Landscaping costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
The two most important cost factors to consider are the size of the area you want to cover with sod and the amount of yard preparation you need beforehand.
Most homeowners in St. Louis pay somewhere between $1 and $3 per square foot of sod they want installed.
Zoysia is one of the most popular sod species in St. Louis. Materials and installation labor cost between $1.40 and $2.85 per square foot.
For the best results, choose a sod species that can withstand hot, humid summers and relatively cold winters.
Sod installation costs in St. Louis average $1,676, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $995 and $2,399. The two most important cost factors to consider are the area you’re looking to cover and whether or not you need your existing lawn removed before installation. Zoysia is the most popular grass species in St. Louis, and it costs between $1.40 and $2.85 per square foot to install.
Installing sod in St. Louis, Missouri, can cost as little as $540, but some homeowners pay as much as $4,500. Make sure you consider all of the following cost factors to get the most accurate estimate possible for your project.
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. On average, you’ll pay between $1 and $3 per square foot to install sod in St. Louis, although prices can climb to between $4.50 and $6, depending on the land prep you need beforehand.
The average property size in St. Louis is 0.098 acres, so covering an entire plot in the city would cost between $4,200 and $12,600. Most projects in the city involve just a portion of the property, though. You can use the table below to get a rough estimate for your project, or use a sod calculator for a more accurate price.
| Size (Sq. Ft.) | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 250 | $250–$750 |
| 500 | $500–$1,500 |
| 1,000 | $1,000–$3,000 |
| 1,500 | $1,500–$4,500 |
| 2,000 | $2,000–$6,000 |
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 is an extremely heavy material, weighing between 1,500 and 4,500 pounds per pallet. Each pallet of sod can cover between 400 and 500 square feet and costs between $65 and $230 to deliver. You can estimate how many pallets you need and then use this base cost to estimate your total delivery costs. You can also avoid delivery costs if you have a truck capable of hauling heavy loads, although loading and unloading the sod is still labor-intensive work.
Sod is available in a variety of species, and the one you choose will play a minor role in your total costs. St. Louis sees hot, humid summers and relatively cold winters, so choosing a grass species that can handle both extremes will leave you with the healthiest lawn possible.
Zoysia is the most popular species in the city, as it’s resilient to both hot and cold temperatures. Zoysia sod costs between $1.40 and $2.85 per square foot for materials and installation labor. You can also ask your sod installer what species would work for your property.
Here’s a breakdown of sod installation costs based on the type of grass:
| Sod Type | Cost (per Sq. Ft.) | Pros | Pros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fescue | $1.35–$2.65 | Won’t turn brown | Course texture |
| Kentucky bluegrass | $1.35–$2.40 | Soft texture | Hard to control |
| Perennial ryegrass | $1.35–$2.65 | Resists wear | High-maintenance |
| Zoysia | $1.40–$2.85 | Thrives in St. Louis | Lots of thatch |
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.
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.
If you have a new construction property with bare soil, you likely won’t need to pay anything extra to prepare your yard for sod installation. Homeowners with an existing lawn may need to pay between $1 and $2 per square foot to remove the old grass before sod installation.
You may also need to consider other prep work, like land leveling, soil amendments, and more. For example, the soil in Baltimore has a high concentration of clay, so budgeting extra for aeration before installing your sod can help loosen the compacted soil to allow for healthy root growth.
| Add-On Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Aeration | $0.03–$0.05/sq. ft. |
| Fertilizer treatment | $60–$304 |
| Herbicide treatment | $0.02–$0.07/sq. ft. |
| Land clearing | $405–$4,400/acre |
| Land leveling | $0.81–$2.43/sq. ft. |
| Old grass removal | $1–$2/sq. ft. |
| Topsoil delivery | $10–$45/cu. yd. |
Hiring a professional sod service in St. Louis will mean paying an average of $850 in labor, which accounts for half of your total. On a per-hour basis, labor costs are a little lower in St. Louis than in most other cities, as the cost of living is about 2% below the national average.
While labor is still expensive, hiring a professional is a good idea. Not only is sod installation extremely labor-intensive, but an expert can recommend soil amendments and other treatments that can help increase the chance of your sod thriving, which is always worth the investment.
The City of St. Louis doesn’t require permits for sod installation, so you don’t need to budget separately for permit costs. However, if sod installation is just one part of your landscaping plans, you may need permits for the rest, such as installing a patio, deck, driveway, walkway, or pool.
Yes, installing sod will boost your home value because it improves your curb appeal, which has a major impact on a buyer’s impression of your home. On average, you can expect a 100% to 150% return on investment (ROI) on sod installation. Given the average cost of sod installation in St. Louis, you’re looking at an average value bump of between $1,700 and $2,500.
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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Excellent job and well done. Customer service was awesome. Will hire again to do more landscaping around the house.
BP LandscapingWe worked with Max and his team on a large scale hardscaping project worth over $50,000. This included a new fence and complicated paver installation. The work itself was done well and we are happy with the results. Unfortunately, the last phase of the project Max ordered 36% overage of our...
Los Valdivias LandscapingAndrew started the job but never completed it. He even left wood that he was going to use on the deck. He completed 80% of the work. He was supposed to come back and complete the rest of it, but he refused to return my class and never returned. I had to hire another contractor to fix the...
Exterior ChiefVery reasonable priced, very knowledgeable, on time, didn’t mess around and offered great ideas and suggestions to my front yard landscaping. I would highly recommend them for any landscaping you need done, big or small. I will definitely be using them again for all my future projects....
Grizzly Services LLCWe lived our experience with True Care Landscaping! They were professional, reasonably priced, and quick to action! We will be using them again for sure.
TrueCare Landscaping, LLCMiguel did the landscaping and clean-up for my front and back yards and he did an excellent job! He arrived on time and provided the shrubs and services we agreed upon and at the price we agreed to. My landscaping looks wonderful and I look forward to working with him again in the future!
Trujillo Gardens, LLCThe Standard Lawn and Landscaping is true to its name. Holden Kiefer and his crew have been excellent, from communications to care for customers to their craft of lawn maintenance. Highly recommend.
The Standard Lawn and LandscapingJohn with New Urban Landscaping did an awesome job revamping outdated landscaping in a time-efficient, cost effective and reliable manner. He is friendly, responsive, and takes pride in his work! When the project was done he even drafted a care plan for the various new plants so that I know...
NEW URBAN LANDSCAPINGGary was great to talk to and I was glad I got to meet him in person when he came to do the job and give me a bid on another job and recommendations for bushes that would work for what I'm looking for. He did a great job on trimming and shaping the huge bush in front of my livingroom windows...
Accurate Tree & Landscaping ServicesThis business is a small group of people who do their best to make you happy. The work was exactly what I asked for. They removed weeds, leafs and debris from an appx 900 square ft landscaped yard between my house and garage. They replaced it with a couple of different colors of mulch,...
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