Sod installation cost in Midland, TX
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 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #233
- 1 = most expensive
Midland homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $3,100 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Midland is 6% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $18.05 an hour in the Midland area, 4% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Midland, TX, standard level
$1,900 to $2,600
About $1.20 to $1.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $910 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,600 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Midland, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Labor | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $290 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,250 | $3,100 | 100% |
Why Midland prices look the way they do
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 $18.05 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Midland is 0.93 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Midland 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 (95.8) and land at $0 to $290.
Is Midland cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Midland. El Paso is the lowest at about $2,050 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 210 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TXthis page | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | |
| Odessa, TX35 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −2% |
| Lubbock, TX95 miles | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Abilene, TX135 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −3% |
| El Paso, TX210 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −8% |
| Amarillo, TX220 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Midland comes in at #233 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, Midland is 2% 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 | +6% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
| 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 | −8% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −10% |
Cities with a workforce like Midland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Midland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +13% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +19% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −4% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +2% |
When to schedule sod lawn in Midland
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Midland Odessa (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Midland (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Midland gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (1.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 115 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 | 59 | 33 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 37 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 44 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 81 | 52 | 0.7 | Workable |
| May | 89 | 62 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 95 | 70 | 1.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 72 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 34 | 0.6 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Midland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Midland 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
$1,400 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 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,550 | $6,150 – $7,800 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Midland bid
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).
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Midland is 0.93 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.05 an hour, which is 4% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.80 and $20.39 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 31.9 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 $18.99 an hour, 16% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.56 and $22.28 an hour. About 1,970 work in the metro. That is 161.2 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 ($20.39 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($16.80) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 5.0% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 122,180 jobs in the Midland area. That makes it the 177th 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% | $16.80 | $18.05 | $20.39 | $18.82 | 0.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.56 | $18.99 | $22.28 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Midland?
Because every project leans on different trades, Midland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −8% and French drain −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,900 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,400 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $103,500 | −8% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,900 to $2,600 for Midland, TX is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Midland, 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 Midland: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Midland?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,100 in the Midland 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 Midland?
About $0.95 to $1.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Midland or Odessa?
Odessa is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,200, which is 2% less than Midland ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Midland?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,250. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Midland?
$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 Midland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $290 for fees in the Midland area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Midland expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
Midland is 2% 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 Midland?
The BLS median is $18.05 an hour in the Midland area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.80 to $20.39.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Midland?
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 Midland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and December 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 Midland
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.