Sod installation cost in St. Cloud, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,550 – $3,400
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #73
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the St. Cloud area: $1,550 to $3,400 for 1,500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 4% higher than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.04 an hour in the St. Cloud area, 12% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in St. Cloud, MN, standard level
$2,100 to $2,850
About $1.35 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $930 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $180 |
| Total | $2,100 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in St. Cloud, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 43% |
| Labor | $850 | $1,300 | $1,700 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $260 | 5% |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,500 | $3,400 | 100% |
Why St. Cloud prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, St. Cloud wages are 1.14 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. St. Cloud 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 87.6: $0 to $260.
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in St. Cloud
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to St. Cloud. 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
$1,550 to $2,300
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,100 to $2,850
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,650 to $3,400
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,550 | $1,450 – $1,950 | $1,850 – $2,350 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,850 | $2,650 – $3,400 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,200 – $5,950 | $5,500 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,650 |
St. Cloud against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $2,700. Eau Claire is the cheapest at $2,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MNthis page | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | |
| Minneapolis, MN70 miles | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +8% |
| Fargo, ND150 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | level |
| Rochester, MN155 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Duluth, MN155 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI160 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −5% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +6% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, St. Cloud ranks #73 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, St. Cloud is 6% 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 | +8% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −4% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. Cloud against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −5% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −9% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −8% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −14% |
Related projects, priced for St. Cloud
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same St. Cloud wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+16%) and gravel driveway lowest (+11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $690 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,600 – $11,500 | +15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,250 – $14,700 | +12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,300 | +11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,100 – $128,000 | +14% |
Why two St. Cloud quotes can differ
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.
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
Who does the work: St. Cloud trade wages
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 St. Cloud the blend is 1.14.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.04 an hour, 12% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.61 and $25.41 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 42.3 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 $27.80 an hour, which is 23% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $36.92 an hour. BLS counts 1,470 of them working in the area, 141.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper 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 $210. That is a swing of roughly 8.5% to 8.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
St. Cloud has 103,920 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 197th 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% | $16.61 | $21.04 | $25.41 | $18.82 | 1.12 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.11 | $27.80 | $36.92 | $22.66 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
The best months for sod lawn in St. Cloud
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, St Cloud 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 St. Cloud are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, 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 172 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
St. Cloud gets about 28 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 48 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.0 inches in August). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 21 | 3 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 26 | 7 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 39 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 2.6 | Cold |
| May | 68 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 55 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 56 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 48 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 36 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 39 | 23 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 26 | 10 | 0.9 | Cold |
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Sod installation in St. Cloud: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in St. Cloud?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,550 to $3,400 in the St. Cloud area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,100 to $2,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in St. Cloud?
About $1.05 to $2.10 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 St. Cloud or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,700, which is 8% more than St. Cloud ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. Cloud?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,500. Materials are 43% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in St. Cloud?
$1,550 to $3,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. Cloud expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Minnesota?
St. Cloud is 6% 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 St. Cloud?
The BLS median is $21.04 an hour in the St. Cloud area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.61 to $25.41.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in St. Cloud?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $2,300 and premium work $2,650 to $3,400. 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 St. Cloud?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. September 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 St. Cloud
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.