Sod installation cost in Clarksville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,100
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $1.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #225
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Clarksville area: $1,400 to $3,100 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 6% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.50 an hour in the Clarksville area, 7% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Clarksville, TN, standard level
$1,900 to $2,600
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $900 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Clarksville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 48% |
| Labor | $690 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Clarksville number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Clarksville wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Clarksville is at 96.2 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 90.9: $0 to $270.
Clarksville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Clarksville. 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
$1,400 to $2,100
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,600
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,100
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $940 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,600 | $2,400 – $3,100 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,750 – $5,400 | $5,000 – $6,600 | $6,200 – $7,800 |
The best months for sod lawn in Clarksville
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Clarksville Wwtp (in the city). 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 Clarksville are March through June and September through November: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 79 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Clarksville gets about 54 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and December (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 4.1 inches. The station averages about 57 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 | 47 | 28 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 31 | 4.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 57 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 67 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 60 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 48 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 31 | 4.9 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Clarksville
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Clarksville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−4%) and gravel driveway lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,750 – $12,900 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,700 – $105,500 | −7% |
Who does the work: Clarksville 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 Clarksville the blend is 0.92.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.50 an hour, 7% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.39 and $21.09 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 34.9 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 $20.17 an hour, which is 11% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.68 and $23.18 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 60.1 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $100. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Clarksville has 103,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 200th 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% | $15.39 | $17.50 | $21.09 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.68 | $20.17 | $23.18 | $22.66 | 0.89 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Is Clarksville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Clarksville. Jackson is the lowest at about $2,250 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TNthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Nashville, TN65 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Jackson, TN95 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Huntsville, AL140 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Clarksville ranks #225 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Clarksville is 1% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Clarksville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −5% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Clarksville bid
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.
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Sod installation in Clarksville: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Clarksville?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Clarksville area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Clarksville?
About $0.95 to $1.90 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 Clarksville or Nashville?
Nashville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 3% more than Clarksville ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Clarksville?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,250. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Clarksville?
$1,400 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Clarksville?
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 Clarksville area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Clarksville expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Clarksville is 1% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Clarksville?
The BLS median is $17.50 an hour in the Clarksville area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.39 to $21.09.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Clarksville?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,100 and premium work $2,400 to $3,100. 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 Clarksville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. September 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 Clarksville
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.