Sod installation cost in Houma, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $2,950
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.80
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #287
- 1 = most expensive
Houma homeowners pay roughly $1,350 to $2,950 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.90 to $1.80 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Houma is 11% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $16.46 an hour in the Houma area, 13% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Houma, LA, standard level
$1,800 to $2,450
About $1.15 to $1.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $830 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $180 |
| Total | $1,800 | $2,450 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Houma, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 49% |
| Labor | $640 | $960 | $1,300 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 6% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,150 | $2,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Houma number
Labor is 45% 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 Houma the blended ratio comes out at 0.86.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Houma metro is 93.7 (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 (85.1) and land at $0 to $260.
Is Houma cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $2,200. Lafayette is the cheapest at $2,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LAthis page | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | |
| New Orleans, LA75 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA85 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Lafayette, LA90 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −3% |
| Slidell, LA90 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Gulfport, MS135 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Houma comes in at #287 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, Houma is 1% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −3% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +1% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Houma's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houma against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +8% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | +4% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +9% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Houma
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houma 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
$1,350 to $2,000
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,800 to $2,450
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,300 to $2,950
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $900 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,050 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,350 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,450 | $2,300 – $2,950 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,100 | $4,750 – $6,300 | $5,900 – $7,450 |
When to schedule sod lawn in Houma
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Houma (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Houma (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Houma gets about 65 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (9.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and December are the driest, at 4.0 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 64 | 44 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 8.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 74 | 9.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 75 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 71 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 46 | 4.2 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Houma?
Because every project leans on different trades, Houma's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −10% and gravel driveway −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,800 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,850 | −13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,800 – $99,400 | −12% |
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 Houma is 0.86 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $16.46 an hour, which is 13% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.09 and $17.13 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.80 and $21.44 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 105.5 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 ($17.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $30. At the 25th percentile ($14.09) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 1.5% or 5.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 83,440 jobs in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux area. That makes it the 230th 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% | $14.09 | $16.46 | $17.13 | $18.82 | 0.87 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.80 | $17.74 | $21.44 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Why two Houma quotes can differ
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.
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 Houma, LA is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Houma, LA, $9
Multi-page report for Houma, 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 Houma: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Houma?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $2,950 in the Houma 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 Houma?
About $0.90 to $1.80 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 Houma or New Orleans?
New Orleans is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 2% more than Houma ($2,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houma?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $960 out of $2,150. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Houma?
$1,350 to $2,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Houma?
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 Houma area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houma expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Houma is 1% 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 Houma?
The BLS median is $16.46 an hour in the Houma area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.09 to $17.13.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Houma?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,000 and premium work $2,300 to $2,950. 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 Houma?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. April and December 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 Houma
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.