Sod installation cost in Binghamton, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,500 – $3,250
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $2
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #109
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Binghamton area: $1,500 to $3,250 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 lands close to the US figure. Permit and fee costs follow the local price level, which sits 7% below the US average.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Binghamton, NY, standard level
$2,050 to $2,750
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $970 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $970 | $1,250 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,050 | $2,750 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Binghamton, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $750 | $1,100 | $1,500 | 47% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,100 | $1,500 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,400 | $3,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Binghamton number
Labor is 47% 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 Binghamton the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Binghamton is at 99.7 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 92.9: $0 to $280.
The best months for sod lawn in Binghamton
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Binghamton (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 Binghamton 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 142 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Binghamton gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 87 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 30 | 16 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 17 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 35 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 46 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 55 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 77 | 58 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 51 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 41 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 31 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 34 | 22 | 3.1 | Cold |
Who does the work: Binghamton 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 Binghamton the blend is 0.99.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $18.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.35 and $21.92 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 58.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $24.40 an hour, which is 8% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.53 and $35.23 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 67.0 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $45. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 7.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Binghamton has 97,030 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 207th 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% | $17.35 | $18.34 | $21.92 | $18.82 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.53 | $24.40 | $35.23 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Sod installation: what moves the price in Binghamton
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).
Binghamton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Binghamton. 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
$1,500 to $2,200
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,050 to $2,750
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,550 to $3,250
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,000 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,200 | $2,050 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,250 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,000 – $5,700 | $5,250 – $6,950 | $6,550 – $8,250 |
Related projects, priced for Binghamton
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Binghamton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+10%) and gravel driveway lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $640 – $2,250 | +7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,500 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,800 – $121,000 | +7% |
Is Binghamton 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 $2,350 to $2,500 across Binghamton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton, NYthis page | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | |
| Scranton, PA60 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Syracuse, NY60 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Kingston, NY90 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Utica, NY90 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | level |
| Allentown, PA100 miles | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +2% |
| New York (statewide) | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +12% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Binghamton ranks #109 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Binghamton is 11% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $1,700 – $3,800 | $2,750 | +15% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +4% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +4% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +14% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Binghamton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −7% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,550 | +6% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −7% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −7% |
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 $2,050 to $2,750 for Binghamton, NY is attached.
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Multi-page report for Binghamton, NY: 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 Binghamton: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Binghamton?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,250 in the Binghamton area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $2,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Binghamton?
About $1 to $2 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 Binghamton or Scranton?
Scranton is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 1% less than Binghamton ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Binghamton?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,100 out of $2,400. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Binghamton?
$1,500 to $3,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Binghamton?
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 Binghamton area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Binghamton expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of New York?
Binghamton is 11% below the New York statewide estimate ($2,650 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Binghamton?
The BLS median is $18.34 an hour in the Binghamton area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.35 to $21.92.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Binghamton?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $2,200 and premium work $2,550 to $3,250. 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 Binghamton?
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 Binghamton
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.