Sod installation cost in Tyler, 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
- #262
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Tyler, TX usually costs $1,400 to $3,050 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $0.90 to $1.85 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $190 less. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.48 an hour in the Tyler area, 7% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Tyler, 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 | $85 | $190 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Tyler, 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 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,050 | 100% |
Where the Tyler price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Tyler wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tyler 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 92.2: $0 to $280.
Planning more than one job in Tyler?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tyler wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−10%) and sprinkler system lowest (−14%); 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 | $3,450 – $8,600 | −14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,100 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,800 | −14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,500 – $98,400 | −13% |
Tyler 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, Tyler (in the city). 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 Tyler are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tyler gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, October and December (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 96 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 | 58 | 39 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 42 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 55 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 71 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 74 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 73 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 47 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
Tyler: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tyler. 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
$2,350 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) | $1,400 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,050 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,250 | $4,850 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,650 |
Why two Tyler 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 Tyler
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 Tyler the blend is 0.90.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $17.48 an hour, 7% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.38 and $18.54 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 55.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.13 an hour, which is 20% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.50 and $21.54 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 56.4 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 $50 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 6.7% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tyler has 115,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 189th 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% | $14.38 | $17.48 | $18.54 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.50 | $18.13 | $21.54 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Tyler against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1,500 sq ft range from $2,050 to $2,400 across Tyler and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler, TXthis page | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | |
| Longview, TX35 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Shreveport, LA90 miles | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −2% |
| Texarkana, TX100 miles | $1,250 – $2,800 | $2,050 | −8% |
| Dallas, TX105 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +8% |
| Waco, TX130 miles | $1,400 – $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, Tyler ranks #262 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tyler 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 Tyler against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,300 | +3% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | +5% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,200 | −1% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $1,300 – $2,850 | $2,100 | −6% |
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Sod installation in Tyler: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Tyler?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,400 to $3,050 in the Tyler 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 Tyler?
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 Tyler or Longview?
Longview is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,150, which is 2% less than Tyler ($2,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tyler?
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 Tyler?
$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 Tyler?
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 Tyler area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tyler expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Texas?
Tyler 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 Tyler?
The BLS median is $17.48 an hour in the Tyler area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.38 to $18.54.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Tyler?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,400 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 Tyler?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September 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 Tyler
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.