Garden project cost
How Much Does a New Lawn Cost?
Establish a new lawn on 1,000 sq ft of bare soil
DIY range
$100-$600 (seed)
Professional range
$1,200-$3,500 (sod, installed)
What drives the cost
- Seed vs sod — sod costs several times more but establishes in weeks not months
- Soil grading and preparation before planting
- Grass species and quality of seed or sod
- Irrigation needed to establish either method
Seed is dramatically cheaper but takes six to twelve weeks to become usable and is vulnerable to weather during that window; sod is nearly instant but the cost difference is substantial.
Put this into practice
- Grass Seed CalculatorHow much grass seed do I need?
- Project Cost EstimatorWhat will this project cost me?
More cost guides
- How Much Do Raised Garden Beds Cost?Cost ranges to build and fill raised garden beds, by material, including the soil mix that's often forgotten in budgets.
- How Much Does Garden Irrigation Cost?Cost ranges for drip irrigation and in-ground sprinkler systems, DIY and professional.
- How Much Does It Cost to Install a Garden Pond?Cost ranges for a preformed liner pond versus an excavated flexible-liner pond with pump and filtration.