Sod installation cost in Albuquerque, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,150
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Albuquerque, plan on $1,450 to $3,150 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $1.90 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $18.15 an hour in the Albuquerque area, 4% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM, standard level
$1,950 to $2,650
About $1.25 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $920 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 47% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $290 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,300 | $3,150 | 100% |
Where the Albuquerque 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 $18.15 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Albuquerque is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Albuquerque metro is 96.1 (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 (95.5) and land at $0 to $290.
What nearby projects cost in Albuquerque
Because every project leans on different trades, Albuquerque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −6% and retaining wall −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,900 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,350 | −6% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,000 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque is 0.94 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.15 an hour, which is 4% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.37 and $21.65 an hour. BLS counts 2,270 of them working in the area, 56.1 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 $19.44 an hour, 14% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $23.09 an hour. About 4,140 work in the metro. That is 102.3 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 ($21.65 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($17.37) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 7.3% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,700 jobs in the Albuquerque area. That makes it the 62nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $17.37 | $18.15 | $21.65 | $18.82 | 0.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.40 | $19.44 | $23.09 | $22.66 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Albuquerque bid
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 Albuquerque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Albuquerque 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
$1,450 to $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,950 to $2,650
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,450 to $3,150
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $950 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,650 | $2,450 – $3,150 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,800 – $5,450 | $5,050 – $6,700 | $6,250 – $7,900 |
Climate in Albuquerque: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Albuquerque Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through May and August through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Albuquerque (7 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); June and July have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 93 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Albuquerque gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 8 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (1.6 inches in July). Inside the workable window, March and May are the driest, at 0.5 and 0.4 inches. The station averages about 64 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 | 48 | 26 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 54 | 30 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 63 | 36 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 43 | 0.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 62 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 67 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 65 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 58 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 46 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 34 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 27 | 0.5 | Cold |
Is Albuquerque cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Santa Fe is the priciest of the group at $2,400. El Paso is the cheapest at $2,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMthis page | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | |
| Santa Fe, NM40 miles | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +6% |
| Las Cruces, NM195 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Pueblo, CO235 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +2% |
| El Paso, TX255 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −10% |
| Amarillo, TX255 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −5% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Albuquerque comes in at #196 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, Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico figure.
Other New Mexico metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Albuquerque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albuquerque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +14% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −3% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +8% |
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 $1,950 to $2,650 for Albuquerque, NM is attached.
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Multi-page report for Albuquerque, NM: 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 Albuquerque: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Albuquerque?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,150 in the Albuquerque area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $2,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Albuquerque?
About $0.95 to $1.90 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Albuquerque or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 6% more than Albuquerque ($2,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albuquerque?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,300. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Albuquerque?
$1,450 to $3,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Albuquerque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $290 for fees in the Albuquerque area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albuquerque expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($2,250 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Albuquerque?
The BLS median is $18.15 an hour in the Albuquerque area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.37 to $21.65.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Albuquerque?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,100 and premium work $2,450 to $3,150. 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 Albuquerque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and August through November. March and May 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 Albuquerque
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.