Sod installation cost in Killeen, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,400 – $3,050
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #261
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new sod lawn in the Killeen area: $1,400 to $3,050 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 8% lower than the US figure. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.53 an hour in the Killeen area, 7% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Killeen, TX, standard level
$1,900 to $2,550
About $1.20 to $1.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $880 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Killeen, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 48% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,000 | $1,350 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
Where the Killeen price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on landscaping and groundskeeping workers, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $17.53 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Killeen is 0.91 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Killeen is at 93.8 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 91.1: $0 to $270.
The best months for sod lawn in Killeen
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Killeen (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 Killeen are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Killeen gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, September and October (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 2.2 and 2.1 inches. The station averages about 105 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 | 60 | 36 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 40 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 54 | 2.1 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 63 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 70 | 3.2 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 72 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 73 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 67 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 56 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 46 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 38 | 2.4 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Killeen
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Killeen. 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 $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,900 to $2,550
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,400 to $3,050
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $920 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,100 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,550 | $2,400 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,250 | $4,850 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,650 |
Why two Killeen quotes can differ
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).
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
How Killeen compares
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Dallas is the priciest of the group at $2,400. College Station is the cheapest at $2,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen, TXthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Waco, TX40 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Austin, TX65 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| College Station, TX85 miles | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Dallas, TX125 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
| San Antonio, TX130 miles | $1,350 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Killeen ranks #261 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Killeen is 3% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +5% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $1,350 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −7% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Killeen against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +2% |
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +12% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
Planning more than one job in Killeen?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Killeen wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−10%) and gravel driveway lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,550 – $8,850 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,850 | −13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,800 – $99,400 | −12% |
Who does the work: Killeen 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 Killeen the blend is 0.91.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.53 an hour, 7% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.79 and $17.91 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 41.8 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 $18.12 an hour, which is 20% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.28 and $22.05 an hour. BLS counts 940 of them working in the area, 62.4 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 $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $85. That is a swing of roughly 3.8% to 0.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Killeen-Temple has 150,580 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 155th 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% | $15.79 | $17.53 | $17.91 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.28 | $18.12 | $22.05 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
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Detailed sod installation report for Killeen, TX, $9
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Sod installation in Killeen: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Killeen?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Killeen area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Killeen?
About $0.90 to $1.85 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 Killeen or Waco?
Waco is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 0% less than Killeen ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Killeen?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,200. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Killeen?
$1,400 to $3,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Killeen?
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 Killeen area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Killeen expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
Killeen is 3% below the Texas statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Killeen?
The BLS median is $17.53 an hour in the Killeen area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.79 to $17.91.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Killeen?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,050 and premium work $2,400 to $3,050. 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 Killeen?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and April 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 Killeen
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.