Sod installation cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,500 – $3,250
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $2
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #110
- 1 = most expensive
Duluth homeowners pay roughly $1,500 to $3,250 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $1 to $2 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Duluth is almost level. Building materials run about 5% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.3).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Duluth, MN, standard level
$2,000 to $2,750
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $930 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,350 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,750 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $710 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 45% |
| Labor | $780 | $1,150 | $1,550 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,400 | $3,250 | 100% |
Where the Duluth price comes from
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 $18.36 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Duluth is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Duluth metro is 95.3 (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 (88.8) and land at $0 to $270.
Is Duluth cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Duluth. Wausau is the lowest at about $2,300 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 210 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +5% |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +13% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +5% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +11% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Duluth comes in at #110 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, Duluth is 10% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +13% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +7% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Duluth's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +5% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −9% |
What nearby projects cost in Duluth
Because every project leans on different trades, Duluth's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +17% and retaining wall +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,150 – $14,500 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,300 | +11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,800 – $127,000 | +13% |
Why two Duluth 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Duluth
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Duluth 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
$1,500 to $2,200
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,000 to $2,750
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,550 to $3,250
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,000 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,250 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,000 – $5,700 | $5,250 – $6,950 | $6,550 – $8,250 |
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 Duluth is 1.04 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.36 an hour, which is in line with the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.69 and $22.42 an hour. BLS counts 550 of them working in the area, 44.1 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 $29.49 an hour, 30% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $37.00 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 111.5 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 ($22.42 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($15.69) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 8.2% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,710 jobs in the Duluth area. That makes it the 173rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.69 | $18.36 | $22.42 | $18.82 | 0.98 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.29 | $29.49 | $37.00 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
When to schedule sod lawn in Duluth
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Duluth (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Duluth (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, November 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 177 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Duluth gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 90 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 20 | 2 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 25 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 49 | 30 | 2.5 | Cold |
| May | 63 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 67 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 53 | 36 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 37 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 25 | 10 | 1.5 | Cold |
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Sod installation in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Duluth?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,250 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $2,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Duluth?
About $1 to $2 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 5% more than Duluth ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $2,400. Materials are 45% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Duluth?
$1,500 to $3,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Duluth?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $270 for fees in the Duluth area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 10% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($2,650 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Duluth?
The BLS median is $18.36 an hour in the Duluth area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.69 to $22.42.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Duluth?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $2,200 and premium work $2,550 to $3,250. 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 Duluth?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. May and October 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 Duluth
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.