In 2025, sod installation costs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area will typically range from $2 to $5 per square foot from a professional sod installation company. That price includes everything—materials, labor, prep work, and minor needed sprinkler work.
For a larger yard, say 10,000 square feet (which would require over 20 pallets of sod), you could be looking at a cost of around $22,000. On the other hand, a smaller yard of 1,500 square feet might cost closer to $4,000.
But How Much Will YOUR Sod Installation Project Cost?
Installing sod is one of the best ways to instantly upgrade your yard, giving it that lush, green look you’ve always wanted. But before you start envisioning backyard barbecues on your new lawn, let’s talk about the cost. How much will you need to invest in that fresh new yard?
Installing sod is one of the best ways to instantly upgrade your yard, giving it that lush, green look you’ve always wanted. But before you start envisioning backyard barbecues on your new lawn, let’s talk about the cost. How much will you need to invest in that fresh new yard?
If you want a quick estimate and already know the size of your yard, feel free to click here to price out your sod project with a sod pricing calculator.
If you’re unsure or curious about what exactly goes into those numbers, let’s dive into the main factors that will determine how much it costs to install sod on your property in the DFW area.
The key factors that affect sod installation costs are:
- Size of your yard
- Preparation, soil, and grading work
- Type of sod (St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, etc.)
- Irrigation work or repairs
- Who you hire (DIY vs Professional)
- Post-installation maintenance (watering, mowing, treatments)
Let’s break each one down, so you can get a clearer picture of what to expect for your own yard.
1. Size of Your Yard
This one’s pretty straightforward: the bigger the yard, the more sod you’ll need, and the higher the total cost. However, there’s a bit of a silver lining—many companies offer “bulk pricing,” so larger yards often have a lower per-square-foot price. A 10,000-square-foot project might be closer to $2 per foot or lower, while a smaller 450-square-foot patch could run up to $7 per foot.
Here’s the thing, though: Most sod installations don’t cover the entire property. Typically, you’ll be installing sod in either the front yard, backyard, or another specific section of the property. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the average sod installation project tends to cover about 2,800 square feet.
Let’s take this front yard in Irving, Texas, as an example. The yard is a total of 2,800 square feet (pretty big for a front yard). For a project of this size, depending on the type of sod you choose and other factors like preparation work, your cost could range anywhere from $6,500 to $9,500. That breaks down to around $2.30 to $3.40 per square foot.
Side note:
The price per square foot mentioned here and throughout this article is just a general reference. Every sod installation project is unique and should be priced individually based on the specific conditions and factors involved.
Another side note:
If you want to sound like a sod expert, here’s a little tip: we don’t talk in square feet.
We sod people like to use square yards.
450 square feet = 50 square yards = 1 pallet
For the rest of the article I will still be talking in square feet, and talking about per foot pricing, but just know both of these things irk me to the core…
I’m doing it for you, the reader!
2. Preparation, Soil, and Grading
Before any sod can be installed, your yard needs to be prepped properly. This includes removing old grass, rototilling, leveling the land, and adding topsoil and soil amendments for the new sod to take root. Skimping on this step can lead to long-term issues like poor drainage or patchy sod growth, so it’s crucial to do it right
Keep in mind that it isn’t typical to just prep a lawn. Most professional sod installation companies will prep and install the sod. However, the cost for yard preparation for the average yard like the one above might be around $1,800 to $3,000.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to prep and install sod – the On Point way.
This guide will give you a good idea on what’s involved in the preparation process.
3. Type of Sod
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the type of sod you choose plays a big role in the final price. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular sod types in order from most economic to more expensive, and their characteristics:
Bermuda Grass
One of the most common options in DFW, Bermuda thrives in full sunlight and is relatively affordable. It’s great for wide-open spaces with a lot of sun.
Expect to pay around $250 to $380 per pallet (450 sq ft), or $0.50 to $0.85 per square foot.
St. Augustine
This is your go-to if your yard gets a lot of shade. It’s a bit more expensive but worth it if you need a grass that can handle low-light conditions.
St. Augustine can run around $300 to $450 per pallet (450 sq ft), or $0.67 to $1.00 per square foot.
Zoysia
The luxury option, Zoysia is dense, soft, and can handle both sun and partial shade. It’s also a little pricier,
Usually around $400 to $550 per pallet (450 sq ft), or $0.9 to $1.25 per square foot. But it’s great for homeowners who want that plush, carpet-like lawn with low watering and mowing needs.
There’s also different types (cultivars) of each species of grass and they can vary in price. Example: St. Augustine Raleigh vs St. Augustine Palmetto.
Delivery Cost
Don’t forget: most distributors charge around $170 to $300 for delivering your sod.
Choosing the right sod depends on your yard’s specific conditions, so it’s worth spending a bit more upfront to make sure your grass will last.
4. Irrigation Work
If you plan on hand watering your grass then this section might not be relevant to your situation.
However, if you DO have a sprinkler system then it is imperative that it is functioning correctly before and after new sod is installed. Picture this: you’ve paid the final balance of the sod project, your installer is gone, you go to turn on the sprinklers and…….
Crickets…
You MUST soak your newly laid sod every day for the first 10 to 14 days and if your sprinklers aren’t working then it can be a huge problem – especially during the hotter months.
Average sprinkler repairs cost anywhere from $200 to $800 in DFW, with major repairs reaching $2000 or more.
It’s a good idea to run through all your sprinkler zones before your sod installer comes out, just to make sure everything turns on and there aren’t any leaks.
If you have minor adjustments, and sprinkler heads that need to be raised, the sod installer should be able to do that free of charge (assuming they’re competent with sprinklers).
Make sure your sod installer is proficient with sprinklers and understands watering schedules. It’s a major bonus if your sod installer is also a licensed irrigator or licensed irrigation technician. That’s a major green flag – sod and sprinklers go hand in hand.
If you don’t have a sprinkler system and have a large area to water, I would highly recommend getting one.
New sprinkler systems can run typically anywhere from $5000 to $12000 or more. A new sprinkler system for the above front yard example would be about $4000 to $6000.
5. DIY vs. Professional Installation
You might be wondering if you could save a few bucks by installing sod yourself. Here’s the truth: you can, but it’s a lot of work. I’m talking back-breaking labor, from hauling the pallets of sod to ensuring each piece is laid properly.
A DIY installation will likely cost you less upfront, but unless you have experience, there’s a higher chance you’ll run into issues with uneven sod, poor root establishment, or a patchy lawn.
Hiring a professional sod installation company ensures that the job is done right the first time. A pro crew has the tools, experience, and manpower to get the job done quickly and efficiently. They’ll also guarantee their work, which means less stress for you in the long run.
However, if you are determined to install the sod yourself, I recommend reviewing this guide on how to install sod:
6. Maintenance After Installation
After your new sod is installed, you’ll need to give it some TLC to make sure it roots properly and stays healthy. For the first 10 to 14 days, you’ll need to water your sod twice a day, which is why an efficient irrigation system is so important.
You’ll also want to keep up with mowing, fertilizing, and occasional treatments to keep your lawn in top shape. The first month of maintenance is mainly watering. You won’t have to mow the yard until about a month after installation.
Depending on how much new sod you installed, your water bill could be an extra $100 to $400 or more for the month.
And if you plan on getting a lawn mowing company to mow your lawn, that could be an additional $50 to $100 per 2 weeks once you start mowing again.
Final Example
Let’s use our front yard example again of 2800 square feet (just over 6 pallets).
Here’s what the yard looked like before the sod installation:
And here it is 4 months after the sod installation:
The preparation involved removing a good amount of vegetation (the yard was filled with weeds). There was some irrigation work done beforehand, we added a thin layer of topsoil (about 4 cubic yards), and added some grub worm killer.
The sod we used was zoysia palisades,
and the distributor we ordered from allowed exact orders (some will only allow you to buy sod in full pallet (450 square feet / 50 square yard) increments)
In 2025 this exact project would run about $9100.
If we used St. Augustine Raleigh and didn’t use any topsoil, the total would be about $7300.
If we did a bermuda tifway 419 (which I wouldn’t recommend with the shade here), and there was little to no vegetation or needed preparation, the total would be about $6500
And add another $450 for the sprinkler repairs that were done before the sod installation.
Hopefully this illustrates how prices can vary, and hopefully it gives you a decent idea on the price of your sod project.
Conclusion
Sod installation in Dallas-Fort Worth is a great investment, but the costs can vary depending on the size of your yard, the type of sod, the amount of preparation and irrigation work needed, and who you hire. Whether you’re tackling a small front yard or the entire yard of a large property, knowing the factors involved will help you budget accordingly.
If you’re ready to transform your lawn, reach out for a personalized quote. We’re here to help you get the green, beautiful lawn you deserve—without the headaches!
