Sod installation cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,600 – $3,450
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #66
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Bismarck area: $1,600 to $3,450 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 5% higher than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $22.27 an hour in the Bismarck area, 18% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$2,150 to $2,900
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 | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 43% |
| Labor | $870 | $1,300 | $1,750 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 5% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,500 | $3,450 | 100% |
Why Bismarck 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, Bismarck wages are 1.16 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. Bismarck is at 95.7 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 91.0: $0 to $270.
What nearby projects cost in Bismarck
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bismarck wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+5%) and French drain lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,650 – $13,900 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,300 – $116,500 | +3% |
Bismarck against nearby metros and the rest of North Dakota
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 $2,500 across Bismarck and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −11% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −9% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −8% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −5% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bismarck ranks #66 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bismarck is 6% above the North Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in North Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | level |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +3% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
The best months for sod lawn in Bismarck
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bismarck (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 Bismarck 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 184 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bismarck gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 1.7 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 23 | 2 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 7 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 19 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 30 | 1.3 | Cold |
| May | 68 | 42 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 58 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 56 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 33 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 41 | 19 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 8 | 0.6 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Bismarck
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bismarck. 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
$1,600 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) | $1,600 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,900 | $2,700 – $3,450 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,250 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,400 | $6,950 – $8,750 |
Who does the work: Bismarck 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 Bismarck the blend is 1.16.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $22.27 an hour, 18% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.20 and $26.27 an hour. About 320 work in the metro. That is 44.9 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 $23.93 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.41 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 87.0 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 $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 7.7% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bismarck has 71,270 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 258th 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% | $18.20 | $22.27 | $26.27 | $18.82 | 1.18 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.87 | $23.93 | $29.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Sod installation: what moves the price in Bismarck
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.
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 Bismarck, ND is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Bismarck, ND: 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 Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Bismarck?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,600 to $3,450 in the Bismarck 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 Bismarck?
About $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 1% less than Bismarck ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
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 Bismarck?
$1,600 to $3,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $270 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 6% above the North Dakota statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Bismarck?
The BLS median is $22.27 an hour in the Bismarck area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.20 to $26.27.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Bismarck?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,600 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 Bismarck?
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 Bismarck
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.