alexandria?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $2,100. Materials are 50% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Alexandria?
$1,300 to $2,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Alexandria?
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 Alexandria area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Alexandria expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Alexandria is 3% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($2,150 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Alexandria?
The BLS median is $15.79 an hour in the Alexandria area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.41 to $17.51.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Alexandria?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,300 to $1,950 and premium work $2,250 to $2,900. 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 Alexandria?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May 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 Alexandria
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.