Sod installation cost in Akron, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,450 – $3,200
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #136
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Akron, OH usually costs $1,450 to $3,200 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1 to $1.95 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Akron, OH, standard level
$2,000 to $2,700
About $1.25 to $1.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $990 | $1,300 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Akron, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $760 | $1,150 | $1,550 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,350 | $3,200 | 100% |
Why Akron 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, Akron wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Akron is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,050 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $0 to $280.
Cost by quality level and size in Akron
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Akron. 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
$1,450 to $2,150
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,000 to $2,700
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,500 to $3,200
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $980 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,850 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,150 | $2,000 – $2,700 | $2,500 – $3,200 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,900 – $5,600 | $5,150 – $6,850 | $6,400 – $8,100 |
Akron 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, Akron Fulton Intl 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 Akron 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 118 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Akron gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 14 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 | 37 | 21 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 40 | 22 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 30 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 62 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 64 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 62 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 35 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 27 | 2.0 | Cold |
How Akron compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Akron. Wheeling is the lowest at about $2,250 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OHthis page | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | |
| Canton, OH30 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Youngstown, OH30 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −4% |
| Cleveland, OH35 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Wheeling, WV85 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA90 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Akron ranks #136 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Akron is 0% below the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | level |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | level |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Akron against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 323,890 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +14% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,450 | +5% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +3% |
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Akron bid
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).
What nearby projects cost in Akron
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Akron wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+9%) and sprinkler system lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $660 – $2,300 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,100 – $10,300 | +3% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,550 – $13,700 | +4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,700 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,800 – $118,000 | +5% |
What local crews earn in Akron
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 Akron the blend is 1.02.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $18.08 an hour, 4% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.91 and $21.71 an hour. About 2,250 work in the metro. That is 70.4 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 $28.28 an hour, which is 25% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.50 and $37.65 an hour. BLS counts 1,830 of them working in the area, 57.3 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 2.4% to 7.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Akron has 319,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 80th 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% | $16.91 | $18.08 | $21.71 | $18.82 | 0.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.50 | $28.28 | $37.65 | $22.66 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Sod installation in Akron: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Akron?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,450 to $3,200 in the Akron area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $2,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Akron?
About $1 to $1.95 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 Akron or Canton?
Canton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 3% less than Akron ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Akron?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $2,350. Materials are 45% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Akron?
$1,450 to $3,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Akron?
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 Akron area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Akron expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Ohio?
Akron is 0% below the Ohio statewide estimate ($2,350 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Akron?
The BLS median is $18.08 an hour in the Akron area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.91 to $21.71.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Akron?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,150 and premium work $2,500 to $3,200. 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 Akron?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Akron
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.