Sod installation cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,650 – $3,600
- Per sq ft
- $1.10 – $2.20
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #29
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Worcester, MA usually costs $1,650 to $3,600 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1.10 to $2.20 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $240 more. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $23.07 an hour in the Worcester area, 23% above the US median of $18.82.
Estimate your sod installation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$2,250 to $3,050
About $1.45 to $1.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $220 |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $730 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 41% |
| Labor | $930 | $1,400 | $1,850 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $310 | 6% |
| Total | $1,650 | $2,650 | $3,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Worcester number
Labor is 53% 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 Worcester the blended ratio comes out at 1.24.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Worcester is at 97.0 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 102.5: $0 to $310.
Worcester against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
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 $2,500 to $2,700 across Worcester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | −1% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | −2% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −5% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | −3% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Worcester ranks #29 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Worcester is 2% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | level |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | −1% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −17% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −11% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −13% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −13% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Worcester
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.
What local crews earn in Worcester
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 Worcester the blend is 1.24.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.07 an hour, 23% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $20.90 and $27.36 an hour. About 2,170 work in the metro. That is 62.0 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 $29.52 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $43.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,650 of them working in the area, 47.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $100. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Worcester has 349,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 73rd 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% | $20.90 | $23.07 | $27.36 | $18.82 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.23 | $29.52 | $43.40 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Worcester?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Worcester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+16%) and retaining wall lowest (+11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,100 – $14,600 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,000 – $128,000 | +13% |
Cost by quality level and size in Worcester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Worcester. 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
$1,650 to $2,450
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,250 to $3,050
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,850 to $3,600
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,100 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,500 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,650 – $2,450 | $2,250 – $3,050 | $2,850 – $3,600 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,400 – $6,300 | $5,850 – $7,750 | $7,250 – $9,150 |
Worcester weather and the sod installation calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Worcester Rgnl Ap (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 Worcester are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 130 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Worcester gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 73 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 32 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 26 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 61 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 4.3 | Cold |
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 $2,250 to $3,050 for Worcester, MA is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Worcester, MA, $9
Multi-page report for Worcester, MA: 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 Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Worcester?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,650 to $3,600 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,250 to $3,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Worcester?
About $1.10 to $2.20 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $310 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,600, which is 1% less than Worcester ($2,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $1,400 out of $2,650. Materials are 41% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$1,650 to $3,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Worcester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $310 for fees in the Worcester area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 2% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($2,700 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Worcester?
The BLS median is $23.07 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.90 to $27.36.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Worcester?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,650 to $2,450 and premium work $2,850 to $3,600. 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 Worcester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July 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 Worcester
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.