Sod installation cost in Manchester, NH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,550 – $3,450
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #65
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Manchester, NH usually costs $1,550 to $3,450 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $120 more. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.58 an hour in the Manchester area, 15% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Manchester, NH, standard level
$2,150 to $2,900
About $1.35 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $220 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Manchester, NH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $730 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 44% |
| Labor | $840 | $1,250 | $1,700 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $320 | 6% |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,500 | $3,450 | 100% |
Why Manchester prices look the way they do
Labor is 50% 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 Manchester the blended ratio comes out at 1.12.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Manchester is at 97.7 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 105.7: $0 to $320.
Manchester 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, Manchester 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 Manchester 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 129 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Manchester gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.0 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and July are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 34 | 17 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 19 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 27 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 38 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 33 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 24 | 3.3 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Manchester
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 Manchester the blend is 1.12.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.58 an hour, 15% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.71 and $23.72 an hour. About 1,530 work in the metro. That is 76.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.68 and $26.49 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 53.6 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 $100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $140. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Manchester-Nashua has 199,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 115th 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% | $18.71 | $21.58 | $23.72 | $18.82 | 1.15 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $19.68 | $22.84 | $26.49 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.12 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Manchester
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Manchester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+1%) and French drain lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $10,000 | level |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,500 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,200 – $113,000 | level |
Manchester: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Manchester. 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 $2,350
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,150 to $2,900
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,700 to $3,450
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) | $1,550 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,900 | $2,700 – $3,450 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,200 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,350 | $6,900 – $8,700 |
Is Manchester 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 $2,500 to $2,700 across Manchester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NHthis page | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | |
| Worcester, MA45 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Boston, MA45 miles | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +8% |
| Amherst, MA60 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +4% |
| Springfield, MA70 miles | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +2% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +1% |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Manchester ranks #65 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire figure.
Manchester is the only New Hampshire metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Manchester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −10% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +2% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +7% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Manchester bid
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.
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 $2,150 to $2,900 for Manchester, NH is attached.
Detailed sod installation report for Manchester, NH, $9
Multi-page report for Manchester, NH: 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 Manchester: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Manchester?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,550 to $3,450 in the Manchester 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 Manchester?
About $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $320 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Manchester or Worcester?
Worcester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,650, which is 5% more than Manchester ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Manchester?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $1,250 out of $2,500. Materials are 44% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Manchester?
$1,550 to $3,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Manchester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $320 for fees in the Manchester area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Manchester expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of New Hampshire?
Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire statewide estimate ($2,550 at the midpoint).
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Manchester?
The BLS median is $21.58 an hour in the Manchester area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.71 to $23.72.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Manchester?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $2,350 and premium work $2,700 to $3,450. 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 Manchester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. April 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 Manchester
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.