Sod Installation Cost in New York City [2025 Data]

Sod installation costs in New York City average $2,268, and most residents pay somewhere between $1,302 and $3,502. Your costs will depend mostly on the square feet of yard you’re looking to cover with sod and whether or not you need to prepare the area first. Plots are well below average when it comes to size, but the high cost of labor in NYC means sod installation costs are above the national average.

Sod Installation Cost Factors

The cost of installing sod in New York City, New York, can range anywhere from $500 up to $6,200. There are a few factors you should consider to get the most accurate estimate possible for your project.

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. On average, sod installation costs between $1 and $3 per square foot in the boroughs, including materials and labor. That can increase up to $6 per square foot if you need extensive prep work before installation.

The average property size in New York City is just 0.063 acres, and covering an entire plot in the area would total between $2,750 and $8,250. Most projects in the boroughs don’t involve sodding entire properties, though, so the average cost is much lower. The table below can give you a good idea of where your total will fall based on project size, but use a sod calculator for a more accurate estimate.

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 weigh up to 4,500 pounds for a single pallet, which covers just 400 to 500 square feet. Unless you have a truck capable of hauling heavy loads, you’ll need to pay special delivery fees to get the materials to your property. Expect to pay between $65 and $230 per pallet to have sod delivered. Your costs could be higher if you live in a more densely populated part of one of the boroughs, where traffic and congestion can complicate delivery.

Types of Sod Grass

The type of sod grass you choose will play a smaller role in your costs, but it’s still a factor you should consider. Given the moderate climate regulated by the coastal location of New York City, cool-season grasses are ideal for lawn health. Fescues are the most popular grass species in the boroughs, and this type of sod will cost between $1.35 and $2.65 per square foot.

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

If you’re just hiring a pro to lay sod for you, you’ll pay between $1 and $3 per square foot. If you need to remove your existing lawn first, add $1 to $2 per square foot to that, and budget even more if you need other prep work. 

The boroughs are mostly flat, so you’re unlikely to need expensive services like land leveling, but aeration can help break up the clayey soil to promote healthy root growth, and fertilizer application can also help your sod take root more quickly.

The table below gives you an idea of what your add-on services will cost. Note that most of these cost more than they would in other cities, as the cost of living in New York City is 75% higher than the national average.

Sod Installation Pro Costs

Hiring a landscaping company in New York City will mean paying an average of between $1,100 and $1,200 for labor alone, as labor accounts for 50% of your total, in most cases. This is well above what you’d pay in most other cities due to the high cost of living in NYC.

While hiring a pro is expensive, it’s often worth it. Sod is a very heavy material, so moving it into place is labor-intensive work and opens you up to injury. Additionally, a pro can make recommendations for soil amendments and land prep to give your sod the best chance at taking root and thriving.

New York City doesn’t require permits for sod installation, so you won’t need to budget for permit fees or inspection fees. However, if you’re also planning on installing other features, like in-ground sprinklers, walkways, driveways, or patios, ask your sod installer if you’ll need permits for the other aspects of the job.

Does Sod Installation Increase Home Value?

Yes, installing will increase your home value, as it boosts curb appeal, which is one of the best things you can do to improve your property value. On average, sod installation provides a return on investment (ROI) of between 100% and 150%. Given the average cost to install sod in NYC, you’re looking at a value increase of between $2,300 and $3,400.

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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