Sod installation cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,550 – $3,400
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $2.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #72
- 1 = most expensive
Madison homeowners pay roughly $1,550 to $3,400 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $1.05 to $2.10 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Madison is 4% higher. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $21.36 an hour in the Madison area, 13% above the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Madison, WI, standard level
$2,100 to $2,850
About $1.35 to $1.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,200 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $200 |
| Total | $2,100 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,050 | $1,400 | 42% |
| Labor | $860 | $1,300 | $1,700 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $290 | 6% |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,500 | $3,400 | 100% |
Where the Madison 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, Madison wages are 1.15 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Madison metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,050, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.3) and land at $0 to $290.
Cost by quality level and size in Madison
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Madison wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,550 to $2,300
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,100 to $2,850
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,700 to $3,400
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) | $1,550 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,850 | $2,700 – $3,400 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $4,200 – $5,950 | $5,500 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,650 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Madison is 1.15 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $21.36 an hour, which is 13% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.36 and $23.11 an hour. BLS counts 2,330 of them working in the area, 57.1 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 $27.40 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.70 and $31.94 an hour. About 2,370 work in the metro. That is 58.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.11 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($18.36) it shrinks by about $140. The total moves by 3.4% or 5.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 408,070 jobs in the Madison area. That makes it the 61st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $18.36 | $21.36 | $23.11 | $18.82 | 1.13 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.70 | $27.40 | $31.94 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Sod installation: what moves the price in Madison
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.
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).
When to schedule sod lawn in Madison
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Madison Dane Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Madison (7 of 12 months). 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 147 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 9 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
How Madison compares
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Madison is the priciest of the group. Oshkosh is the cheapest at $2,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −5% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −3% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | −4% |
Across 300 US metros, Madison comes in at #72 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $2,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $2,000 (midpoints, 1,500 sq ft). Statewide, Madison is 3% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $3,450 | $2,500 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −6% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | −6% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,350 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Madison's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,200 | −11% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −8% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $1,400 – $3,100 | $2,250 | −9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,600 | +4% |
Related projects, priced for Madison
Because every project leans on different trades, Madison's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +17% and retaining wall +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,500 – $11,200 | +12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,150 – $14,500 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,400 | +12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,700 – $127,000 | +13% |
Get 3 local quotes
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 $2,100 to $2,850 for Madison, WI is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Madison, WI: 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 Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Madison?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,550 to $3,400 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,100 to $2,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Madison?
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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 7% less than Madison ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,500. Materials are 42% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Madison?
$1,550 to $3,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 3% above 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 Madison?
The BLS median is $21.36 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.36 to $23.11.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Madison?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $2,300 and premium work $2,700 to $3,400. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September 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 Madison
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.