Sod installation cost in Yakima, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,600 – $3,450
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #62
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Yakima, WA usually costs $1,600 to $3,450 for 1,500 sq ft. That works out to about $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $130 more. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $20.36 an hour in the Yakima area, 8% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Yakima, WA, standard level
$2,150 to $2,900
About $1.40 to $1.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,000 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,350 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,150 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Yakima, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $790 | $1,200 | $1,600 | 47% |
| Labor | $800 | $1,200 | $1,600 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $290 | 6% |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,550 | $3,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Yakima number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Yakima wages are 1.07 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Yakima is at 105.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,150 nationally becomes $1,200 here (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.5: $0 to $290.
What local crews earn in Yakima
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 Yakima the blend is 1.07.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $20.36 an hour, 8% above the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.99 and $22.77 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 54.6 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 $23.47 an hour, which is 4% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.25 and $29.70 an hour. BLS counts 590 of them working in the area, 60.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (landscaping and groundskeeping workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 4.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Yakima has 97,010 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 208th 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% | $17.99 | $20.36 | $22.77 | $18.82 | 1.08 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.25 | $23.47 | $29.70 | $22.66 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Yakima 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, Yakima Air Terminal (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 Yakima are April through June and August through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, 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, March, 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 147 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Yakima gets about 8 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 20 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (1.4 inches in December). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.2 inches. The station averages about 40 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 | 40 | 24 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 26 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 57 | 30 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 35 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 44 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 50 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 55 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 45 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 35 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 27 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 1.4 | Cold |
Sod installation: what moves the price in Yakima
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.
Planning more than one job in Yakima?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Yakima wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+14%) and sprinkler system lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $680 – $2,400 | +14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,150 – $10,400 | +4% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,100 – $15,000 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $11,000 | +8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,600 – $123,500 | +10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Yakima
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Yakima. 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
$1,600 to $2,350
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,150 to $2,900
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,700 to $3,450
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,400 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,600 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,900 | $2,700 – $3,450 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,250 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,400 | $6,950 – $8,800 |
Yakima against nearby metros and the rest of Washington
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 $2,550 to $2,750 across Yakima and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WAthis page | $1,600 – $3,450 | $2,550 | |
| Kennewick, WA70 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Seattle, WA90 miles | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,750 | +8% |
| Portland, OR100 miles | $1,650 – $3,650 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Olympia, WA105 miles | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +4% |
| Bremerton, WA120 miles | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +7% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +6% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Yakima ranks #62 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Yakima is 6% below the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $1,700 – $3,750 | $2,750 | +8% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,650 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +3% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +4% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +7% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,650 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Yakima against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton, NY | 97,030 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | −6% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −12% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −12% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $1,350 – $3,000 | $2,150 | −14% |
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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 $2,150 to $2,900 for Yakima, WA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Yakima, WA: 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 Yakima: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Yakima?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,600 to $3,450 in the Yakima area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,150 to $2,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Yakima?
About $1.05 to $2.10 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 Yakima or Kennewick?
Kennewick is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,650, which is 4% more than Yakima ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Yakima?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,550. Materials are 47% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Yakima?
$1,600 to $3,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Yakima?
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 Yakima area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Yakima expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Washington?
Yakima is 6% below the Washington statewide estimate ($2,700 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Yakima?
The BLS median is $20.36 an hour in the Yakima area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.99 to $22.77.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Yakima?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $2,350 and premium work $2,700 to $3,450. 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 Yakima?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April 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 Yakima
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.