Sod installation cost in Providence, RI
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
- #49
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Providence area: $1,600 to $3,550 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 7% higher than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.76 an hour in the Providence area, 16% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Providence, RI, standard level
$2,200 to $2,950
About $1.40 to $1.85 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $2,200 | $2,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Providence, RI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $730 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 43% |
| Labor | $880 | $1,300 | $1,750 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $310 | 6% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,550 | $3,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Providence number
Labor is 52% 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 Providence the blended ratio comes out at 1.18.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Providence is at 97.1 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 101.8: $0 to $310.
Providence: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Providence. 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 – $1,650 | $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 | $5,700 – $7,500 | $7,050 – $8,900 |
Why two Providence quotes can differ
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).
Related projects, priced for Providence
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Providence wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+13%) and gravel driveway lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,450 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,300 – $14,800 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,100 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,500 – $126,500 | +12% |
The best months for sod lawn in Providence
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Providence T F Green 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 Providence 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 109 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Providence gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (4.9 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 12 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 | 38 | 22 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 30 | 4.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 40 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 65 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 64 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 45 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 36 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 28 | 4.7 | Cold |
Who does the work: Providence 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 Providence the blend is 1.18.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.76 an hour, 16% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.82 and $22.70 an hour. About 5,530 work in the metro. That is 77.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.50 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $37.25 an hour. BLS counts 3,240 of them working in the area, 45.4 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 $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $140. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 1.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Providence-Warwick has 714,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 42nd 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% | $18.82 | $21.76 | $22.70 | $18.82 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.10 | $28.50 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Is Providence cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $2,700. Norwich is the cheapest at $2,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RIthis page | $1,600 – $3,550 | $2,550 | |
| Norwich, CT45 miles | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −2% |
| Worcester, MA55 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Boston, MA60 miles | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +6% |
| Barnstable, MA60 miles | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +3% |
| Hartford, CT65 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | −1% |
| Rhode Island (statewide) | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | −1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Providence ranks #49 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Providence is 1% above the Rhode Island figure.
Providence is the only Rhode Island metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Providence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −9% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −10% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −12% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −13% |
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Multi-page report for Providence, RI: 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 Providence: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Providence?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,600 to $3,550 in the Providence 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 Providence?
About $1.05 to $2.15 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $310 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Providence or Norwich?
Norwich is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 2% less than Providence ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Providence?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,550. Materials are 43% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Providence?
$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 Providence?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $310 for fees in the Providence area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Providence expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Rhode Island?
Providence is 1% above the Rhode Island statewide estimate ($2,550 at the midpoint).
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Providence?
The BLS median is $21.76 an hour in the Providence area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.82 to $22.70.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Providence?
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.
+When is the best time to lay sod in Providence?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July 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 Providence
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.