Sod installation cost in Ontario: what you pay for, and why quotes vary

Most of the sod installation cost in Ontario is the work under the grass, not the grass. HomeStars’ 2026 price guide puts installed sod at about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot in Ontario. A pallet of sod costs less than most people expect, and the quote for laying it often costs more.

The difference is cutting out the old lawn, hauling it away, bringing in soil and getting the grade right so water runs off. Two yards of the same size can get very different prices if one needs a day of prep and the other needs three.

Below are the published Ontario ranges, what they include, and worked numbers you can use to check a quote from Markham, Toronto or anywhere else in the GTA. We don’t publish our own prices, because every yard is different, but we’re happy to quote yours through our sod installation and lawn repair service.

How much does sod installation cost per square foot in Ontario?

Sod installation in Ontario usually runs about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. That’s the Ontario figure in the regional table of HomeStars’ sod price guide, updated in August 2026. A few other published numbers are worth knowing:

The sources don’t line up perfectly. Treat all of these as a rough market picture, not a price list.

How much does 1,000 sq ft of sod cost?

At the HomeStars Ontario range, 1,000 sq ft of installed sod works out to roughly $1,500 to $3,000. The sod itself is a small share of that.

Queensville Sod Farms counts 112 rolls for 1,000 sq ft (its rolls cover 9 sq ft each). It lists its Kentucky bluegrass at $4.50 per roll, so the grass alone comes to about $504.

Here’s the same math for a few common lawn sizes. Roll counts assume 9 sq ft per roll. Roll sizes differ between farms (Purdue Extension mentions both 18 inch by 6 foot and 24 inch by 5 foot rolls), so check with your supplier.

Add a few spare rolls for cuts around beds, curves and trees. If you aren’t picking the sod up yourself, ask about delivery: HomeStars notes that delivery charges depend on distance and order size.

What drives the price of a sod quote?

Prep is usually the biggest variable. The amount of sod rarely changes a quote as much as the work that has to happen before it goes down. These are the main cost drivers:

1. The old lawn has to come out. Weedy or grub-damaged turf gets cut out, not covered.
2. Old sod and soil are heavy, and the City of Markham lists sod, topsoil and dirt among the things its yard material collection won’t pick up. Getting rid of it is part of the job, and part of the price.
3. Topsoil can add up quickly. Ontario’s Nursery Sod Growers Association says to add topsoil to a depth of 3 to 4 inches, and Michigan State University Extension calls 6 inches preferred. Thin or mostly clay soil needs more of it (see the numbers below).
4. The grade matters. The finished soil should sit about half an inch to 2 inches below walks and driveways, per the MSU bulletin, so the soil that comes on the sod brings the lawn up level. Low spots near the house need building up so water drains away.
5. Access changes the labour. A backyard you can only reach through a narrow side gate means wheelbarrowing every roll and every load of soil.
6. Small areas cost more per square foot, because setup, delivery and cleanup don’t shrink with the lawn. HomeStars says commercial jobs often start at $0.75 per sq ft because of bulk pricing.

Grass type matters less than you’d think. Queensville lists these Ontario averages for the sod alone:

How much topsoil do you need under sod?

For a full layer, multiply the area by the depth. Most yards don’t need a full new layer everywhere, only where the existing soil is thin, compacted or full of construction debris.

Our guide on how to prepare your yard for sod goes through the prep step by step.

Does the time of year change the cost in Ontario?

Not much in the price list, but it changes the risk. The University of Nebraska turf program says sod can go down almost any time the soil isn’t frozen. It prefers early spring or early fall, because the sod needs less watering than in summer.

Purdue Extension calls fall the best time for cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass. MSU Extension warns that sod laid in early winter can dry out and die if it hasn’t rooted before the ground freezes.

Spring has its own catch. Costco Canada, for example, warns that weather can affect sod delivery timing and availability in March and April. The details are in our guide on the best time to lay sod in Ontario.

Common mistakes that cost money later

New sod laid over the old lawn roots poorly. The old turf ends up between the new roots and the soil. MSU Extension also says weedy grasses like quackgrass have to be killed before sodding, because tilling alone won’t get rid of them.

Skipping the grade causes trouble near the house. The University of Nebraska turf program says the grade should carry water away from buildings, with no low spots where it collects. That’s far easier to fix before the sod goes down than after.

New sod needs water every day at first. MSU says rooting normally takes two to three weeks, with watering every day until then. The ends of each piece are slowest to establish, so stagger the seams and keep them moist. See how often to water new sod.

Comparing quotes on the total alone can mislead you. One quote may include soil, grading and haul-away while another assumes the yard is ready. Ask what’s in each.

Should you hire a pro or lay sod yourself?

If the yard is flat, the soil is decent, and you can rent a sod cutter and recruit a strong friend, doing it yourself makes sense. Queensville Sod Farms puts numbers on the difference for an eighth-acre lot (5,445 sq ft):

That’s a real saving if you have the time and the back for it. It’s worth getting a quote instead when:

• the old lawn has to come out
• there’s grading near the house
• the yard is only reachable through a side gate
• you can’t water daily for the first couple of weeks after it goes down

Those are the jobs that are hardest to get right on your own. If it’s patches rather than a whole lawn, our guide on fall lawn care in Ontario covers overseeding and repair, which can be cheaper than sod.

For a look at a finished job, see our sod, edging and mulch project. If you’d like a price for your yard, call or text (437) 684-2535, or text us a photo of the lawn.

You can also request a free quote through our sod installation page. We work across Markham and nearby towns such as Richmond Hill and Stouffville, and we’ll visit to see the yard before giving you a number.