Sod installation cost in Washington
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,700 – $3,700
- Per sq ft
- $1.10 – $2.25
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $2,400
- Metros covered
- 7
Across Washington, a new sod lawn costs about $1,700 to $3,700 for 1,500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 12% above the US figure of $2,400. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median $22.57 an hour in Washington (US: $18.82).
Inside Washington, the metros we cover range from $2,550 (Yakima) to $2,750 (Seattle) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Washington (statewide), standard level
$2,300 to $3,100
About $1.45 to $1.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,000 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $220 |
| Total | $2,300 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Washington
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $780 | $1,150 | $1,550 | 44% |
| Labor | $900 | $1,350 | $1,800 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $320 | 6% |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,700 | $3,700 | 100% |
What landscaping and groundskeeping workers and the other trades earn in Washington
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.20 for Washington.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $22.57 an hour, which is 20% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $20.68 and $27.12 an hour. BLS counts 22,550 of them working in the state, 63.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $27.75 an hour, 22% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $34.69 an hour. About 25,060 work in the state. That is 70.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for landscaping and groundskeeping workers ($27.12 an hour) would add about $220 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.68) would take off about $90. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,550,970 jobs across Washington (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $20.68 | $22.57 | $27.12 | $18.82 | 1.20 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.56 | $27.75 | $34.69 | $22.66 | 1.22 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
Sod installation cost by metro in Washington
2 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,750 | +2% |
| Bremerton, WA | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +1% |
| Bellingham, WA | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | −2% |
| Kennewick, WA | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | −3% |
| Spokane, WA | $1,650 – $3,550 | $2,600 | −3% |
| Yakima, WA | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,550 | −6% |
Quality levels and sizes in Washington
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Washington wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,700 to $2,500
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,300 to $3,100
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,900 to $3,700
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 | $2,000 – $2,550 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,700 – $2,500 | $2,300 – $3,100 | $2,900 – $3,700 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,500 – $6,400 | $5,950 – $7,850 | $7,400 – $9,300 |
If you are planning more than one job in Washington
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Washington wages and prices. Against national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+21%) and sprinkler system lowest (+16%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $720 – $2,550 | +21% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,650 – $11,600 | +16% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,500 – $15,400 | +17% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,950 – $11,900 | +17% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,400 – $132,500 | +17% |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Washington
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.
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
Washington against its neighbors
Washington ranks 6 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for sod lawn, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $2,850 and the cheapest Mississippi at $2,100, both for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint. Washington sits at $2,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 170 miles away | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | −3% |
| Idaho | 380 miles away | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −10% |
| Montana | 500 miles away | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | −7% |
| Utah | 650 miles away | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −11% |
| Nevada | 780 miles away | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −12% |
Weather windows across Washington
Season matters for sod lawn. For each Washington metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Seattle has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Washington at 12 months; Yakima has the shortest at 6 (April through June and August through October). Rainfall runs from 8 inches a year in Kennewick to 57 inches in Bremerton.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 37 | 77 | 38 | 12: all year |
| Spokane | 26 | 87 | 17 | 7: April through October |
| Olympia | 33 | 78 | 51 | 11: March through January |
| Kennewick | 28 | 93 | 8 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Yakima | 24 | 90 | 8 | 6: April through June and August through October |
| Bremerton | 36 | 77 | 57 | 12: all year |
| Bellingham | 34 | 73 | 35 | 12: all year |
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Detailed sod installation report for Washington, $9
The report lays out the sod installation numbers for Washington 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 Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Washington?
$1,700 to $3,700 for 1,500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Washington can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Washington is cheapest for sod lawn?
Yakima at about $2,550 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). The priciest is Seattle at $2,750.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Washington than the US average?
It is 12% more expensive: $2,700 against $2,400 for 1,500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Washington?
About 50% ($1,350). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.20x the national wage level.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Washington?
The BLS statewide median is $22.57 an hour, against $18.82 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.68 to $27.12.
+Where does Washington rank for sod lawn costs?
6th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,700 for 1,500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Washington?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,700 to $2,500 and premium work $2,900 to $3,700. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+Does the season matter for sod lawn in Washington?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Washington metros we cover, Seattle has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Sod installation by city in Washington
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.