Sod installation cost in Rochester, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,600 – $3,500
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #60
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Rochester, MN usually costs $1,600 to $3,500 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1.05 to $2.15 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $140 more. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.90 an hour in the Rochester area, 16% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Rochester, MN, standard level
$2,150 to $2,900
About $1.40 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $930 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Rochester, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 42% |
| Labor | $890 | $1,350 | $1,750 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 5% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,550 | $3,500 | 100% |
Where the Rochester price comes from
Labor is 52% 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 Rochester the blended ratio comes out at 1.18.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rochester is at 95.4 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 90.8: $0 to $270.
Specs and site conditions that change a Rochester bid
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.
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).
Rochester 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, Rochester Intl Ap (10 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 Rochester are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, 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 156 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Rochester gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 53 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 23 | 7 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 11 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 35 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 47 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 58 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 38 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 26 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 14 | 1.3 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Rochester
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rochester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+17%) and gravel driveway lowest (+12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| 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 | $8,550 – $15,100 | +15% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,400 | +12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,700 – $130,000 | +15% |
Cost by quality level and size in Rochester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rochester. 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
$1,600 to $2,350
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,150 to $2,900
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,750 to $3,500
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,400 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,600 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,900 | $2,750 – $3,500 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,250 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,450 | $7,000 – $8,800 |
What local crews earn in Rochester
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 Rochester the blend is 1.18.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.90 an hour, 16% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $28.14 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 44.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.55 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $43.11 an hour. BLS counts 990 of them working in the area, 80.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $300 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 7.6% to 11.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rochester has 122,980 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 176th 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% | $17.87 | $21.90 | $28.14 | $18.82 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.36 | $28.55 | $43.11 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Is Rochester 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 $2,300 to $2,700 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNthis page | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | |
| La Crosse, WI65 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −8% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Minneapolis, MN90 miles | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +6% |
| Waterloo, IA100 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −9% |
| Dubuque, IA125 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rochester ranks #60 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rochester is 4% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +6% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −6% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −15% |
| Midland, TX | 122,180 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −11% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | −2% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +5% |
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Sod installation in Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Rochester?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,600 to $3,500 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,150 to $2,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Rochester?
About $1.05 to $2.15 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 Rochester or La Crosse?
La Crosse is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 8% less than Rochester ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $2,550. Materials are 42% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$1,600 to $3,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Rochester?
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 Rochester area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Rochester is 4% 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 Rochester?
The BLS median is $21.90 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.87 to $28.14.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Rochester?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $2,350 and premium work $2,750 to $3,500. 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 Rochester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April 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 Rochester
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.