Sod installation cost in Eugene, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,600 – $3,550
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #50
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Eugene, OR usually costs $1,600 to $3,550 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1.05 to $2.15 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $170 more. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.00 an hour in the Eugene area, 12% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Eugene, OR, standard level
$2,200 to $2,950
About $1.40 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,050 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $2,200 | $2,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Eugene, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $790 | $1,200 | $1,600 | 46% |
| Labor | $820 | $1,250 | $1,650 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $300 | 6% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,550 | $3,550 | 100% |
Why Eugene 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, Eugene wages are 1.09 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Eugene is at 105.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,200 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.6: $0 to $300.
Why two Eugene quotes can differ
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.
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
Cost by quality level and size in Eugene
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Eugene. 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 $2,400
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,200 to $2,950
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,750 to $3,550
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,450 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,600 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $2,950 | $2,750 – $3,550 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,300 – $6,150 | $5,650 – $7,500 | $7,050 – $8,900 |
What local crews earn in Eugene
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 Eugene the blend is 1.09.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.00 an hour, 12% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.29 and $22.44 an hour. About 1,010 work in the metro. That is 64.0 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 $22.85 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.21 and $27.39 an hour. BLS counts 1,010 of them working in the area, 64.0 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 5.0% to 2.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Eugene-Springfield has 157,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 150th 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% | $18.29 | $21.00 | $22.44 | $18.82 | 1.12 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.21 | $22.85 | $27.39 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Eugene 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, Eugene Mahlon Sweet Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Eugene: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Eugene gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (7.2 inches in December). The station averages about 18 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 | 48 | 35 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 35 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 37 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 61 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 48 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 52 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 42 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 38 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 34 | 7.2 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Eugene
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Eugene wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+11%) and gravel driveway lowest (+5%); 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 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,700 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,700 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,300 – $122,500 | +9% |
Is Eugene cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Portland is the priciest of the group at $2,650. Yakima is the cheapest at $2,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, ORthis page | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,550 | |
| Salem, OR65 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Bend, OR100 miles | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Medford, OR105 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | level |
| Portland, OR115 miles | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Yakima, WA205 miles | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,550 | −1% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Eugene ranks #50 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Eugene is 2% below the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eugene against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −17% |
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −22% |
| Youngstown, OH | 160,160 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −13% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −11% |
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Multi-page report for Eugene, OR: 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 Eugene: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Eugene?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,600 to $3,550 in the Eugene area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,200 to $2,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Eugene?
About $1.05 to $2.15 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Eugene or Salem?
Salem is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,650, which is 3% more than Eugene ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eugene?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $1,250 out of $2,550. Materials are 46% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Eugene?
$1,600 to $3,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Eugene?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $300 for fees in the Eugene area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eugene expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Oregon?
Eugene is 2% below the Oregon statewide estimate ($2,600 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Eugene?
The BLS median is $21.00 an hour in the Eugene area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.29 to $22.44.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Eugene?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $2,400 and premium work $2,750 to $3,550. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+Is there a bad season to lay sod in Eugene?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Sod installation near Eugene
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.