Sod Installation Cost in Los Angeles [2025 Data]

Sod installation costs in Los Angeles average $2,436, and most projects total between $1,438 and $3,460. Your costs will depend mostly on the size of the area you’re covering with sod and the preparation your yard needs before the installation. The high cost of living in Los Angeles contributes to an above-average sod installation cost, despite projects tending to be a bit smaller than average.

Sod Installation Cost Factors 

Installing sod in Los Angeles, California, can cost as little as $780, but some projects can climb as high as $6,000. You’ll need to consider several factors to ensure you get an accurate estimate for your total.

Size

Since sod prices are based on your lawn’s square footage, your yard size plays a hefty role in the cost of the project. For small patches, you might be able to spend less than $1,000 in total sod installation costs. However, if you’re looking to sod a quarter of an acre or more, that price is substantially higher. Sod installation costs between $1 and $3 per square foot in Los Angeles, so you can use this base cost and a sod calculator to get a good estimate of your total.

The average property size in LA is 0.145 acres, which puts the typical cost to cover an entire plot with sod between $6,300 and $18,900. Most projects are much smaller, though, with homeowners sodding between 500 and 1,000 square feet.

When buying by the yard, divide your square-foot measurements by nine to determine how much you need. For example, if your yard is 350 square feet, divide 350 by 9 for a total of 38.9 yards, and round that up to 39 yards of sod. Because most material is nonrefundable, be as accurate as possible while measuring and doing the math.

Sod Delivery

Sod delivery costs between $130 and $460 total for the average project in Los Angeles. Delivery costs for a single pallet of sod will run you between $65 and $230, and each pallet covers 400 to 500 square feet. You can save on delivery costs if you can transport the materials yourself, but each pallet of sod weighs between 1,500 and 4,500 pounds, so you’ll need a heavy-duty truck to get the job done.

Types of Sod Grass

The type of sod will also play a role in your total costs, although it affects total prices less than square footage. In Los Angeles, you want a warm-season grass that can persist in moderate to high heat and withstand drought, as rainfall in the City of Angels is below average.

Bermudagrass is one of the most common types of sod in LA, and California buffalograss, St. Augustine, and Zoysia are also common. You can ask your sod installer if there’s another species that would work for you if you have something specific in mind.

Here’s a breakdown of sod installation costs based on the type of grass:

New Lawn vs. Existing Lawn

The starting point you’re working with will factor into your overall price for this project. If you're just installing sod on a new lawn, the cost will be cheaper than removing an existing lawn and resodding it, as this process involves additional materials and labor. You may be able to sod over an existing lawn—check with your sod installation pro to see if that’s an option.

Soil Testing

The cost to test your soil is around $60 on average, but costs can range anywhere from $20 to $100. A professional soil test can help determine how to amend it and help your new grass grow thick and healthy. This test will also help you decide what type of grass grows best in your lawn’s soil conditions.

Prep and Removal

Materials and labor for sod installation in Los Angeles cost $1 to $3 per square foot, but your prices could go up to between $4.50 and $6 per square foot if you need extensive preparation. For example, many homeowners will need to remove their old lawn before laying sod, which can add $1 to $2 per square foot to the cost.

The soil in LA has a relatively high clay concentration, which can cause soil compaction that hinders sod rooting. You may need to pay for aeration before you start laying sod for the best results. Here are some additional preparation costs you may need to consider.

Sod Installation Pro Costs

Labor accounts for 50% of your total, which means you’ll pay between $1,200 and $1,300 for labor alone when you hire a landscaping company in Los Angeles to get the job done. Labor costs are more than 40% higher than you’d pay in most other cities due to the high cost of living in the area.

However, it’s still worth hiring a pro, as moving heavy sod is hard and potentially dangerous work, and a pro can make expert recommendations for soil preparation to give your sod the best chance of survival.

The City of Los Angeles doesn’t require permits for sod installation, but you may need to consider budgeting for permit costs if you’re installing sod alongside other landscaping projects, like putting in a patio or driveway, or installing in-ground sprinklers to water your new sod.

Does Sod Installation Increase Home Value?

Yes, installing sod will increase your home value. A new lawn can dramatically improve curb appeal, which has one of the most significant effects on what buyers are willing to pay for a property. Sod installation provides a typical return on investment (ROI) of between 100% and 150%. Given the cost of sod installation in LA, you’re looking at adding between $2,400 and $3,600 to your home value.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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