Sod installation cost in Ogden, UT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,500 – $3,250
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #113
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Ogden, UT usually costs $1,500 to $3,250 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1 to $1.95 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Ogden, UT, standard level
$2,000 to $2,750
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $940 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $980 | $1,300 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,750 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Ogden, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 46% |
| Labor | $760 | $1,150 | $1,500 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $300 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,350 | $3,250 | 100% |
Where the Ogden 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 $19.08 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Ogden is 1.01 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Ogden is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,100 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.3: $0 to $300.
Sod installation: what moves the price in Ogden
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.
Related projects, priced for Ogden
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Ogden wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−2%) and retaining wall lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,850 | −2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,100 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,300 – $110,500 | −2% |
What local crews earn in Ogden
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 Ogden the blend is 1.01.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $19.08 an hour, in line with the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.47 and $22.13 an hour. About 2,190 work in the metro. That is 80.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.74 and $26.80 an hour. BLS counts 3,140 of them working in the area, 115.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $75. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Ogden has 271,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 95th 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% | $17.47 | $19.08 | $22.13 | $18.82 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.74 | $22.31 | $26.80 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Ogden 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, Ogden Hinkley Ap (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 Ogden are March through June and August through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February, November 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 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Ogden gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (2.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 0.7 and 1.1 inches. The station averages about 49 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 | 36 | 21 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 25 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 2.0 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 47 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 55 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 65 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 63 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 53 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 41 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 31 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 37 | 22 | 1.3 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Ogden
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Ogden. 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
$1,500 to $2,200
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,000 to $2,750
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,550 to $3,250
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $990 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,250 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,950 – $5,650 | $5,200 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,200 |
Is Ogden cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $2,300 to $2,450 across Ogden and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden, UTthis page | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | |
| Logan, UT55 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Salt Lake City, UT70 miles | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +4% |
| Provo, UT90 miles | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID175 miles | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Grand Junction, CO230 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Utah (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Ogden ranks #113 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Ogden is 1% below the Utah figure.
Elsewhere in Utah
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,450 | +4% |
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −1% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ogden against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $1,300 – $2,900 | $2,100 | −11% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,700 | +15% |
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Sod installation in Ogden: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Ogden?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,250 in the Ogden area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $2,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Ogden?
About $1 to $1.95 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Ogden or Logan?
Logan is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 3% less than Ogden ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ogden?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $2,350. Materials are 46% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Ogden?
$1,500 to $3,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Ogden?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $300 for fees in the Ogden area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ogden expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Utah?
Ogden is 1% below the Utah statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Ogden?
The BLS median is $19.08 an hour in the Ogden area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.47 to $22.13.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Ogden?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $2,200 and premium work $2,550 to $3,250. 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 Ogden?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through October. August and September 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 Ogden
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.