Sod Installation Cost in Indianapolis [2025 Data]

Sod installation costs in Indianapolis average $1,787, and most homeowners pay between $902 and $2,715. Your pricing will depend mostly on the square footage you’re looking to cover with sod and the state of your existing lawn, as removing old grass will add between $1 and $2 per square foot. Kentucky bluegrass is the most common sod species in the area, and it costs between $1.35 and $2.40 per square foot.

Sod Installation Cost Factors

Some homeowners in Indianapolis, Indiana, pay as little as $500 for sod installation, while the most expensive installations cost up to $4,400 or more. You’ll need to consider a few different factors to figure out where in that range your total will fall.

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. The average cost per square foot for sod installation in Indianapolis is between $1 and $3, but prices can climb to $4.50 or higher in some cases.

The average property size in Indianapolis is about 0.193 acres, and installing sod on an entire property of that size would average between $8,400 and $25,200. Most homeowners cover just small sections of their property with sod, so the average cost falls closer to $1,787. You can use a sod calculator or the table below to get an idea of where your total will fall.

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 is a heavy material that can be challenging to transport, so it’s important that you consider delivery costs. On average, you’ll spend between $65 and $230 for a single pallet of sod, which will cover between 400 and 500 square feet of yard space. You can save on delivery fees by transporting the materials yourself, but each pallet weighs between 1,500 and 4,500 pounds, so you’ll need a large truck to deliver even a single pallet.

Types of Sod Grass

Sod is available in a variety of species, and the one you choose will affect your per-square-foot costs. The most common species of grass in Indianapolis is Kentucky bluegrass, which costs between $1.35 and $2.40 per square foot when installing sod. This grass will stand up to the hot summers and cold winters in Indianapolis, it stands up to wear well, and it requires minimal maintenance aside from proper irrigation.

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

If you’re not sure which species to go with, ask your sod installer for a recommendation.

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

The state of your existing lawn will have a major impact on your total costs. If you need to weed or remove your old lawn before installing sod, you should add $1 to $2 per square foot to your total. Other services, like fertilizer or herbicide treatments, topsoil installation, and land clearing or leveling, will also add to your total. Many properties in Indianapolis have rich loam soil, which shouldn’t require any amendments, but those with clayey or sandy soil may need topsoil or nutrient additions.

Sod Installation Pro Costs

If you hire a professional landscaping company in Indianapolis to handle your sod installation, you can expect to pay between $1 and $2 per square foot for labor. Labor makes up an average of 50% of your costs, or an average of between $450 and $1,350 total. If you need additional services, like land leveling or land clearing, your labor costs can climb significantly higher. On the high end, you could pay as much as $2,200 for labor.

While labor can get expensive, it’s often worth it to hire a pro for sod installation in Indianapolis. An expert will make quick work of delivery and installation, they can make recommendations for sod species based on your specific property, and ensure the best conditions to help your sod take root and begin to fill in.

The city of Indianapolis doesn’t require permits for sod installation, so you won’t need to factor in permit fee costs. However, if your sod installation is a part of a more complex landscaping project, like installing a pool, patio, or driveway, you will need permits for those add-ons.

Does Sod Installation Increase Home Value?

Installing sod will boost your home’s curb appeal and give buyers a better first impression of your home, which will increase property value. On average, you can expect sod installation to provide a return on investment (ROI) of between 100% and 150%. Given the average cost of sod installation in Indianapolis, you’re looking at a value increase of between $1,800 and $2,700.

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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