When planning to revamp your home garden or yard, the first step is typically to remove the current sod. Whether you choose to tackle the task yourself or hire a skilled contractor, there will be a cost involved in ensuring the job is done correctly.
The average cost to remove sod from your yard ranges between $0.40 to $3 per sq. ft with most people spending around $1.45 per sq. ft. This estimates to be around $725 for a 500 sq. ft lawn.
Let’s break down the prices.
| Quantity | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material and equipment | Per sq. ft | $0.30 | $0.55 |
| Labor costs | Per sq. ft | $0.85 | $2.50 |
| Average cost | Per sq. ft | $1.15 | $3.05 |
| Total costs | Per 500 sq. ft | $575 | $1,525 |
Average to remove sod on 500 sq ft lawn = $1,050
How much you can expect to pay to remove sod on your lawn mainly depends on the size of the yard, its terrain, and slope, plus the type of labor you choose.
The national average cost of equipment and materials to remove sod ranges between $0.35 – $0.55 per sq. ft. Labor costs alone will cost between $1 – $2.50 per sq. ft or between $30 and $50 per hour depending on the contractor.
Sod removal cost per square foot
The total cost to remove sod pallets per square foot stands at $2.10 including labor, materials, and equipment. The real range, however, is between $0.40 (without labor) to $3.05 per sq. ft.
For very small yards, the sod removal costs may be as low as $0.08 – $0.25 per sq. ft since they won’t need heavy labor or any specialized equipment.
Labor cost for sod removal
With labor, the average cost to hire a professional lawn services company ranges between $1 – $3 per sq. ft or, $30 – $50 per hour if they charge by the hour.
However, the labor costs might be much higher since most contractors opt for jobs with extra services besides sod removal. This could include transportation and disposal of the sod at your local dump.
You might also pay more if you hire a contractor for a small sod removal job, as they may have a standard minimum fee for such tasks.
Cost to remove sod by method
There are several different ways you or your contractor can use to remove sod from your lawn. Your choice of method will be determined by the size of the lawn, your budget, the urgency of the job, and what you intend to do with the land after the removal.
Some of the most cost-effective methods include:
Physical Removal (Sod busting)
Physical removal of grass or sod busting is the easiest and quickest way to get rid of your sod. It involves removing the sod by hand or through tilling, but most homeowners today cut the turf into strips or pieces using a sod cutter, then roll them up.
These strips can be disposed of or turned over to allow decomposition.
On small yards, you can do this yourself at no cost, but for a larger yard, a landscaper will charge you anywhere from $0.10 – $0.30 per sq. ft.
Pros of sod busting
- Simple making it cheap
- Produces results quickly if in good condition
- Allows immediate planting
- Requires minimal planning
- Doesn’t use chemicals or other loud power equipment
Cons of sod busting
- It’s labor-intensive
- Doesn’t guarantee zero regrowth of the grass
- Results in loss of organic matter on the moved soil
- Exposes the subsoil to weed seeds
Solarization
If the sod or grass on your lawn experiences heavy weed issues, this is the killing method to use. Solarization involves focusing the sun’s heat on your sod through a clear plastic film to burn the grass.
It’s more common in high-temperature sunny areas and is best done during the late spring and early summer months.
This is one of the slowest sod removal processes as the sod can remain covered for around 6 – 12 weeks before they’re killed by the sun.
And in the case of stubborn grasses and weeds, it could take up to 6 months depending on the sun intensity in the area.
The average cost to solarize your sod ranges between $0.80 – $1 per sq. ft.
Pros of solarization
- Requires minimal labor
- Effective and kills all the grass and weeds
- Environmentally friendly option
- Very cost-effective
- Reduced herbicide use
Cons of solarization
- Takes time, up to 6 months to see results
- Must be done in hot weather areas
- Can become an eyesore for the homeowners
Applying Herbicides
While this isn’t always the most recommended option, it’s often an effective way of removing sod. All you’ll need is to find the right type of herbicide (designed to kill grass not just weeds) and wear your protective gear during the application.
Warning: Using herbicides may leave residues in your soil that may kill the roots of your future grass. To avoid this, always use a glyphosate-based herbicide. Moreover, never apply the herbicides when it’s windy or rainy, the chemicals may be washed down to waterways nearby.
The average cost of using this method stands between $30 – $90 depending on the type of herbicide and the size of your yard.
Pros of applying herbicides
- One of the fastest process
- Kills all the grass and weeds
- Relatively simple for small gardens
Cons of applying herbicides
- Risks harming nearby plants
- Easily contaminates the environment
- Could be expensive for large lawns
Smothering
Smothering your lawn is another easy way to remove your sod. The method involves denying the grass air by covering it with plastic, cardboard, or even newspapers until it dies.
Other materials can also be used but if they aren’t biodegradable, they’ll have to be removed. Smothering may take up to 6 months to completely kill the grass, but some materials may take shorter.
It’s most effective during late summer and early fall allowing the grass to dry through winter. The best thing about it is the dead grass will decay and become a source of nutrients when reseeding and resodding.
The average cost to smother your lawn may be as low as $5 – $15 depending on the material you use. If you choose to recycle, the costs will be even lower.
Pros of smothering
- Requires minimal physical effort
- Doesn’t affect the soil structure
- Decayed grass adds more nutrients to the soil
- Kills all the grass
- Budget-friendly
Cons of smothering
- Unattractive and can be an eyesore
- Takes a long time, up to 6 months
- Using plastic may kill some important soil organisms
Sheet composting (Lasagna Gardening)
This method, known for its characteristic Lasagna Garden, refers to the process of creating new soil layers atop the grass you want to remove. This new layer works by smothering your sod until they die and decompose.
The layers of this lasagna garden include any organic substances including kitchen scraps, old newspapers, leaves, hay, cardboard, etc. As each of these layers decomposes, they form a healthy ground for your new sod installed.
Since most of the materials required for this are recycled, constructing a lasagna garden is very cheap. You may end up spending only $10 – $20 for the whole job.
Pros of sheet composting
- It’s very cheap and simple
- Helps improve the soil
- Requires minimal maintenance
Cons of sheet composting
- Takes time to build and finish
- Decomposing materials can be smelly
- Not suitable for large lawns
- Difficult to find safe carbon materials
Additional cost factors to remove sod
Besides the cost factors mentioned above, there are other items that could be included in your overall sodding cost estimate. These include:
- Removal of obstacles – Before removing the sod, you may have to remove obstacles such as a tree stump, water sprinkler system, and other plants on the lawn. Each of these services will increase the final sod costs.
- Extra services (Fertilizing, soil testing, and treatment) – Many companies offer extra services besides sod removal at a discount. For instance, if you need your soils tested, fertilized, or treated after sod removal, the contractor will charge you slightly higher for these services as part of one package.
- Accessibility – Contractors will charge you higher labor costs if they have to carry the sod out a long distance to their truck for disposal.
Permit and regulations – While most counties don’t demand a permit for removing sod in single-family residential areas, the regulations from your - Homeowners Association will still apply. You might have to spend extra to have your local utility company come and mark any underground utility lines that could be running near/beneath your lawn.
How much does it cost to remove old grass and lay sod?
The average sod installation cost ranges between $1.10 – $4.50 per sq. ft. This includes removing the old grass and laying artificial turf. For a 500 sq. ft lawn, this translates to between $550 – $2,250.
The actual range will depend on the size of your yard and the sod cost of the artificial turf you choose.
Other services such as grading the land, installing a sprinkler system, and lawn aeration may also affect the prices.
Cost of DIY sod removal
If you choose to remove sod as a DIY, expect to spend anywhere from $0.30 – $0.55 per sq. ft for the job on equipment and supplies. This is around $150 – $275 for a 500 sq. ft lawn.
Depending on the method of removal you choose, you can even spend much lower than $50 on the job.
DIY vs Hiring a sod removal expert
The truth about removing sod from your yard is that it’s not very difficult. For many homeowners, it’s the perfect DIY job and the easiest way to save on costs when resodding.
However, for massive lawns, hiring a lawn service company with a crew is the best way to get the job done quickly and more efficiently. They also have access to better sod prices if you intend to reseed or overseed your lawn.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
DIY
Pros
- Saves on costs
- Gives you insight into dead parts of the lawn
- Sense of accomplishment after the successful removal
- You can work on your own time
Cons
- Renting or purchasing equipment can be costly
- Risk making costly mistakes
- Can be time-wasting
Professionals
Pros
- Gets the job done quickly
- Have the experience to guarantee you the desired results
- Can offer more / extra services at a lower cost
Can give you free advice on the issue affecting your lawn
Cons
- Can be expensive
- Inexperienced teams can mess up your lawn
- Work on their schedule giving you no flexibility
When is it time to remove sod?
Sod can be removed at all times of the year. However, if you intend to install sod after the removal, the best time to remove sod will depend on the type of grass seed you want to plant.
For cool-season grasses, the best time to remove sod will be between late summer and early fall. For warm-season grasses, the best time is during spring.
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FAQ's
Between 36 – 72 hours after being cut. Sod pallets from the farm can easily dry out if not planted quickly. Generally, it can last longer (72 hours) during winter than summer (36 hours).
The average cost to sod a yard ranges between $1 – $2 per sq. ft.
No! Once your sod dies, you’ll have to remove it then either reseed or overseed the yard.
Yes! While installing sod is more expensive than growing the grass, it can improve your home’s resale value by up to 10% and also boost its curb appeal. This makes it very attractive to homebuyers.
Yes! If your existing sod is dying, laying sod over it could save you hundreds of dollars while also improving the nutrient content of the soil as the old sod decays.
