Basic
$1.22 – $2.69 per sq ft
Soil graded and tilled, starter fertilizer, regionally common sod with staggered seams, watered in
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
How Much Does Lawn Sod Cost in Chicago, Illinois?
Prepare soil (grade, till, starter fertilizer) and lay new grass sod rolls with initial watering, per sq ft, materials and labor (old lawn removal extra).
Lawn Sod in Chicago, Illinois typically costs $1.43 to $3.17 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.
Lawn Sod in Chicago, Illinois
$1.43 – $3.17
per sq ftPrices in Chicago are 19.0% higher than the national average for lawn sod.
National average: $1.25 – $2.75 per sq ft
What you get at each price level
Standard
$1.43 – $3.17 per sq ft
Soil graded and tilled about 4 in., starter fertilizer, fresh-cut sod with tight staggered seams, rolled, watered in
Premium
$1.79 – $3.96 per sq ft
Soil tilled about 4 in., fine-graded, starter fertilizer, same-day-cut sod, rolled, watered in
Cost Breakdown in Chicago
| Component | Category | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $0.62 – $1.32 | sq ft |
| Labor | labor | $0.55 – $1.26 | sq ft |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $0.18 – $0.34 | sq ft |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $0.09 – $0.25 | sq ft |
Prices adjusted for Chicago local market conditions.
Lawn Sod photo examples
Rolled-up rolls of grass sod stacked on the ground
Photo: Dan4th · CC BY 2.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisPallet of grass sod squares stacked on a sidewalk beside a lawn
Photo: Editor B · CC BY 2.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisCrew laying sod squares onto a prepared soil bed beside an existing lawn
Photo: Distinct Lawns · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisNewly laid sod patch in a small front yard enclosed by a fence
Photo: warrenski · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
Find a pro to do this
Cost Factors in Chicago, Illinois
What Affects Pricing
- Materials ($0.58-$1.23 per square foot)
- Labor ($0.42-$0.97 per square foot)
- Supplies & Other ($0.17-$0.32 per square foot)
- Equipment & Disposal ($0.08-$0.23 per square foot)
Local Price Adjustments
Material costs7.0% above avg
Labor costs30.0% above avg
Labor costs in Chicago run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- How Much Does Sod Cost? 2026 USA Sod, usasod.com, retrieved Nov 2026
- Construction wages by metro and rural area, used for the labor adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Regional price parities for goods, used for the materials adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024
Get Free Estimates in Chicago
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