Sod installation cost in Monroe, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,250 – $2,750
- Per sq ft
- $0.85 – $1.70
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #298
- 1 = most expensive
Monroe homeowners pay roughly $1,250 to $2,750 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.85 to $1.70 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Monroe is 16% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $13.95 an hour in the Monroe area, 26% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Monroe, LA, standard level
$1,700 to $2,300
About $1.10 to $1.45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $730 | $950 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $180 |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,300 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Monroe, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 52% |
| Labor | $560 | $840 | $1,100 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $250 | 6% |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,000 | $2,750 | 100% |
Where the Monroe price comes from
Labor is 42% 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 Monroe the blended ratio comes out at 0.75.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Monroe 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 (83.6) and land at $0 to $250.
When to schedule sod lawn in Monroe
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Monroe Rgnl Ap (5 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 Monroe (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Monroe gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.8 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 97 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 | 57 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 47 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 54 | 5.8 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 70 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 5.2 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Monroe
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Monroe 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
$1,250 to $1,850
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,700 to $2,300
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,150 to $2,750
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $840 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,250 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,300 | $2,150 – $2,750 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,800 | $4,450 – $5,900 | $5,550 – $7,000 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Monroe bid
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.
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 Monroe is 0.75 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $13.95 an hour, which is 26% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $12.80 and $16.73 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 41.1 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 $17.24 an hour, 24% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.44 and $21.89 an hour. About 860 work in the metro. That is 98.3 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 ($16.73 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($12.80) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 6.6% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,500 jobs in the Monroe area. That makes it the 223rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $12.80 | $13.95 | $16.73 | $18.82 | 0.74 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.44 | $17.24 | $21.89 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.75 | |||||
Monroe against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Monroe. Texarkana comes closest at about $2,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LAthis page | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +5% |
| Shreveport, LA100 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +8% |
| Jackson, MS115 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | +4% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $1,250 – $2,800 | $2,050 | +1% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +9% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +8% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +19% |
Across 300 US metros, Monroe comes in at #298 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, Monroe is 7% 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 | +9% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +9% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | +3% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +8% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +8% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +9% |
Cities with a workforce like Monroe's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Monroe against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | +17% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +12% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +10% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +11% |
What nearby projects cost in Monroe
Because every project leans on different trades, Monroe's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −11% and gravel driveway −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,700 | −13% |
| 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 | $31,400 – $98,100 | −13% |
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Sod installation in Monroe: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Monroe?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,250 to $2,750 in the Monroe area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,700 to $2,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Monroe?
About $0.85 to $1.70 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $250 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Monroe or Alexandria?
Alexandria is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,100, which is 5% more than Monroe ($2,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Monroe?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $840 out of $2,000. Materials are 52% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Monroe?
$1,250 to $2,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Monroe?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $250 for fees in the Monroe area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Monroe expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Monroe is 7% 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 Monroe?
The BLS median is $13.95 an hour in the Monroe area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $12.80 to $16.73.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Monroe?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,250 to $1,850 and premium work $2,150 to $2,750. 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 Monroe?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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 Monroe
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.