Sod installation cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,600 – $3,500
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $2,400
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Rhode Island, a new sod lawn costs about $1,600 to $3,500 for 1,500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 6% above the US figure of $2,400. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median $21.51 an hour in Rhode Island (US: $18.82).
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Estimate your sod installation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$2,150 to $2,950
About $1.40 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $730 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 43% |
| Labor | $870 | $1,300 | $1,750 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $310 | 6% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,550 | $3,500 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Rhode Island
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,600 to $2,350
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,150 to $2,950
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,750 to $3,500
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $2,000 | $1,900 – $2,450 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,600 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,950 | $2,750 – $3,500 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,250 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,450 | $7,000 – $8,800 |
Which Rhode Island city is cheapest for sod lawn?
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,550 | +1% |
What landscaping and groundskeeping workers and the other trades earn in Rhode Island
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.16 for Rhode Island.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $21.51 an hour, which is 14% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $19.00 and $22.36 an hour. BLS counts 4,040 of them working in the state, 80.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $27.52 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 42.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for landscaping and groundskeeping workers ($22.36 an hour) would add about $40 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.00) would take off about $120. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $19.00 | $21.51 | $22.36 | $18.82 | 1.14 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Rhode Island against its neighbors
Rhode Island ranks 13 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for sod lawn, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $2,850 and the cheapest Mississippi at $2,100, both for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint. Rhode Island sits at $2,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +6% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +1% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | level |
| New York | 160 miles away | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −1% |
If you are planning more than one job in Rhode Island
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+8%) and French drain lowest (+5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,300 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,400 | +8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,000 – $122,000 | +8% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Rhode Island
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.
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
Weather windows across Rhode Island
Season matters for sod lawn. For each Rhode Island metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Providence has 8 comfortable months (April through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 8: April through November |
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 $2,950 for Rhode Island is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Rhode Island: 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 Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Rhode Island?
$1,600 to $3,500 for 1,500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for sod lawn?
Providence at about $2,550 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft).
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 6% more expensive: $2,550 against $2,400 for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 51% ($1,300). Materials are 43%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.16x the national wage level.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $21.51 an hour, against $18.82 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.00 to $22.36.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for sod lawn costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,550 for 1,500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Rhode Island?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $2,350 and premium work $2,750 to $3,500. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+Does the season matter for sod lawn in Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (8 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Sod installation by city in Rhode Island
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.