Sod installation cost in Billings, MT
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 – $2.05
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #81
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Billings, plan on $1,550 to $3,400 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $1.05 to $2.05 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% higher than the national one. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.27 an hour in the Billings area, 13% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Billings, MT, standard level
$2,100 to $2,850
About $1.35 to $1.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,100 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Billings, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 44% |
| Labor | $830 | $1,250 | $1,650 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,450 | $3,400 | 100% |
Where the Billings 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 $21.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Billings is 1.11 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Billings metro is 96.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,100, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) and land at $0 to $280.
Climate in Billings: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Billings Logan Intl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Billings (7 of 12 months). 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 142 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Billings gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 57 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 1.2 and 0.9 inches. The station averages about 32 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 | 36 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 20 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 27 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 35 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 44 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 52 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 58 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 27 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 19 | 0.6 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Billings
Because every project leans on different trades, Billings's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and retaining wall −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,000 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,100 – $113,000 | level |
Billings labor market for sod lawn
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 Billings is 1.11 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $21.27 an hour, which is 13% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.59 and $24.86 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 67.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.68 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $28.31 an hour. About 830 work in the metro. That is 88.5 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 ($24.86 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($17.59) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 6.9% or 7.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,800 jobs in the Billings area. That makes it the 213th 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% | $17.59 | $21.27 | $24.86 | $18.82 | 1.13 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.42 | $23.68 | $28.31 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Why two Billings 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Billings
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Billings 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
$1,550 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) | $4,150 – $5,900 | $5,450 – $7,250 | $6,800 – $8,550 |
How Billings compares
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 $2,250 to $2,600 across Billings and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +5% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −7% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +1% |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −7% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −10% |
| Montana (statewide) | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Billings comes in at #81 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, Billings is 1% below the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +5% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Billings's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +7% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −9% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed sod installation report for Billings, MT, $9
Multi-page report for Billings, MT: 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 Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Billings?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,550 to $3,400 in the Billings 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 Billings?
About $1.05 to $2.05 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,600, which is 5% more than Billings ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $1,250 out of $2,450. Materials are 44% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Billings?
$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 Billings?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the Billings area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 1% below the Montana statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Billings?
The BLS median is $21.27 an hour in the Billings area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.59 to $24.86.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Billings?
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 Billings?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and August 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 Billings
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.