Sod installation cost in San Antonio, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $3,050
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $1.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #267
- 1 = most expensive
San Antonio homeowners pay roughly $1,350 to $3,050 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, San Antonio is 8% lower. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.13 an hour in the San Antonio area, 9% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in San Antonio, TX, standard level
$1,850 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 | $870 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $1,850 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in San Antonio, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 48% |
| Labor | $670 | $1,000 | $1,350 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
Where the San Antonio 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 $17.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for San Antonio is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Antonio 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 (94.7) and land at $0 to $280.
When to schedule sod lawn in San Antonio
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for San Antonio Intl Ap (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 San Antonio (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
San Antonio gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, September and October (4.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.0 and 1.7 inches. The station averages about 122 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 | 63 | 41 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 68 | 45 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 74 | 52 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 58 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 66 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 3.3 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 75 | 2.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Oct | 82 | 60 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 50 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 65 | 42 | 2.0 | Workable |
San Antonio: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Antonio 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 $2,050
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$1,850 to $2,550
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,350 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) | $1,350 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,650 – $5,250 | $4,850 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,600 |
Is San Antonio cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than San Antonio. Laredo is the lowest at about $2,100 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 125 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, TXthis page | $1,350 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Austin, TX80 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| Laredo, TX125 miles | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,100 | −5% |
| Corpus Christi, TX130 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Killeen, TX130 miles | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | level |
| College Station, TX155 miles | $1,350 – $2,950 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | +4% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, San Antonio comes in at #267 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, San Antonio is 4% 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 | +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% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,050 | −6% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,250 – $2,750 | $2,000 | −9% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like San Antonio's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Antonio against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,750 – $3,850 | $2,800 | +26% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +8% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | +6% |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +8% |
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 San Antonio is 0.90 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.13 an hour, which is 9% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $15.38 and $18.97 an hour. BLS counts 3,760 of them working in the area, 33.4 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 $18.94 an hour, 16% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.61 and $21.87 an hour. About 8,400 work in the metro. That is 74.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($18.97 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($15.38) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 4.0% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,126,880 jobs in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area. That makes it the 28th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.72% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $15.38 | $17.13 | $18.97 | $18.82 | 0.91 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.61 | $18.94 | $21.87 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Planning more than one job in San Antonio?
Because every project leans on different trades, San Antonio's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −9% and gravel driveway −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,000 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,200 – $101,000 | −11% |
Why two San Antonio quotes can differ
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).
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed sod installation report for San Antonio, TX, $9
The report lays out the sod installation numbers for San Antonio, TX line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 San Antonio: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in San Antonio?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $3,050 in the San Antonio area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 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 San Antonio?
About $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in San Antonio or Austin?
Austin is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 4% more than San Antonio ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Antonio?
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 San Antonio?
$1,350 to $3,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in San Antonio?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the San Antonio area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Antonio expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
San Antonio is 4% 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 San Antonio?
The BLS median is $17.13 an hour in the San Antonio area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.38 to $18.97.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in San Antonio?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,050 and premium work $2,350 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 San Antonio?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. January and February 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 San Antonio
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.