Sod installation cost in Eau Claire, WI
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
- −2%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #119
- 1 = most expensive
A new sod lawn in Eau Claire, WI 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 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Eau Claire, WI, standard level
$2,000 to $2,700
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,300 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $190 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Eau Claire, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $780 | $1,150 | $1,550 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,350 | $3,250 | 100% |
Why Eau Claire prices look the way they do
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 $18.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Eau Claire is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Eau Claire 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 92.8: $0 to $280.
Pick a size, pick a tier: sod installation pricing in Eau Claire
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Eau Claire. 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 $2,700
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 – $1,850 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,700 | $2,550 – $3,250 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,950 – $5,650 | $5,200 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,150 |
Eau Claire 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, Eau Claire Rgnl 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 Eau Claire are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
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 163 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Eau Claire gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 55 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.1 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 23 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 9 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 21 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 45 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 58 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 49 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 37 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 13 | 1.4 | Cold |
How Eau Claire compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Eau Claire. Wausau is the lowest at about $2,300 (midpoint, 1,500 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIthis page | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | |
| Wausau, WI75 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,300 | −2% |
| Rochester, MN85 miles | $1,600 – $3,500 | $2,550 | +8% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Minneapolis, MN100 miles | $1,700 – $3,700 | $2,700 | +14% |
| Oshkosh, WI140 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Eau Claire ranks #119 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Eau Claire is 3% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | level |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eau Claire against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −4% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −1% |
What local crews earn in Eau Claire
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 Eau Claire the blend is 1.03.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 80% of the weighting: a median of $18.50 an hour, in line with the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.26 and $21.54 an hour. About 490 work in the metro. That is 56.9 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 $28.00 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $36.35 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 74.4 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 $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Eau Claire has 86,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 226th 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% | $16.26 | $18.50 | $21.54 | $18.82 | 0.98 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.33 | $28.00 | $36.35 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Eau Claire?
Jobs that often go together with sod lawn are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Eau Claire wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+15%) and gravel driveway lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $690 – $2,400 | +15% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,050 – $14,400 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,100 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,400 – $126,000 | +12% |
Why two Eau Claire 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.
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Sod installation in Eau Claire: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Eau Claire?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,250 in the Eau Claire area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $2,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Eau Claire?
About $1 to $1.95 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 Eau Claire or Wausau?
Wausau is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,300, which is 2% less than Eau Claire ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eau Claire?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $2,350. Materials are 45% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Eau Claire?
$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 Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eau Claire expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Eau Claire is 3% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Eau Claire?
The BLS median is $18.50 an hour in the Eau Claire area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.26 to $21.54.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Eau Claire
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.