Sod installation cost in Longview, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $3,000
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.80
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #282
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to lay sod in Longview, plan on $1,350 to $3,000 for 1,500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.90 to $1.80 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $16.67 an hour in the Longview area, 11% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Longview, TX, standard level
$1,850 to $2,500
About $1.15 to $1.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $850 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,850 | $2,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Longview, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 49% |
| Labor | $650 | $980 | $1,300 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $130 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,150 | $3,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Longview number
Labor is 45% 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 Longview the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Longview metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,050, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.5) and land at $0 to $270.
Longview labor market for sod lawn
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Longview is 0.87 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $16.67 an hour, which is 11% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.18 and $19.16 an hour. BLS counts 440 of them working in the area, 37.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.19 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.53 and $22.15 an hour. About 1,610 work in the metro. That is 136.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($19.16 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($14.18) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 5.5% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 118,060 jobs in the Longview area. That makes it the 186th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $14.18 | $16.67 | $19.16 | $18.82 | 0.89 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.53 | $18.19 | $22.15 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Is Longview cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Longview. Texarkana is the lowest at about $2,050 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview, TXthis page | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | |
| Tyler, TX35 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +2% |
| Shreveport, LA55 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | level |
| Texarkana, TX75 miles | $1,250 – $2,800 | $2,050 | −6% |
| Dallas, TX135 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +10% |
| Alexandria, LA145 miles | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +6% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Longview comes in at #282 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $2,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $2,000 (midpoints, 1,500 sq ft). Statewide, Longview is 5% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +10% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +7% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +6% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $1,350 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −5% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −7% |
Cities with a workforce like Longview's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Longview against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +10% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | +1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,450 | +13% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,300 | +5% |
Climate in Longview: timing your sod lawn job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Longview #2 (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Longview (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Longview gets about 51 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, January and November are the driest, at 4.2 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 112 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 36 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 40 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 54 | 5.0 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 63 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 71 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 74 | 3.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 74 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 67 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 56 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 45 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 38 | 5.3 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Longview bid
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.
Planning more than one job in Longview?
Because every project leans on different trades, Longview's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −10% and gravel driveway −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,850 | −13% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,800 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,900 | −13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,800 – $99,400 | −12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Longview
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Longview wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,350 to $2,000
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,850 to $2,500
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,350 to $3,000
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $900 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,100 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,350 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,500 | $2,350 – $3,000 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,150 | $4,800 – $6,350 | $5,950 – $7,500 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed sod installation report for Longview, TX, $9
Multi-page report for Longview, TX: 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 Longview: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Longview?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $3,000 in the Longview area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $2,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Longview?
About $0.90 to $1.80 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 Longview or Tyler?
Tyler is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 2% more than Longview ($2,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Longview?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $980 out of $2,150. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Longview?
$1,350 to $3,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Longview?
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 Longview area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Longview expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
Longview is 5% 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 Longview?
The BLS median is $16.67 an hour in the Longview area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.18 to $19.16.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Longview?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,000 and premium work $2,350 to $3,000. 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 Longview?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. January 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 Longview
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.