Sod installation cost in Lubbock, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $2,950
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.80
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #283
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Lubbock, TX usually costs $1,350 to $2,950 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $0.90 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $240 less. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $16.51 an hour in the Lubbock area, 12% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Lubbock, 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 | $840 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $190 |
| Total | $1,850 | $2,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Lubbock, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 49% |
| Labor | $640 | $970 | $1,300 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $270 | 6% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,150 | $2,950 | 100% |
Why Lubbock prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Lubbock wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lubbock 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 91.3: $0 to $270.
Lubbock weather and the sod installation calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Lubbock Wfo (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 Lubbock are March through May and September through November: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June, 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 61 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Lubbock gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and September (2.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.2 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 91 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 | 55 | 30 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 32 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 68 | 39 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 57 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 66 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 70 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 61 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 50 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 30 | 0.8 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Lubbock?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lubbock wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−13%) and sprinkler system lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,850 | −13% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,550 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,000 – $11,800 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,750 | −14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,900 – $96,700 | −14% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Lubbock
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lubbock. 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
$1,350 to $2,000
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,850 to $2,500
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,300 to $2,950
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 – $2,050 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,350 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,500 | $2,300 – $2,950 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,150 | $4,750 – $6,300 | $5,900 – $7,450 |
Is Lubbock cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Lubbock. El Paso is the lowest at about $2,050 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 250 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lubbock, TXthis page | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | |
| Midland, TX95 miles | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | +4% |
| Odessa, TX115 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
| Amarillo, TX125 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | level |
| Abilene, TX145 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | +1% |
| El Paso, TX250 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +6% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lubbock ranks #283 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lubbock is 6% 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 | +11% |
| 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 | −4% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lubbock against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +12% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +9% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +15% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | +3% |
Why two Lubbock quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Lubbock
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 Lubbock the blend is 0.86.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $16.51 an hour, 12% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.31 and $18.29 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 42.0 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 $17.78 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.45 and $21.13 an hour. BLS counts 980 of them working in the area, 58.8 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 $85 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 4.9% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lubbock has 166,780 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 140th 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% | $14.31 | $16.51 | $18.29 | $18.82 | 0.88 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.45 | $17.78 | $21.13 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
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Detailed sod installation report for Lubbock, TX, $9
Multi-page report for Lubbock, 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 Lubbock: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Lubbock?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $2,950 in the Lubbock 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 Lubbock?
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 Lubbock or Midland?
Midland is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,250, which is 4% more than Lubbock ($2,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lubbock?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $970 out of $2,150. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Lubbock?
$1,350 to $2,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Lubbock?
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 Lubbock area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lubbock expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
Lubbock is 6% 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 Lubbock?
The BLS median is $16.51 an hour in the Lubbock area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.31 to $18.29.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Lubbock?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,000 and premium work $2,300 to $2,950. 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 Lubbock?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September through November. March 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 Lubbock
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.